Sep 24 2012

Deforestation

I’ve had these 3 Japanese Larch as a group for many year. Each tree is actually very nice on it’s own. I’ve got to the stage now were I have lost interest in the group. Rather than sell it, I’m going to take it apart and pot up the trees individually. At some point in the future, providing I can get similar quality larch, I may put it back together as a bigger group. As you can see, I have also allowed these free growth this year to give me a few extra options once they are potted up separately.

These are a few photos taken over the years showing this tree develope. Earliest is 1997. I think I have moved on to the extent that it doesn’t ‘float my boat’ any more. I still look back at these photos with fond memories.

Sep 23 2012

Free Growth Larch

This is a Larch that I have had for quite a few years SEE HERE.

I opted to allow it free growth this year to give me extra branch structure to work with during a total restyling planned for this Autumn.

I’m really looking forward to wiring this tree. I think that’s a first 🙂

Sep 12 2012

Haw Haw

My Hawthorn Raft didn’t produce too many flowers this year. Not a problem really as it’s a long way to go before it’s the way I want to show it. It dropped most of it’s first flush leaves a week or so ago only leaving the later growth. This made the few haws more noticable.

Sep 8 2012

Confused Rhododendron

This Rhododendron is a variety called Blue Diamond and normally flowers in March/April. As you can see, it’s decided to flower now. I’m not exactly sure why. It may be due to the fact that I removed nearly all of the flowers this Spring to help the tree gain a little extra vigour. The flowers are a little sporadic but will add a nice splash of colour as I wait for the real Autumn colour to hit the benches.

Aug 29 2012

Autumn Approaches

Autumn is approaching rapidly for a few trees here. A few larch are showing a tint of yellow. A few Hawthorn have already dropped all the Spring leaves and are sitting with only late extension growth.

My biggest disappointment this year has been this Fuji Cherry. It is showing Autumn colour now and hasn’t extended even a single shoot this year! It feels like a wasted year. I experimented with defoliation last year and although it responded well with a new flush in Summer 2011, I think this may have resulted in it sulking this year. Lesson learned. Maybe it wasn’t a total waste after all.

Aug 28 2012

Late Extension

Seems that quite a few of my trees are extending late in the season, well, later than usual.

Trident that has just bombed on this year and a hawthorn that was trimmed back 2 weeks ago.

Aug 25 2012

For Sale

The observant of you will have noticed a ‘For Sale’ Tab appearing at the top of the blog during the week. I am not trying to start a business or make my fortune at bonsai [Has anyone ever ❗ ] Anyone will tell you that I have too much material sitting about and I just need to thin out. I will not be blogging about every sale trees either, I’ll just add them to the page.

There is an eclectic mix on there already. Some raw trees suitable for beginners, some semi styled trees or pre prepared trees and a few that are pretty much were they need to be. Some aren’t even mine!!

I have sold trees for years to help finance my hobby but these have all been collection only. After selling one through a forum last week I have decided that it isn’t quite as much hassle to post one as I thought.

If you are interested click here for the page and each tree image can be clicked for further information. If you are just being nosey, I’m sure you’ll go ahead and look anyway 🙄

Aug 22 2012

Elm Stump

I air layered the top off this cork bark elm back in May 2011 and it was removed in August 2011.

This is what I wanted to do with the stump.

This is the new buds appearing in September 2011

This is what it looks like now in just under a year.

And after another trim.

Aug 21 2012

Mame Dwarf Willow

I lifted this little willow out of the grit tray for trimming. I think a better pot next year might be in order 🙂

Before a light trim.

and after with the other side selected as a better front.

Aug 19 2012

Try Try Again

I saved this cedar from the chop back in 2008. It was growing as a tall tree in the middle of a lawn. The owner wanted it removed as it was ruining the lines created by his lawnmower! There was 4 of them but this was the only survivor from collection. They had strimmer damage and very poor roots.

I wasn’t sure if it would even make a tree and to be honest the jury is still out on that point!! It is very straight and resembles a fence post. I don’t have the photos from the first shaping back in 2009. It was just branch selection and some primary branch wiring done to drop the branches.

A short time later I wanted to practice my carving and decided this would make a good practice piece. I wasn’t too worried about it and I thought that carving might add interest to the trunk and take away from the straightness.

You can see that I need the practice!! I then wired the tree to replace the branches at the right angles. This all took place over a 4 month period.

I wasn’t overly happy with the result. I considered lowering the height of the tree and perhaps creating a jinned apex like the virtual below. However, I wanted two tall trees that would eventually sit either side of a gate into the bonsai section of my garden. I have another one of a similar size and style and decided to keep it the full height. This meant keeping the cheat of an apex.

This is another virtual done back in2010

Yesterday I brought it into the garage and started to tidy up the weeds in the pot and and remove old needles. Before I knew it the wire was out again! Lots of growth in the last year with enough extension that I could hopefully improve the image. Branches have sprung up and needed to be brought back down again.

Me for scale.

After four hours this was the best I could come up with. I had to take it slow and steady with my dodgy shoulder but I got there in the end. I was able to use foliage to hide the bad apex.