Some of the accents that caught my eye at the show.
Accents of European Bonsai San 2019
Tag Archives: display
European Bonsai San 2019
I’ve put most of this up on social media during the exhibition but I wanted to record the event here on my blog with a few words about the event.
This was my first time attending EBSS and I was blown away with the standard of the exhibition but more so the relaxed atmosphere in which it is run. Others exhibitions could learn from this. You could walk the display area and take photos and not once did I feel others doing this was an inconvenience to me. In fact I think photos being shared on social media probably attracts more of a buzz around the event and gains more visitors year on year. I know I was one of them this year.
Here is a rather large gallery of photos from the event all taken off my phone. Apologies if the odd shot was taken from someone else on social media as I saved a few to my phone. I’ll do a few separate posts covering the demos and accents etc just to split it up a little. Enjoy.
Beer & Bonsai 2019
On Sunday I cooperated in an event with Boundary Brewing in Belfast. ‘Beer and Bonsai’ brought together two of my favourite things and helped spread to word about both in the local area. This was not about sales or money for me, just friendship and promotion. Starting at 4pm I arrived a little early and set up trees for those attending to view. I had three large window spaces to fill as well as wanting people to get up close with table displays. I selected trees for the tables that I knew would be robust enough to take some handling but I need not have worried as everyone was well behaved.
I did a demo on a raw Scots Pine in a corner which saw most people coming up and asking questions. The tricky part was wiring and styling a tree as it got darker under poor light conditions and under the influence of some pretty decent craft beer. I think in the circumstances it turned out alright.
Below is a gallery of photos taken at various points during the night and some cleaner photos of the trees used.
Demo tree before
Bonsai & Beer in Belfast (Updated)
I’m delighted to announce an event bringing two of my favourite things together 🙂
On Sunday 20th October ( date change, we are now a week earlier)Bonsai Eejit and Boundary Brewing team up for a one off event showcasing the Art of Bonsai and the art of making quality craft beer.
Come along to the taproom at Boundary Brewing and enjoy These two art forms in one place.
This is a very informal display of quality bonsai with a bonsai demo and a chance to see how quality beer is made and enjoyed in my birth City of Belfast. Come along and join us for some craic
Garden Changes
Two weeks ago I started the process of removing the grass from my back garden. More space for display and additional drainage due to seasonal flooding were my aims.
This was the starting point.
First step was getting a micro digger in.
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Next up was 16 tonne of stone, some decorative some for drainage.
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Then it was time to start adding trees. I opted to use temporary bench legs while I figure out the layout that suits me best. I’ll replace them when I’m 100% on the spacing etc. I’ve also a few monkey poles to add and some underplanting. I’m also looking for a nice piece of bog oak to use as a sculpture/feature. I’m still looking.
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That’s the front part of the garden nearly complete. Next up is the back with a new Polytunnel.
Bud-Ten Bunratty
From small acorns mighty oaks grow….
It was an absolute pleasure to be be involved with Ray Egan at Bud Garden Centre in Bunratty and watch the first (and not the last) Bud-ten exhibition come together.
Bud Garden Centre in the Shadow of Bunratty Castle
Ray is one of guys who works hard in the background to push bonsai forward in Ireland and do it in the right way. From a chat last year over a few beers when he talked about hosting a Japanese Gardening Weekend at Bud including bonsai, to what just transpired last weekend, it’s been a rollercoaster.
Ray hard at work
Bud is nestled away in a corner opposite the historic Bunratty Castle and although small, offers plants missing from most garden centres. Ray hosts monthly meetings for the Munster Bonsai Club of which he’s a founding member.
Ray asked if I’d help pull the bonsai side of things together and as things progressed I ended up down the rabbit hole 🙂
Ray invited me to judge the exhibition so he could award deserving trees and help encourage exhibitors to push the standard of their display. The exhibits are from various people at a wide range of levels but Ray encouraged many of his fellow club mates to exhibit for the first time for the experience. Here’s the exhibition and the winning trees.
Japanese White Pine Best in Show -Michael Guerin
Higa Siama Japanese Maple Best Broadleaf in Show – Michael Guerin
Shohin Rack Best Display in Show -Stephen and Vanessa Dodds, Ben Follis, Ray Egan
Best Shohin -Itiogawa Juniper Stephen Dodds
Best Accent – Dodecatheon Paul Lynam
Best Native Elm -Steven Short
Best Conifer Japanese White Pine- Mark Cashman
Best Tree Pot Combo K. Hornbeam on left in Beko pot – Dermot Woods
Best Mame Musk Maple on left – Kris Stoker
And a few other photos of exhibits
The accents from the show.
WE had some fun social evenings with bonsai enthusiasts from all three clubs in Ireland getting together with our partners for food and drink.
Dangerous putting these girls together!
On the bank holiday Monday, after the exhibition had ended, I delivered a Kusamono workshop for 11 people and afterwards gave a talk on beginning bonsai for the public.
Friends old and new being brought together all weekend.
