Oct 19 2014

Chinese Juniper Makeover

This tree has been on the For Sale bench for a while as raw material for a workshop. It’s not exactly raw as it’s been styled on and off over the last 20 years by 3 owners that I know of. I felt the urge today to give it a reworking and this is the result before and after. No longer of use for a workshop but will make a nice addition to someone’s collection down the line.One major branch removed and jinned to lighten the image Slight angle change with tree being repositioned in the pot which is by Jackson Conn, a collectors piece in itself 😉

Oct 18 2014

Capel Manor 2014

Thanks to Dan for sharing these photos from the Capel Manor Show last weekend. The exhibition is hosted by the Enfield Bonsai Group.

Here are some of the winning trees, displays, club displays and even a few from the John Armitage demo. John did a demo on 2 trees, Juniper was made from £25 material showing what you can achieve for not much cash. The 2nd tree was a cork bark elm, again affordable material – work was done with an aim to air layer into a clump in the spring.

A final note to pass on my condolences regarding Ray Ward from Sussex Bonsai who was also Vice chair of FOBBS, who sadly passed away on Wednesday this week. He did an amazing job creating their club display at the show and was a prominent and much liked man in the British bonsai community.

Best in Show

Winning Individual display.

Oct 16 2014

Cascade Scots Pine

A little work on my cascade Pine.

Needles thinned out

Deadwood

Rewired and branch removed to expose more of the deadwood.

Oct 15 2014

Image

Root Over Rock Cotoneaster

Oct 14 2014

Image

Shohin Maple

Oct 13 2014

Belvior Forest Walk

A few photos from my walk through Belvior Forest on Sunday.

cull of larch has started to stop spread of disease

old oak

being watched!

Lagan river

lime

Alder

Oak

personal trainer

Oct 6 2014

Windswept Bonsai

Not the style! The effects suffered after a night of Gale force winds here in Northern Ireland with gusts up to 70 mph.

This was the first ‘blow’ after a very settled Summer and early Autumn then over night we had 5 times the rain than we received in all of September!

On checking my trees this morning I saw a few toppled over among the raw material but they where all on the ground and didn’t have far to fall. I then looked around the corner into the sheltered part of the garden just to make sure all was ok and I was greeted by my beech hanging onto the bench by the pot feet!! It had still to drop leaf but was now half bare. Strangely all the leaves on the back of the tree were gone??

This I could believe but how the hell this little accent in a Stone Monkey pot managed to flip over, I am stumped!! Tornado? 🙂

Oct 6 2014

Dublin Bonsai

Leinster Bonsai Club had their first workshop on Saturday with myself and Phil trying to keep them in line. A great bunch of guys. Two of the Munster Club members came up for the day as well even though we had a workshop with them three weeks ago! We must be doing something right 🙂

We are a tough lot, an open air workshop in October in Ireland, great when the sun was out but Baltic when it dropped behind the house.

A big thank you for John for hosting the day and to Owen for organising it. Owe was gutted when he had to miss the session due to something called work on some remote Scottish Island!! Unlucky mate but we survived without out you. [Stop it Ian that’s cruel, he feels bad enough as it is 🙂 ]

Oct 2 2014

Some Maciej Pots

or should I say Magic 🙂

Bonsai friendship at it’s best yet again. Maciej from the Leinster Club was up with us for the Bonsai School last weekend and give me a lovely gift of accent pots that he has started making. Here are a few of his pots.Watch this space for more information soon.

Oct 2 2014

More Layers

I did this layer back in April and removed it a few weeks back. All looks good and I look forward to developing this little one next year.

And this little trident was successful at the second attempt.

And both potted up with a little moss top dressing to ensure surface roots remain moist.

And a word to the wise, when you saw through the trunk, ensure your other hand is well clear!! This is how I ended up. Flap of skin hanging off and exposing the knuckle bone 😦 10 days later and it got infected and I ended up at Minor Injuries Unit for treatment. Will I ever learn?