Nov 5 2012

Rhododendron Virtual Pot

One of the trees Peter W. looked at on his visit here was this Rhododendron Blue Diamond. I posted about the changes made here.

Peter suggested a pot change, this one was always just a stop gap until I could get something more suitable. He suggested a bag pot and I had a quick virtual play around with a few that might be suitable just to see how it looks.

This is how it looks now.

Virtual Pot 1 Glazed Pot

Virtual Pot 2 Matt pot

Virtual Pot 3 Something a little different

Virtual Pot 4 Something a very different, tried it but no!

Give it a pot yourself 🙂

Nov 4 2012

Peter Warren Workshop Critiques

On the Sunday of Peter Warren’s visit to Northern Ireland we had a smaller workshop for 4 people. This allowed us to look at a few more trees than usual at the start of the session. Not all of these trees were worked on in the workshop. The owners were happy to seek advice and get ideas to allow them to carry out the work at a later time.

However the information given by Peter was well worth listening too. These first two trees are a case in point. Peter talks through two Itogawa Junipers and has a wealth of knowledge to share.

Information regarding the types of growth on the junipers was fascinating and also how much foliage it is safe to remove. You see many junipers styled at clubs and at events and often wonder how they respond afterwards to having 60-70% of the foliage removed in one sitting. I feel Peter’s approach, using knowledge gained in 6 years of training in Japan, makes a lot of sense. You might not get a refined looking bonsai at the end of the session, but it will develope quicker in the long run and be a better tree for it.

Don’t take my word for it, listen to Peter.

Nov 3 2012

Fujikawa International School of Bonsai

I suppose this counts as advertising but some of the guys at Fujikawa have been very kind to me, commenting on my blog and sharing photos. I therefore have no qualms about sharing this with everyone.

I’ll be honest, the main reason I’m sharing it is the fact that’s it’s such a bloody good video 🙂 Love the music and the video speaks for itself about the atmosphere at the nursery. No need for any voice over promotion. I only wish I was in a position to go back to school myself!!!!

Nov 3 2012

Naked Beech

This is my beech back on the 20th October.

Once the leaves turn brown I like to strip them off to assess this years growth and appreciate the natural image over the Winter.

Nov 2 2012

Kyusyu Exhibition

Felt I had to share these photos taken at a recent Exhibition in Kyusyu, Japan. At least I think that’s where it was! I have been allowed to share these from Yumiko’s blog, I presume it’s a local show. Love the cloth colour for the tables, trees really stand out.

Nov 1 2012

Yellow Gingko

You’ve got to loove Gingko at this time of year 🙂

Oct 31 2012

Rescue Maple Autumn Colour

First photo taken on 20th October, the next ones 7 days later.

Oct 30 2012

Workshop Videos

I’ve been adding these each day over on the Club Blogsite and thought I’d bring them up to date here as well.

First 4 parts of the Workshop Videos from Peter Warrens Weekend here. Each video features a tree. Each workshop participant selected a tree for talking through at the start of the workshop. Then depending on what was discussed, it was followed up with some work. Some great info dispensed by Peter.

Oct 30 2012

Ian B’s Trees

Ian B, are hard working Club Treasurer was with me on Friday night and I snapped a few photos of his trees while he was here.

His little shohin Kiyo-hime Maple

His Zelkova with the dregs of Autumn colour still clinging on. This tree has come so far from when I first saw it at the club many years ago.

Japanese Larch

His Scots Pine before and after. Nearly all the branches emerged from the one spot on the trunk and we had to removed a lot to stop this point swelling and create some proper structure on the tree. In some ways a step backwards, but better for the tree in the future.