Jan 7 2014

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Shohin Larch

I posted about this Larch recently. It’s the latest addition to my collection. Originally a landscape with a rock in the pot, I removed the rock and have now wired the tree into it’s new shape. Next step will be a repot. I can see a few problems with the roots and fitting them into an appropriately sized pot. I think I have one for the job but time will tell.

This is the before shot

Rock removed

This is it after wiring and shaping. I have removed a heavy front branch that was blocking some of the real character exhibited in the trunk line. A small jin created but this may be removed soon. I’ve just left it for now to consider.A lot of thinning out done and many smaller but overly heavy branches removed.

A slightly different angle that shows the trunk line a little better.

Jan 6 2014

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Escallonia Winter Work

I did a little tidy up on some late shoots on my Escallonia. This is it before the trim and shows the old front.

After a trim

The new front.

The back showing another live vein

Jan 5 2014

Stephen’s Cotoneaster

This is a Cotoneaster that Stephen brought to my place a few weeks agao to do a little carving and eventually restyle. It had lost two weak branches at the back and was placed into this tub to regain vigour for the last year. This seems to have worked.

Stephen cover this session on his blog HERE

Yesterday afternoon Stephen came back to do the wiring and styling. We also did a little more carving. This was it before we started wiring.

After some wiring this is the image that Stephen preferred for the tree.

I found this older photo of it from back in 2011

Jan 4 2014

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Kennet Collection Reduction Sale

I’ve been asked to share this with you all, makes sense as I have a lot of hits from the USA. This sale looks amazing! It took me quite a while flicking through the photos and checking prices to see what was on offer. If you live near or even can travel for a day, this is well worth a visit. Some great trees for sale, mostly Japanese Import too. Prices range from £20 to $14,000 and everywhere in between. They are obviously priced to sell!

Jan 3 2014

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Virtuel Bonsai Blog

Had to share Vev’s blog with you, absolutely stunning drawings of bonsai. Click on the image to visit.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about!

Permanent link on my bonsai friends list in my sidebar.

Jan 3 2014

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Tidal Surge

The last few weeks have been grim here weather wise. Every other day seems to bring in a storm front with high winds. I lost my greenhouse door a few weeks back and have had other minor damage done around the garden, thankfully my trees are ok.

Today I was working near Newcastle in County Down, a coastal town. High winds and a Spring Tide combined to create a tidal surge. I took my camera along on the off change and got a few snaps. I wasn’t getting any closer as a few folk got a cold shower for their efforts while I was watching. A wee video too.

Jan 2 2014

Elm Adjustments

I have been making a few decisions with this field grown Cork Bark Elm. It was styled a few years ago and since then I have been building up ramification and girth to lower branches.

This year saw a lot of growth but a lot of this wasn’t in the right places. The wire had been removed last Winter and during the year they have risen out of the desired profile. The finer growth is too dense in places to the detriment of inner areas.

I spent an hour the other afternoon wiring the primary and secondary branching and thinning out the dense areas to create proper structure. Although this has reduced the size of the overall tree, in a negative way, the structure left is correct and I will be able to quickly replace the ramification. I did manage to snap a little branch near the apex. Didn’t see that pruning wound from last year which had created a weak spot. At least at the apex it can be replaced quickly.

The foliage mass needs to be at least twice as much as it is now, but that’s part of the enjoyment of deciduous bonsai, no quick fixes.

Jan 1 2014

2014

Happy New Year everyone. A bit of a sore head today, took down my Christmas tree but I don’t think that counts as tree maintenance 🙂 Looking forward to what 2014 brings.

Lets do it together….