Jul 22 2012

Rose Show

I had the pleasure of judging the bonsai entries at the Rose Show in Belfast yesterday. I small local flower show held as part of the bigger Rose Week event at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.

The bonsai aspect was small, our club supports the Rose Society by always getting a few entries in to fill the space and add interest for the public. As far as bonsai go, it’s not what we aspire too in our own displays with the usual low tables and cramped space. For that reason and the poor photos that resulted from inside a marquee, I’ll not bombard you with poor quality photos. I will however share some photos taken from within the park itself showing both the roses and some nice trees.

First, photos from inside the flower show marquee during judging. The rest from within the park Rose Gardens and Japanese Garden. When I show the Rose name it’s because is a highly perfumes variety that my wife is determined to add to our garden.

Jul 21 2012

Full Head of Flowers

This Hosta has produced it’s best head of flowers to date. It’s one of my fist mini hostas, variety unknown which is a pity.

Jul 20 2012

Sapporo!

Even drinking Japanese Beer!

Jul 19 2012

Tray Revision

Hard to believe, but despite the rain here this month, there has still been a few days were my accent/mame gravel trays have dried out too fast. On the advice of a friend I decided to swap the grit, which was quite large, with small grain clay [tesco cat litter].

I wasn’t able to do this on my own due to the shoulder so I recruited my son Matthew to help out. He has an interest when I can eventually pull him away from the computer.

Job done, thanks Matthew.

Jul 18 2012

Through The Keyhole

I thought I would show you part of my body that I normally keep under wraps 🙂

Don’t get too excited. I was with my surgeon yesterday for my first check up since the op and he handed me photos taken by the camera during the keyhole surgery.

He said that red isn’t good, here’s my first two pics!

After removing the inflamed tissue he put this bad boy to work removing some bone. 80,000 rpm. My first thought was, would it work in the makita?!

This is the final one showing a nice gap for my tendon to move around in without any more aggravation.

Jul 18 2012

Kurume Azalea Festival

Nekotoban was kind enough to share these photos with me in a recent email and I thought I would share them with you lot as well. Photos taken at the Kurume Azalea Festival back in April. What I’d give to go and see this for myself!

Jul 17 2012

Satsuki Flowers

This is a satsuki azalea that I grew from a cutting. It was in my flower bed for about 6 years and was lifted last year. I just love the flowers, no idea of the variety. Any knowledgeable folk out there who know, please comment.

This is the trunk, early days but might be interesting in a few years.

Jul 16 2012

Latest Bonsai Art of Japan Video

Just out….

Jul 16 2012

Get Wired In

I thought I better thank my two de-wiring buddies who kindly came over to my place and de-wired a few trees that needed done before I will be able to do it myself. Ben and Stan worked hard and I even let them cut chunks out of this big Sequoia for fun while they were here. Thanks guys 🙂

Ben stops to check his phone, surely his wife can’t be expecting again so soon after the last one 😀 Sorry Ben, couldn’t resist.

Jul 15 2012

Mini Hostas

Stan called over to my place the other day. He had just received some mini hostas via mail order from Bali Hai [local and Internationally renowned Hosta specialist] and wanted to get them potted up. We wanted to see if any could be split in the process. He brought with him some recently purchased Erin Pottery accent pots as well.