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Macro Accent Flowers
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Leinster Bonsai
Just a few personal words on the new Leinster Bonsai Club. Last night was the first meeting and I made my way down along with Phil to help them get the ball rolling.
There was 18 of us on the night and what an enthusiastic bunch they were. Well done to Owen for setting up the meeting and I hope this is the first of many great nights with them.
It was fun watching things come together on the night, starting with the Bingo Battle. Turns out the Bingo folk reserve the right to park in all the spaces at the hall!!
Once we got the business end over with, bonsai took over and as you can see below, Phil and I had to hide behind the table after a barrage of questions 🙂
Onwards and upwards for Bonsai in Ireland.
24 Hours to Bonsai in Leinster
Well, we are almost there, only 24 hours until the first meeting of the Leinster Bonsai Club in Balbriggan.
Phil and I are popping down there for the evening, should be good craic with a reasonable crowd going, if everyone turns up who says they are going.
Exciting stuff seeing a club get off the ground again in the biggest city in Ireland. Great potential. Phil and I are offering support on behalf of the Northern Ireland Bonsai Society as well as going for our own fun and enjoyment.
A few of those attending have asked for a few sale trees to be brought so we will throw a few bits and pieces in the van but we are also bringing a tree each for display. We are hoping most people attending will bring a tree with them to make the night a bit special.
If you are planning on coming along and are reading this, help spread the word on social media.
Spirea in Flower
Satsuki Flower Removal
The best was past for my Satsuki Azalea and it was time to remove the flowers to help conserve a little strength. It took a while but I got the all, just always make sure you get the seed pod too. These are the four flower types on this tree.
The aftermath!
Now I have to look at this for the rest of the year 😦
Rick’s Reworking
Back in July 2011 while on a family holiday I had the pleasure of visiting Rick’s garden in Florida. See here for a post from my visit.
You’ll see from the original post that I commented about a Ficus that Rick had on his Bench. This is the tree as I saw it.
Rick and I discussed a few options for the tree. Now I’d just like to point out that I don’t visit folk for the first time and start telling them what to do with their trees, especially species I don’t know a lot about. However Rick asked, so I offered a little design advice with this one. I really liked the nebari at the back of this tree and suggested this to Rick. The long straight section was also an issue for me and seeing just how quickly Ficus respond to hard pruning, I suggested a chop as an option. Never did I think that he’s actually take me at my word and carry out the work!
Well, yesterday Rick Facebook messaged me and I quote,’ Ian, when did you visit my garden? You suggested I turn this Ficus around. I chopped it off and did just that…..you are the man!’
Again I’d like to point out that yes I am ‘a ‘ man, but most definitely nor ‘the’ man 🙂
Attached was this photo of the tree now.
It’s easy to offer advice, the hard part is putting it into action. Rick has done a great job over only three years and created a squat powerful image which will mature nicely.
Here are few older photos of the tree and the chop in progress.
Now Rick, I want to see this Bougie 3 years on and what have you done with the Holly? 🙂
Sisyrinchium
These Sisyrinchium are fast becoming addictive! Here are 3 of the four that I have. The only missing one is the Yellow ‘Californium’. I’m on the hunt for more 🙂
E.K. Balls
Biscutella
Dragons Eye
Sisyrinchium ‘EK Balls’
My Satsuki
This is my satsuki azalea, I have it more for flowers than for bonsai but it gives me pleasure at this time of year. I didn’t let it flower last year to help build strength. It has four flower types but I have only put photos of three below. The missing one is a pale pink flower with a dark pink stripe. Those ones have still to open. The first few photos where taken a few days apart so you can see it opening.
Dark Pink
Pale Pink
Mix
Accent – Gunnera!
No, not one of the hugh leafed Gunneras that we see blotting the landscape. This is one of the small varieties that hails from New Zealand I think. I don’t have the full botanicial name for it and if one of you plant nerds can ID it, I’d love to know. I can’t remember seeing one as an accent before but I’d love to be proved wrong on that point. I got this one from Pat in Waterford in a plant swap session. Cheers Pat, I love it. Pot is a Wallsall Ceramics creation.Again, it’s going to take a while to fill out but I’ll keep you posted with how it matures.
Welcome Home Old Pal
Peter Snart kindly delivered my Root Over Rock Trident Maple back to me a few weeks back. It had been over at Willowbog Bonsai for the BSA Exhibition. This is it as I got it back. A little over grown but in fine health as you’d expect 😉
I had to address the overgrown shoots that had now overly thickened some of the outer canopy. The only way I could do this was by defoliation and then thinning out of the fat areas. This was it after defoliation.
and again after thinning out, you can see I’ve also removed the moss, I want to be able to keep an eye on the watering better and the moss was obscuring my view of this and also taking some of the water for itself.
In hindsight I have missed an opportunity 😦 I should have left the bottom few branches untouched to allow them to fatten further to get a better balance in the tree. Ah well…
Bonsai Eejit 