My root over rock Air Layer was checked today for roots. No sign as yet but it’s early days. As you can see, it’s growing vigorously below and above the layer. I took a few minutes to trim the extension growth below the layer. I left the growth on the layer itself to aid in the production of roots.
After trimming.
The Cotoneaster that was collected a few weeks back is showing signs of life.
Small red buds can be seen in many places so fingers crossed.
Alas, the big Ceanothus that I lifted has now been checked and I can pronounce life extinct 😦 It was a long shot and had suffered during the cold snap this Winter. It did try to bud but these soon died. Ah well, nothing ventured, nothing gained!
My Cotoneaster has now fully opened.
This Cotoneaster has been in my collection since I dug it out of a garden in 1995. It’s nothing special really and I’m not overly happy with the shape of it. I even consider removing all branches and starting again. What I do like about it is the flowers and the deadwood I’ve created.
This was it back in a garden in 1995.
And here in 1996.
and again in 1998. Shortly after this photo a root died causing a narrowing of the live vein and the death of a few lower branches.
I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Roy’s garden today along with Stephen. I have been meaning to get over to Roy’s Garden for a long time and it never seems to work out. I was therefore delighted today when the opportunity presented itself. My main aim was to get a few photos for the club website and have a good nosey around. Both achieved.
Here are a few general snaps of Roy’s back garden.
Here are some of Roy’s bonsai.
My favourite was this root over rock Trident. One side has a beautiful hollow in the stone to use to create a water pool but the roots are not as good. The other side has a more convincing root set up and the main pruning scar is hidden, but the rock isn’t as nice. Nice problems to have in my opinion. We discussed a different pot for next year.
I love this pot!
I’m hoping to get back in a weeks time to give Roy a hand with a few bonsai projects that need attention. If you’re reading this Roy, thanks for your time today mate.
My 2 root over Rock Cotoneasters are starting to flower. This first one is going to have the apex layered off next week. I would have already done it by now but I haven’t been able to get any sphagnum moss as yet!
My little one is one of my favourite trees at the moment. (that changes on a daily basis!!)
Part of our day yesterday was was taken up by this Cotoneaster belonging to Stephen. When I was at his home the other day I said it could be a really nice tree with a little more work on the deadwood and and some wiring. We agreed at the time to give it a whirl the following day. Here is the tree on Monday at Stephens place.
It’s an urban yamadori tree and if memory serves me right, it was salvaged from a school grounds. A few ugly rots at the bottom need to be removed to reveal a better nebari underneath, This can’t be done in total just now. The deadwood at the top needed some work with a view to eventually joining it with the deadwood at the bottom left of the tree. Some adjustments to the foliage should also help pull the whole image together.
Here’s some of the work getting carried out.
This is the original front as the tree was potted but a view more from the left would show off the deadwood to better effect.
Mariusz came up from Dublin for the day and, after some time in my own garden, we popped over to Stephen’s place for a look around. We then moved on to ‘fun time’ Frankies with a quick look at Phil’s mountainside thereafter and then back to mine for food and wiring. A great wee day out and about in the glorious sunshine.
Here’s a few snaps of the day.
Mariusz, Phil and Stephen
"That one with chips please"
San Jose Juniper
Scots Pine
Yew
Chamaecyparis
Closer inspection
Not Leprechauns, a few Mame I having knocking around. The first one is my son’s little Cotoneaster.
Next up is a root over rock Cotoneaster recently repotted into a shallower and longer pot.
A garden centre juniper. It’s been a bit weak over the last 12 months so I’ve repotted it into a slightly larger pot to get some vigour back and it’s worked already.
This is a Chinese Elm yet to be styled. Bought for a fiver in a reject pile, I cut the top 10 inches off and am going to work with the new growth at the bottom.
This is a little Sorbus Reducta that I’ve had for about 15 years. Repotted last month, it’s pushing on now.
I repotted this one a few weeks back and it’s come into leaf very quickly. Flower Buds can even be seen 🙂
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