Apr 5 2011

Hawthorn Muncher!!

I lifted a few hawthorn out of the Poly Tunnel today to check them over. They had been repotted this year and tucked away out of reach. I was very pleased with the new growth. Both had basic branch selection and wiring last year. I removed the tips of the elongated growth before it thickens. I did this last year on a small one at this time of year and the amount of ramification that resulted was fantastic.

I lifted the next one in and was amazed by the back budding on the trunk.

I set about doing the same process as with the first one and noticed one branch that looked weak. No buds had opened and I just assumes that it had been knocked and a crack had dried out causing it to suffer and die. On closer inspection I realised that I had a visitor! Little fecker was helping himself to the nice new tasty leaves.

A catapillar of some description. If it helps you identify it, when you squish it, it’s green on the inside 🙂

The tree after removing all the unwanted shoots.

Apr 5 2011

A few of the little people

Not Leprechauns, a few Mame I having knocking around. The first one is my son’s little Cotoneaster.

Next up is a root over rock Cotoneaster recently repotted into a shallower and longer pot.

A garden centre juniper. It’s been a bit weak over the last 12 months so I’ve repotted it into a slightly larger pot to get some vigour back and it’s worked already.

This is a Chinese Elm yet to be styled. Bought for a fiver in a reject pile, I cut the top 10 inches off and am going to work with the new growth at the bottom.

This is a little Sorbus Reducta that I’ve had for about 15 years. Repotted last month, it’s pushing on now.

Apr 4 2011

Erica ‘Heather’ Bonsai

Just browsing through some bonsai Photo’s on Bakebook and saw this Erica Bonsai on display at the UBI 2011. What a Cracker.

Erica UBI 2011

Apr 3 2011

Zelkova Stump

I took a cutting of a Zelkova about 12 years ago and after a year or two I planted it in open ground for about 8 years. At one point it reached 25′ tall!!

It was dug out of the ground last Spring and chopped down to a lower branch. I gave it free growth for the last year. I did clip a few bits back as it was taking over it’s corner!

Today I decided that I needed to reduce the stump by carving. I wasn’t planning on any detailed work, or even completing any crude block carving. I just wanted to take back the cambium layer to where it needs to be in the future. This will stop the tree producing numerous new shoots where they aren’t needed. This is it before I started.

This cut off is the area for some attention. You can see all the unwanted shoots below my hand.

I removed the unwanted branches and shortened some of the top growth. A quick outline with chalk as a guide.

Makita and samurai bit.

Afterwards I’m left with what’s needed for further refinement.

Apr 3 2011

In Full Flower

My Rhododendron Blue Diamond is just about at full flower. I removed about 1/2 the buds a few weeks back but it quite amazing just how many there is on on plant.

Signs of the new foliage following flowering is already evident.

Apr 3 2011

Last Instalment until June

This is a link to the last Bonsai School instalment until the June School.

Bonsai School Part 7

There is an interesting chat in there about why you need to repot those Chinese Elms recently imported.

Apr 2 2011

Beachcomber Finds

On the beach yesterday I lifted a few bits and pieces that will look nice when displaying bonsai.

This shingle stone has the most beautiful lichen growing on it. The stone is actually red under all this.

Close up of Lichen, looks like an ancient map of the world.

These bits of dead ivy wood are lovely too.

Apr 2 2011

Bonsai School Parts 5&6

I’ve spent a little time over the last few days putting together these two videos from the NIBS/Willowbog bonsai school. Follow the link to watch Peter in full flow. You even get a view of me for a few minutes but don’t let that put you off 😛

NIBS Bonsai School Part 5

NIBS Bonsai School Part 6

Apr 1 2011

Hostas

These two hostas are starting to show for me. Both potted last year. I checked all the freebee ones Stephen gave me and they are all starting to emerge too. Time for more slug pellets I think!!

This little sea thrift is also coming to life. It even has a little flower emerging. Just plucked this out of a rock at the coast last Summer.

Mar 31 2011

Recovering from dog attack!

Last September my dog Smudge took a fancy to the apples on this Malus. He waited for them to ripen first of course 🙂

Here it is before he munched them.

and after…

and the guilty looking culprit.

This is the tree today. A few of the more mauled branches didn’t have any tip buds to open. I have been watching it for signs of new buds and today I founds loads. It looks as if it will back bud strongly, perhaps Smudge did me a favour 🙂

The back budding. Looks like a little pair of but cheeks at the bottom 🙂

and some of the flower buds. I was going to remove them but to be honest the tree is responding that strongly, I don’t think I’ll bother for now. I might remove the fruit if that changes.