Nov 12 2012

Alcobendas 2012

I haven’t shown any of my favourite blogs in a while. I used to share interesting posts here from time to time.

As most of you know, I follow other bonsai blogs with a passion and I like to return the favour of a share or listing.

I was impressed with this one today on Jose Luis Sanchez blog, Mi Pasion por el Bonsai, showing some great photography of great bonsai at the recent Alcobendas 2012 in Spain.

Here’s an example:

and here’s a link ALCOBENDAS 2012

Also a few other links to photos taken at the same Exhibition.

http://rgomarcopolo.blogspot.pt

http://cyd-cyd.blogspot.pt

http://www.lolibonsai.com

http://eltimbonsai.blogspot.pt/

Bonsai is strong in Spain!! Enjoy.

Nov 12 2012

Yesterday’s Walk in the Woods

A few snaps from yesterday’s walk in the woods with Stephen. It was a last minute decision to walk as I usually head to the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

Just myself and the Bonsai Baker taking in the views from Scrabo Hill on my local walk. Beech well into Autumn and a few Fungi knocking about as well. Even spotted a field with nearly 200 Swans at rest at the side of the lough. Too far for a photo but good through the binos 🙂

Nov 11 2012

Image

Lest We Forget

Nov 11 2012

Aside

Again sharing these from Yumiko’s Bonsai Days Blog.

Here is Yumiko’s introduction to the images.

Kubote engei (nursery) is situated in Buzen city of Fukuoka prefecture, they had held their 35th anniversary bonsai exhibition on 25th to 27th October. Most of trees were exhibited at Kokufu-ten in the past and some are even registered as Kityo-bonsai (precious bonsai…kind of best of best ) by Japan Bonsai Association.

The owner of the nursery, Mr.Oza had gathered these treasure trees from here and there. I could imagine his effort and hardness.
At the venue, I asked a staff with hesitating if I could take photos because as you know many big shows in Japan are forbidden to take them. But he easily answered “Certainly yes”. That is a good point of local exhibitions. All photos I took are Kokufu trees. Here we go.

Kubote Engei Exhibition Photos

Nov 10 2012

Juniper Pot Virtual

Yes, another one! Better to play around with ideas now than leave it until the Spring.

This is the slight change of front for this tree and a new tilt as well to bring the apex further over the base.

I was going to go smaller, something like this? What you think?

Give it a go yourself.

Nov 9 2012

Alpine Accents

Spotted some Alpines reduced in price from £1.99 to £0.50 at a local garden Centre. Decided they were worth a punt and pick up four that I wanted to try as Accents next year.

I have a soft spot for Armeria and I didn’t have either of these varieties.

Now swapped over to usable pots for display next year.

Nov 8 2012

Shohin Maple Colour Change

24th October

3rd November

Nov 7 2012

Sakka Ten Exhibition Links

I’ve been prowling the internet hungrily seeking photos from the Sakka Ten Exhibition.

No need any more, enough photos and videos here on their Facebook page to keep even the neediest enthusiast happy! Even me 🙂

Sakka Ten Facebook

1000 photos album

Nov 7 2012

Escallonia Alteration

Again, another tree discussed with Peter Warren. This time it’s my Escallonia. I’ve been playing around with angles to pick a front and I asked Peter for his advice.

He suggested removing a branch at the front to show off some more of the character of the tree. I’m planning on some carving refinement on this tree this month and now I can actually get access 🙂

This was it sans leaf as Peter saw it.

And after branch removal.

I think I prefer a slight change of angle now with the branch away.

This is a virtual of it repotted but with the pot shrunk slightly!

The live vein at the front will probably shrink a little now that the branch has been removed. Escallonia are like Junipers in that they have a very defined route between a branch and it’s roots. I did leave a little shoot at the base of the removed branch to see if that is enough of a sap draw to keep the vein alive and see if the sap will transfer over into the main vein to it’s right.

Nov 6 2012

Hawthorn Virtual Pot

Another tree discussed with Mr Warren was this Hawthorn Raft/Twin Trunk. The biggest issue with the tree was the two apexes at the same height. Peter suggested a change of angle and an eventual change of pot into a shell pot, roots permitting. This allows for different apex heights.

As it sits in a pot now.