A massive that you to all those who made the weekend such a success, Visitors, exhibitors, helpers but most importantly to the man below, without Ray’s drive and commitment this simply wouldn’t have happened.
Display Changes
This last month I’ve been making a few changes in the garden with the areas where I display my trees. It started off with getting next doors tree cut down as it was blocking all my light and it sort of got out of hand from there. Here’s it step by step in photos.
This was the tree causing the issues.
Then we carried on and cut back an over grown hawthorn hedge and removed a flower bed.
This left the hedge insecure, so a fence went up and a new display bed area created.
It was a bit of a nightmare getting rid of the hedge and tree.
I then took the head staggers and took away an old polytunnel. This left room for an extension to the display.
more changes to come but they’ll be dripped in as I have time.
Noelanders Trophy 2018
Another great Trophy last weekend. That’s my second Trophy attendance two years in a row thanks to my good friend Harry who facilitated my flying visit again. Cheers Harry.
I think I enjoyed this one more than the last. This was mostly due to the traders being in the same slots as last year making it a lot easier to get round the two halls and find what I needed. I was also able to purchase pretty much all the pots I was seeking. I know my carry on luggage wouldn’t have taken any more.
The exhibition was just as you’d expect, a few that looked out of place, most fitted the bill, and of course, a few outstanding trees. I walked the trees with friends on the Saturday and I picked the spruce as my personal best in show. Great to see it getting the best Conifer award.
Great to meet up with old friends and new. Apologies to those who I didn’t get to meet. My phone died half way through the day and I was unable to make contact with a few people to hook up. Sorry Xavier, next time my friend 🙂
Apologies as all my own photos are from my phone and quality is low. These are in the gallery below. However the following quality photos are courtesy of Oscar at Bonsai Empire along with the video. Enjoy.
Exhibition By Bonsaigroep de Butuwe
I was delighted to receive these photos from my friend Harry showing bonsai in his clubs Bonsai exhibition in The Netherlands. He’s letting me share them here for all to see. Some great trees on display. This is a small group of only 10 members which makes their display all the more impressive.
For more info click HERE to visit their Facebook Page.
Grand Tour September 2017
It’s been full on lately with both bonsai and family and the blog has taken a back seat as a result. I’m now playing catch up and thought it only right to share some of the photos from my trip down to Munster to do a few one to one sessions with the folk in the Munster Bonsai Club. A more enthusiastic bunch I’ve yet to meet. I was also lucky to time my visit with their first ever exhibition which, for me, was the highlight of the week.
First up was Mark’s place. A shorter session than usual but we worked late and managed to wire the primary structure into two field grown trees. A first styling for a Japanese Red and a Black Pine.
The lower branch was left to develope into a second trunk and also improve inverse taper. It can always be removed at a later date.
The next day was at Demot’s, again a first styling on a tall Scots Pine and some tweaking on a few Junipers.
He even gave me a tour of Cobh, the town where he lives and the world’s Second largest Natural Harbour.
Day 3 was Piotr’s place and yet another initial styling of a Pine, this time a Lodgepole.
Next was a little Hinoki Cypress that was in need of thinning and a little wiring.
A Japanese White Pine
and then whilst having a few beers… another pine!
Day 4 was with Michael and a change of species, a yew. Not many photos here as I had a limited time period and a lot to discuss as well as work to get done.
Day 5 was at Steve’s place and saw a fair bit of carving both by hand and with power tools. First was this Yew that had been carved previously but showed a lot of tools marks.
And after some work. Further refinement needed on the deadwood, but a step in the right direction.
Some initial carving on a new larch for Steve.
cof
Sadly no finished pics, it was too dark 🙂
Day 6 was the Exhibition and I was delighted to put on a shohin display along with the club members. We set up and had an hour before opening, so we did a critique of the displays with all the club members and exhibitors. I was given a tall Scot’s Pine to style in the demo.
Day 7 was spent with Ray. The main tree was a hinoki cypress that we’d done initial work on 2 years ago. It had grown free for 2 years and was now ready of a new look. We decided to go for a different look that breaks a few rules as far as multi trunk trees go but I feel we created a bonsai that looks like a tree, not a bonsai.
We also did a clearing out of a shohin Chinese Juniper. A nice start.
Day 8, my last day, was with Paul. A lover of Japanese Art and by the look of his garden and house, all things Japanese.
Room with a view. A truly inspiring place to stay.
Paul wanted some help with his niwaki style Pine in his garden. Starting at the top and working down 🙂
Afterwards we wired his Japanese White Pine making a few changes here and there to remove faults while keeping the original image that he liked when it was bought. A badly wire scarred apex had to be removed and replaced.
A massive thank you to all the guys who made this tour possible. I was looked after so well at every stop and the craic was mighty. The drive shown by this club is inspiring and this is only their 4th year. To deliver an exhibition to this standard, AND, there where trees there from 10 members, not all from a few with the higher level trees, shows what a fun club they are to be involved with. It was great to meet the newer members at the exhibition and get a chance to talk bonsai and share ideas for the future.
I look forward to seeing you all again soon and exploring new opportunities in 2018.
Bonsai Eejit 