Oct 2 2012

1000 Posts

Another Milestone for the blog.

Thank you to all who have encouraged me in keeping up the flow of posts. I have become a little OCD about daily posts 😆 but I hope most of them have been worth reading, or in most cases, viewing the photos. The blog has grown from the initial plans I had from it. I’m very far from being anything even close to the quality of some of the artists out there. I even say the word artist expecting ridicule. Therefore to have this blog receive on average 500 hits+ a day from over 150 countries is mind blowing.

I’m aware that many check in for links to other exhibitions and videos and that’s fine by me. In fact, if you have a video you want to share, a show you want to promote, or have photos from a show anywhere in the world that you want to share, I am happy to help spread the bonsai love 🙂

Thank You!

Sep 30 2012

Olay! Olay! Olay! Olay!!

Congratulations to the European Ryder Cup Team, this year’s worthy winners. Especially to Rory McIlroy our wee man from Northern Ireland 🙂

Spirit of Seve 🙂

Sep 29 2012

Rossi is Red

Accent Autumn Colour, now officially my favourite accent.

Sep 28 2012

Haw Hawthorn

The other tree that took a tumble in the wind on Tuesday was Brian’s Hawthorn. It was undamaged.

I took the dead leaves off for a better photo of the Haws.

Sep 27 2012

Trident Tumble

After two days of crappy weather, I ventured up to the back of the garden to see what state my trees were in. Heavy rain and high winds had been constant on Monday and Tuesday.

This is what I found. Two trees had been blown off a bench and one had smashed a pot. That’s the bad news, the good news is that they weren’t mine!!

Not really good news as I felt rather guilty as these trees and a few others are in my care for a few weeks while Brian is away on holiday.

A quick check of my pot stash and I found a suitable replacement for the Trident. I transferred it over but it will need a proper repot in the Spring. I actually prefer the new pot to the old one.

Sep 26 2012

Blogs Added

I’ve added a couple of Bonsai Blogs to my favourites list.

I like to check who linking to me on my stats and if I like what I see, I return the favour. Both these blogs fit the bill.

Little Trees from Sweeden has some exhibition photos and some very tasty yamadori.

Craggy Bark Bonsai is a new blog. I don’t know Paul, at least I don’t think I do! Who knows who anyone is on the internet!! The blog reminds me of when I started mine back in February 2011. Worth a look and a follow I think.

Sep 26 2012

But it’s Wednesday!

Some photos taken on my Sunday walk in Redburn Country Park overlooking Belfast Lough. Yes, it’s Wednesday. How could I be so slack in taking 3 days to post? Easy 🙂 I’m up to my neck in work, don’t be surprised if I even miss a daily post ❗ Like you’d even notice 😀

Here’s a panoramic from the top of the park overlooking the docks.

Only two walking partners on Sunday, Stephen, the Bonsai Baker, on the left and my much older brother Philip on the right 🙂 Don’t know if he looks at this much, but I guess I’ll find out !

I love spotting trees that inspire for bonsai and this park is full of them. Old beech trees can found everywhere and there’s also Pine, Larch, Rowan, Linden, Birch etc. This first one reminds me of the bank that the hobbits hid below in Lord of The Rings when being chased by Ring Wraiths!

This is like a Dr Who Baddie or some sort of giant octopus

This one is.. just darn pretty

The view overlooking Harland and Wolff Shipyard were the Titanic was built and launched.

Rowan berries in the process of getting stripped by the birds.

Interesting tree, hollow shari on this side but looks pretty whole until…

….you see the other side.

And here we return to the Lord of The Rings theme with Bilbo the Hobbit finding a new home.

My usual hunt for fungi

This is the usual sticker on dog waste bins…

But then some local vandals with a sense of humour decided to make a few alterations making it more of a Bullshit Bin 🙂

But this was the best of their efforts.

Sep 25 2012

Autumn Kicking In

Every day I see further signs of Autumn in my garden and among my bonsai. This is a shohin Spirea turning all shades of red.

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 22 2012

SFH Accent #2

This pot was a little more challenging as far as picking a suitable plant. I didn’t have much to choose from. I added two plants, and and happy with this as a starting point. As the plants mature I think it will come together well next year