Jun 10 2015

Cedar Time

I have been working on this Atlantic Blue Cedar for a few years. I wanted one in my collection just for the colour and managed to salvage this one from a garden. It was originally 25 feet tall and it stall has a very tall feel to it but then those that know me know that I like tall trees. Not much taper, a bit of a fence post but I have always liked a tall tree with dropping branches.

This is it before I started work, branches had sprung up a lot since being dewired last year. The tree had fallen from a bench about 18 months ago and lost a large portion of the bottom branch on the right. This will take time to fil and now needed to be brought further to the front again.

This is it after wiring and styling. I added a few fine shari to the branches that had sprung the most. I’m hoping that this helps set them more permanently. I compacted the apex more and have used foliage to break the trunk line a little more.

Back on the bench adding that splash of colour.

For scale

I like the fullness of the restyled image. Almost shows the tree at it’s peak before it starts to go down hill, it happens to the best of us! It has put out decent growth since the last restyling and will hopefully continue to improve as an image.

Some older photos:

2009

2012

Jun 7 2015

Hawthorn Extension Trim

After a wiring and shaping of primary branches on this Hawthorn back in April the tree has responded strongly with extension growth. I checked the wire was still ok (yeah, even in a couple of months it can cut in on a fast growing hawthorn) and trimmed the shoots only leaving it where I needed to fatten branches.

Wire will need checked weekly or I’ll run the risk of scarring. I’ll be able to rewire new growth in the Autumn and continue to do this for the next 5 -10 years until I get a decent ramification. It will take a lot of branch work to make this heavy trunk look in proportion to the foliage.

Jun 6 2015

Agapanthus Accent

I’ve been trying to get this Agapanthus down to a size that works as an accent and it looks like this year Iv’e done it. Still to flower but I’ll post again when it does.

The first 3 photos show it in the middle of May with flower stocks emerging. I was hoping for them to stay a little shorter this year.

And this is them now 🙂 If they flower anywhere near this height I think we can call it a success. Pot as usual by Magic Ceramics.

Jun 6 2015

Bonsai Art of Japan 44

Jun 1 2015

Weather!!

Today, out the window…

May 16 2015

Rhododendron ‘Blue Diamond’

Not it’s best flush of flowering, but it’s overdue a repot and a new pot next Spring. Still eye catching though.

May 16 2015

Plant ID’s Please

Anyone identify these two? The first one is Epimedium but I can’t find the name of this variety. There’s hundreds of them out there! The flower on this one is stunning.

And this one I’ve no clue, very slow to open and I have only one flower and one leaf to share with you.

May 14 2015

Kusamono – Rose and Epimedium Akebono

May 14 2015

One to One – Field Maple

I had a one to one session on Tuesday night and was rather taken with this Field Maple, Acer Campestre, that was one of 4 trees worked on in the session. The tree had been purchased from Kaizen Bonsai a few years back and some of Mr Potters carving was clearly evident. I think this species in under used here in the UK. Yes, I know it a little coarse in the branch structure, but the species bring so much more to the table in the way of character.

We were limited to what we could do with the tree in leaf but were able to make a few decisions and remove a few unwanted branches. A partial defoliation was done, a bit early but not an issue with this species. A new front was found and a slight change in potting angle for next Spring. The tree will get a full wiring in the Autumn and will be a very nice rugged image in the years to come.

May 13 2015

Sitka Spruce – Picea sitchensis

Just about recovered from the weekend of bonsai workshops, not just as a participant, but also a host, which has it added drawbacks but also benefits.

Great to hear the great feedback from club members, who are also friends, makes it all the more worthwhile. I didn’t get many photos on the day I worked with with Peter, a bit busy, but I do have some to share.

I opted to work on a Sitka Spruce collected a few years back. I have been clipping it back to induce back budding with pretty good success. I had left a few options for design but I wanted Peter’s direction as to the best course of action. This is the tree before.

As you can see it has a heavy base with a decent root spread, however the branches are still long and further back budding will be required. Peter sees this as being a chuhin sized tree as an end game. The only work needed on Saturday was to get the primary branches placed and open to the light. The foliage on the tree will ultimately all be replaced with new inner growth.

A rare photo of me in a workshop. Not sure who lifted my camera to take it but thank you 🙂

This is it after the branches had been placed. The two remaining branches are starting to back bud a few inches up which is just where I need growth, therefore these will be left for a year until there is enough growth there to chop back too. This can be seen below as can the back budding from last year on the branch to the left. A long term project but material worth the effort I think.

Last years back budding

Buds sitting ready to swell

I also got Peter to look through a few other trees for me with suggestions for their future. This was every bit as important as actually working on trees and has left me with some tasks to preform.

I had recently wired and styled the pine and juniper below to refine the images further. I asked Peter to tweak them to see what changes he made. Nothing major but it’s amazing the difference those few alterations can make. Again this is a great way to learn how to improve your own skills and of course, the tree.