Two of my little ones with the sky as a backdrop.
My little Rowan
and a little root over rock Cotoneaster
Category My Bonsai
Beech Buds
My Beech has finally got around to opening.
Arse about Face #2
This was another tree discussed with Robert. Again this Hawthorn raft was looked at from the back as a possible different front. Robert felt that even thought the base was just as nice, the back gave more depth to the composition.
The Front.
The back.
A few flowers this year as well.
Arse About Face #1
I was looking at a few of my bonsai with Robert last week and as is usual with Robert, he came up with a few other possible options with trees that I have had for many years.
I love it when I get the opportunity to discuss trees like this. It lets you know that you can become complacent with trees that you see every day and you should teach yourself always to look at your bonsai with fresh eyes whenever you can.
One of the ideas that Robert came up with was using the back of this Yew as the possible new front. [hence arse about face :-)] I bought this tree from Robert many years ago and I think he would like it back. Not happening !
Here is the original front as selected by Marco Invernizzi back in 2004 during a workshop.
The tree will be getting some work done sometime this year as a few of the branches are rising and some structural work is required. Sometimes I look at this front and feel there is too much white wood in your face. The base is also boring with a flat section of deadwood and a fat live vein.
Robert suggested that the back might be another option. The base is better and the image looks fuller but still has interest and character. There would need to be some branch adjustments, but I rather like the idea. I now have it turned to this aspect so I can view it from my window and see it every day. The potting angle would need to be changed. As with most trees at this point, there are points for and against the new front. Just need to decide on balance which is the best option. What do you think?
Another Tunnel!
At the weekend Stephen, Phil and I put up another tunnel. This one will be referred to in future posts as Stephen’s Tunnel. He wanted to contribute to the collecting process but was unable to put one up in his own garden. He offered to buy a tunnel and for it to go up in my garden. I was thinking of one any way so this worked out for all of us. 🙂
As I had no room at the back of the garden, we put it up at the side of the house where I have a few display stands. The recent removal of my now grown kids trampoline had created space for it.
The proposed site for the tunnel.
Unpacking, note to self, don’t let Phil open the box for the next one! A knife and tunnel cover don’t mix 🙂
Smudge and Rufus giving advice and generally getting in the way.
Another note to self, don’t let Phil play with golf balls [don’t ask!]
Cover going on
Job done
No post with Stephen in it would be complete without the obligatory cup of coffee shot 🙂
All that was left to do was to shift a few of the collected trees into it to allow for more space for access into the 3 tunnels.
Malus in Flower
Malus just reaching it’s peak of flowering.
Clean Up
As part of my concerns regarding the health of my maples I emptied my maple greenhouse today and disinfected it from top to bottom.
I also renewed my accent and mame grit trays. I spent a little time splitting some of my pot bound accent plants and potting on some cork bark elm cuttings too. A productive afternoon and long over due!!
Tufa Rock Landscape
I was given this lump of Tufa by Josh about a year ago. We had been talking about rock plantings and I mentioned that I’d been looking for a weathered piece of tufa but could never find a suitable one. He said, ‘Hold on a minute’, disappeared around the side of the garage and came back with this in his hand. It was already mossing up nicely and has gotten better in the last year.
I’m not planning anything too fancy with it. I just wanted a natural lump of stone with a few odd bits and pieces clinging to the rock face so to speak. I have added a few cotoneasters, an elm, a hawthorn, a creeping willow and a flowering current! With the flowering plants and different types of foliage it should make an interesting object to look at in a few years time. It’s still very early days. The cascade cotoneaster isn’t right and will probably be replaced once I find a suitable replacement. Everything else needs to mature.
The Elm clinging to the rock
The flowering current, not the usual one you see in gardens I might add, this is a climbing one that with some leaf removal and pruning in the next few years will make a nice splash of colour on the rock.
A cascading Hawthorn
A dwarf willow that will climb down the back of the rock and create a very nice image on a bare uninteresting part of the rock. I have seen this used before by Stephen, aka bonsai baker to great effect.
The moss is delightful 🙂
I keep it under a bench in the shade to encourage the moss and keep it moist. Ideally I would like another smaller piece of tufa to add to the finished image by making it look like two islands sitting in a water suiban. Aiming for something like this 🙂
Very P1$$ed Off!!
My Chuhin Maple and a few other maples have been eaten by something! The buggers have stripped bark on branches causing either very slow budding or branch death! Could it be slugs, never had this before and of all my trees to eat they picked this one.
The damage can be seen clearly on this little maple that died as a result as it was on the trunk.
Fingers crossed I don’t loose too many branches, only time will tell. It’s already been set back quite a bit.
Heads in the Sun
A few Trees in the Sun. I usually take photos in the garage but sometimes it nice to get a little natural light on the tree.
Japanese Larch
Shohin Hawthorn
Another Hawthorn
Fuji Cherry Finished Flowering
Bonsai Eejit 