Mar 26 2012

Yesterday’s Walk up Cavehill

Had a lovely walk with family friends and dogs up Cavehill yesterday morning. Sadly the view over Belfast City was obscured by haze but that’s better than the usual cold rain we normally get up there!

Looking up to the destination, McArts Fort.

The Cave in Cavehill.

Belfast lost in the haze.

Following the dogs, brothers can be seen in the distance.

Last years Haws and this years buds on a Hawthorn.

Jackdaws nesting on the cliff.

What’s that strange shape on the fort?

Two brothers acting like complete eejits 🙂

Stephen, aka Bonsai baker, with Belfast lurking somewhere behind him!

Cliff top dog, Heart in my mouth!

Looking down over Belfast zoo.

Some nice flowers emerging, no clue what they are though!

Mar 26 2012

Cotoneaster Air Layer Repot

Some of you following the blog may remember me air layering this cotoneaster last year.

The original Post can be viewed HERE

Today I decided to repot the layer to allow spreading of roots and to get it into a more suitable pot. I had picked up a Stone Monkey Pot for it at the BSA Auction and was keen to get it potted up.

This is it after 7 months after removal in a training pot.

I was able to comb out the roots and remove the bulk of the layering sphagnum moss. It had even issued roots from the lower branches into the soil! This is the Stone Monkey pot ready for the tree. What I love about this little pot is that even though it’s small time has been taken to add wire holes. A big help.

And the little tree potted up. It needs clipped in a little further but I’ll let it settle in it’s new home for a few months before I do anything else.

Mar 25 2012

For the Record…

Just wanted to make a note on the blog that today was the first feed of the year for my trees. This is after all meant to be my bonsai diary, or that’s what it started out as 😀

Everything that hadn’t been repotted and was showing signs of growth got some green dream today.

Mar 25 2012

Coltsfoot Accent

Nothing like a sunny day to get the most out of this Coltsfoot accent.

Mar 24 2012

10 Days Later..

I took a few photos of the collected trees in the Poly Tunnel and compared them to the same shots from 10 days ago when they were placed in the tunnel. A nice shade of green appearing.

14th March

24th March

Mar 24 2012

Amazing Photography

Photobotos.com follows this blog and being a generally nosey chap I was returning the favour and noticed this stunning photo of a Pine on Loch Lomand.

I then popped over to the photographers website and spent a very nice 30 minutes browsing through some excellent photos of the Scottish Landscape, many of them featuring trees. Result 🙂

To visit Karl William’s website click below.

Mar 23 2012

Missed it!

When I was busy last week I missed this maple opening and now it has extended further than I had wanted! Last year this tree was weak after years of neglect from its previous owner. This year seems to show signs of renewed vigour. It was bought as part of a mercy mission and has a way to go but I think it has enough character to be an interesting tree. Older posts about this tree HERE and HERE.

Mar 22 2012

Trident Update

My Root Over Rock Trident Maple is pushing hard after it’s repot.

My other Trident, not repotted this year is also at a similar stage.

Mar 22 2012

Hawthorn Bursting and Back Budding

I seem to have prolific back budding on some collected Hawthorn this year. This first one was the air layer taken back in 2010.

Suckers from the base!

This one is slighter further on.

These had to be rubbed off.

This little Shohin is starting to back bud well too. A ways to go yet though.

Mar 21 2012

A Walk Around Willowbog

While I was over at Willowbog last weekend I took a few video clips of the Nursery and some stills of the trees. Rather than have them just sitting on my hard drive, I have put them together for a little walking tour of the some, but not all parts of the nursery.