Oct 17 2012

Peter Warren Day 4

Well, there wasn’t really a day 4, it was the day Peter flew home, but we did manage to pop down to Stephen’s House [bonsai Baker] for a look around.

Check out the colour on his Arakawa Maple. The colour had even deepened from the Friday night meeting.

Jul 29 2012

Defoliation Bounce Back

These two have flushed out again after defoliation.

Rescue Maple

Silver Birch

Jul 25 2012

Proof of Life #3

By now you are thinking that I actually have no bonsai of my own and my garden is full of other peoples trees! You might be right!!

This one is for Valerie. Her Arakawa Maple was in desperate need of major pruning and a major repot at the Willowbog workshop back in May. As the tree was already in full leaf, we opted to defoliate, prune and repot all in one go. I decided to keep it for the Summer for some special aftercare. This is it now. I think you should be happy with this Valerie 🙂

Jul 24 2012

Proof of Life #2

This one is for Geraldine and in a way Mr Snart as well. I have been looking after these two trees since the last Willowbog Bonsai workshop. I just want to update Geraldine on the progress.

First is her Itogawa Juniper. It had been slow to respond after the work done last Autumn and Peter suggested that we repot into a larger pot with a greater surface area to push it on. The old mix was compacted and the pot was restrictive. This seems to have done the trick.

Next up is her Shohin Trident Maple root over rock. It was defoliated and repotted to deal with similar problems to the Juniper. I have already had to shorten extension growth twice since then.

Jul 22 2012

Rose Show

I had the pleasure of judging the bonsai entries at the Rose Show in Belfast yesterday. I small local flower show held as part of the bigger Rose Week event at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.

The bonsai aspect was small, our club supports the Rose Society by always getting a few entries in to fill the space and add interest for the public. As far as bonsai go, it’s not what we aspire too in our own displays with the usual low tables and cramped space. For that reason and the poor photos that resulted from inside a marquee, I’ll not bombard you with poor quality photos. I will however share some photos taken from within the park itself showing both the roses and some nice trees.

First, photos from inside the flower show marquee during judging. The rest from within the park Rose Gardens and Japanese Garden. When I show the Rose name it’s because is a highly perfumes variety that my wife is determined to add to our garden.

Jul 8 2012

Good Signs

I had a closer look at the Chuhin Maple to see if there were any signs of new buds to replace the branches I lost to insect attack in the Spring. Signs are good. Budding is starting not just at the apex but also lower down.

Jul 5 2012

Shohin Maple

My shohin Maple leafing out after defoliation.

Jun 12 2012

Trident Tidy up for Exhibition

Our club has a display this weekend and I gave my Trident a trim for the show.

Jun 10 2012

Chuhin Maple Update

After Winning an Award at the BSA Exhibition back in March, this Maple came home only to be eaten by some sort of insect. It was given free growth until now to see where it might bud from.

I have lost several branches including many at the apex. Yesterday I decided to remove the dead branches and start the process of rebuilding it back to it’s past level. I think I’m now over the disappointment. I’m posting it here which is a clear sign that I’m moving on. I’m even looking forward to the rebuilding process.

This was it before I did anything yesterday.

Here you can see dead branches in the apex and some of the very strong new growth.

Dead branches removed and the wounds before sealing.

The dead bits.

and the tree as it sits after the work.

A long winding road, having taken a wrong turn, I’m now heading back the right way again.

May 24 2012

Trident Thinning

My newish Trident Root over Rock needed a little attention. It had some extension growth and the canopy was dense stopping light reaching inner branches. I reduced the extension growth and removed some of the larger leaves from the outside of the canopy.

Before.