Just looking through my blog reader and spotted this on Rodrigo’s Kintall blog. Its a fantastic series of photos showing the development of a yew. You don’t need to read Portugeuese to follow this one 🙂
Click Yew Progresson to view.
Category Inspiration
Giant’s Causeway
Our final stop was at the Giant’s Causeway. This is probably the worst year to visit it. The centre is in the middle of a major rebuild and there is no parking on site. We had to get the Park and Ride from Bushmills.
It was starting to get cloudy and time was running out, but we still managed to get down onto the rocks. I even managed to get a few photos without the millions of tourists in them! A hard task. Top tip, most don’t walk right down onto the point where the rocks are stunning.
Can you spot the sleeping camel in the first photo?
Boy, would I like one of those stones to display a tree on!! No chance 😦
Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge
Our next stop along the coast was the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. This is a National Trust location and as usual had lots of visitors. Some nice scenery as usual for the North Coast. It’s about a 1k walk to the bridge from the car park.
The rope bridge has also been a victim of the health and safety people. It used to be a scary experience when it was the temporary bridge erected by the fishermen every year to allow them to cross over to the island to fish. Now it’s child’s play.
My big sister at the front holding everyone else up 🙂 Still scary for her!
Bushmills
We had lunch in Bushmills. The ‘Flash in the Pan’ chippy is worth a visit 🙂
Bushmills Distillery is the oldest in Ireland and I don’t care what anyone else says, It’s the best Whiskey in the World.
We had our chips at the side of the Bush River. It looks like a river of Guinness 🙂
Kinbane Castle
Our first planned stop was Kinbane Castle, or what’s left of it, tucked away in a secluded spot on the North Coast. When the rest of the coast is buzzing with tourists, this place is always quite. We were the only car in the car park when we arrived. The Castle is hidden from view unless you actually do a bit of walking down some steep steps. It sits on a headland that is slowing falling into the sea. Some work has been done to preserve whats left of the castle. This is one of my favourite places.
Castle and headland.
View along coast from carpark.
Hoover fly basking in the morning sun along the path down to the headland.
Guardian stone at the entrance to the headland. Rathlin Island in background and Scotland in the mists beyond.
Castle ruins.
Sea Thrift on the beach.
It was great to see lots of wild orchids among the grass.
I was sorry to walk back up the path and leave it behind. Here’s my parting shot of the Castle and headland with Rathlin Island in the background.
On to the Rope Bridge and the Giants Causeway. 🙂
Frosses Pines
I took some of my family, visiting from Australia, up to the North Coast yesterday. On my way I stopped briefly ay the Pine trees lining the Frosses Road near Ballymoney. I have always admired these pines leaning over the road creating an arch. Well, they used too until some were removed for safety reasons!!
Here’s a few pics of the pines.
Favourite Blogs
I think some of the best information on bonsai is coming out of Japan in the form of blogs being written by Western Students working as apprentices. They are obviously kept very busy and therefore blog entries are sparse at times .
First up is Peter Tea from San Jose in California. He is currently studying at Aichien in Japan under Master Junichiro Tanaka . His posts are very informative about bonsai techniques. Usually one or 2 posts a week.
Next is Tim Gardner who is studying at Daiju-en in Japan, with Bonsai Master Tohru Suzuki. There a month or so and is posting around once a week. It’ll be good to watch this blog develope.
Bjorn Bjorholm, former apprentice of contemporary Japanese bonsai Master Keiichi Fujikawa has this blog/website. The best feature being the Art of Bonsai in Japan Videos. Worth checking in to see what’s new.
Last up, and my favourite, is the blog of Peter Warren. Blog titled ‘Tales from the life of a journeyman Bonsai artist. Trying to make sense of the world through little trees in pots.’ Not an appreintice any longer but is currently back in Japan helping out his master Kunio Kobayashi. A fantastic blog writer with witty posts that give great insight into bonsai in Japan.
Peter Warren Saruyama Bonsai Blog
Make sure you go back and read old posts, you get a feel for who you are reading about.
Sunny Sunday Morning
After being tied up with bonsai for the last two Sundays it was a relief to get out with the dogs this morning. We added a bit on to the walk to make it around the 11 mile mark. We started off at the Lead Mines in Ards and walked the Clandeboye Way to Bangor Marina. Some nice trees and flowers along the way for inspiration.
Part of the ruins of the lead Mines. An old Kiln.
Three Towers, Scrabo Tower way in the background.
Some native Orchids I spotted on the way. Amazing that they have survived the dirt Bikes that tear the area to bits!
At the top of the first hill is Helens Tower. You can read about it for yourselves. It was nice to see and reminded me of the Ulster Tower during my trip to the Somme Battlefield last September.
Some nice Beech and Pine around the Tower dating to the original planting in 1848.
Swan Lake?
Deceased Pine deadwood. Nature at it's best.
I was amazed at just how much damage had been caused to the trees in recent winds.
Road Block
Oak branches hanging by a thread.
What are you looking at?
Introducing my dog Smudge. Waiting patiently for me to arrive on the beach.
Where did the path go??
Flag Iris just coming to an end of flowering.
Oyster Catchers.
Pink Valerian
Eleven miles later, the finish line at Bangor Marina.
Where in the World?!
A few recent comments From Portland, Oregon and Holland have led me to wonder where those following my blog are from. I never thought that this online diary would get visitors from so far and wide an audience.
I know I probably post to much, I even take stick for it now and again 🙂 but I must say I am loving the experience of it at the moment. I look closer at my trees and it certainly helps me keep a better photographic record of my trees!!
At some point work and the seasons will probably slow down my posting. Until them you’ll just have to put up with it lol.
Stick a comment on here and let me know where you are reading from. It should go without saying, if any of you are ever in Northern Ireland, you have an open invitation to come and see my trees for your self.
Thanks for reading.
For Peter…
… and the rest of you as well. 🙂
I had been chatting at the weekend about the photos my niece took during her family tour of America’s West Coast in May this year. Trees seem to have played a big part in their journey. Here are some of my favourites from her 2500+ snaps!!
My Bro 🙂
Tree Stump dance floor!!
My favourite, yamadori heaven
and Lisa, the photographer
I think we can say she has got the hang of that camera 🙂 West Coast USA is now on my ‘to do’ list.
Bonsai Eejit 