Last weekend we have had another workshop with two well talented bonsai artists( Ian Young and Phill Donnelly). It happened in Dublin with co-operation with Leinster Bonsai Club ( thanks for hosting us) . It was busy day as usually. Here are some pictures, not many , I was to busy to take more 🙂 😉
introduction
some of us still sleeping
not him anyway
Not the style! The effects suffered after a night of Gale force winds here in Northern Ireland with gusts up to 70 mph.
This was the first ‘blow’ after a very settled Summer and early Autumn then over night we had 5 times the rain than we received in all of September!
On checking my trees this morning I saw a few toppled over among the raw material but they where all on the ground and didn’t have far to fall. I then looked around the corner into the sheltered part of the garden just to make sure all was ok and I was greeted by my beech hanging onto the bench by the pot feet!! It had still to drop leaf but was now half bare. Strangely all the leaves on the back of the tree were gone??
This I could believe but how the hell this little accent in a Stone Monkey pot managed to flip over, I am stumped!! Tornado? 🙂
Leinster Bonsai Club had their first workshop on Saturday with myself and Phil trying to keep them in line. A great bunch of guys. Two of the Munster Club members came up for the day as well even though we had a workshop with them three weeks ago! We must be doing something right 🙂
We are a tough lot, an open air workshop in October in Ireland, great when the sun was out but Baltic when it dropped behind the house.
A big thank you for John for hosting the day and to Owen for organising it. Owe was gutted when he had to miss the session due to something called work on some remote Scottish Island!! Unlucky mate but we survived without out you. [Stop it Ian that’s cruel, he feels bad enough as it is 🙂 ]
or should I say Magic 🙂
Bonsai friendship at it’s best yet again. Maciej from the Leinster Club was up with us for the Bonsai School last weekend and give me a lovely gift of accent pots that he has started making. Here are a few of his pots.Watch this space for more information soon.
I did this layer back in April and removed it a few weeks back. All looks good and I look forward to developing this little one next year.
And this little trident was successful at the second attempt.
And both potted up with a little moss top dressing to ensure surface roots remain moist.
And a word to the wise, when you saw through the trunk, ensure your other hand is well clear!! This is how I ended up. Flap of skin hanging off and exposing the knuckle bone 😦 10 days later and it got infected and I ended up at Minor Injuries Unit for treatment. Will I ever learn?
… at the second attempt! I tried a layer on this tree in 2013 but it bridged the gap. I reopened it and made a bigger indent, and also changed away from moss to an akadama mix. This time we have success, but I’ll be leaving the separation until the Spring.
… well 4 years at any rate.
As part of the NI Bonsai Society programme for the last four years we have had the pleasure of delivering the ‘Bonsai School’ 3 times a year for the last 4 years. This has been in partnership with Willowbog Bonsai and in particular, Peter Snart.
I’ve known Peter for over 15 years and in that time we have become firm friends. As I host the school sessions at my home, I have had Peter as a house guest 12 times since 2011 and this doesn’t count many other times in previous years. The favour has been returned when I have visited Willowbog Bonsai to attend shows and take part in workshops with people such as Ryan Neil, Peter Warren and Marco Invernizzi.
Peter has now called time on the school in it’s current format, I think mainly due to the fact that he’s fed up packing that bloody van!! 🙂
Bonsai for me is as much about friendship as wee trees and I’m delighted to have both Peter and Jean as friends. The school may be over but the friendship continues. I’m pretty sure he’ll be back at some point and I’m definitely sure I’ll be at Willowbog in the years to come, but in the meantime, thank you Peter.
There, gushing over lol
This gallery contains 14 photos.
Originally posted on Nichigo Bonsai:
Unfortunately my camera was playing up a bit and most of my pictures were blurry. A few did make it through though and a few of wide range of trees that were on display can…
I played host to the Clubs Bonsai School Session today. All very enjoyable with good friends and bonsai learning at the top of the agenda. Just how many times can Ben photobomb!!
Youth to the right age to the left 🙂
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