This little fellow makes his patrol of my poly tunnel on a regular basis. I’ve had frogs in there for the last 10 years.
Tag Archives: photography
Rick’s Reworking
Back in July 2011 while on a family holiday I had the pleasure of visiting Rick’s garden in Florida. See here for a post from my visit.
You’ll see from the original post that I commented about a Ficus that Rick had on his Bench. This is the tree as I saw it.
Rick and I discussed a few options for the tree. Now I’d just like to point out that I don’t visit folk for the first time and start telling them what to do with their trees, especially species I don’t know a lot about. However Rick asked, so I offered a little design advice with this one. I really liked the nebari at the back of this tree and suggested this to Rick. The long straight section was also an issue for me and seeing just how quickly Ficus respond to hard pruning, I suggested a chop as an option. Never did I think that he’s actually take me at my word and carry out the work!
Well, yesterday Rick Facebook messaged me and I quote,’ Ian, when did you visit my garden? You suggested I turn this Ficus around. I chopped it off and did just that…..you are the man!’
Again I’d like to point out that yes I am ‘a ‘ man, but most definitely nor ‘the’ man 🙂
Attached was this photo of the tree now.
It’s easy to offer advice, the hard part is putting it into action. Rick has done a great job over only three years and created a squat powerful image which will mature nicely.
Here are few older photos of the tree and the chop in progress.
Now Rick, I want to see this Bougie 3 years on and what have you done with the Holly? 🙂
The Two Sisyrinchium I missed!
I posted the flower shots from the Sisyrinchium varieties I have a few days ago. I missed out the yellow one and I have since found that I have a light blue one as well! No idea where I got it from, I thought it was a ‘Californicum’ up until the flower opened! I have swapped that many plants this last year I have lost track lol.
Fathers Day Walk
I was up and out for my walk on Sunday before my kids even surfaced. In fact I think I was back before they surfaced 🙂
A great morning for a dander along the coast.
Early morning sun behind the Beech trees.
Iris sea view.
Maggie showing her disrespect for the law 🙂 Smudge is already look past this. My excuse was that the dogs can’t read !!
Beach party tricks 🙂
Sisyrinchium
These Sisyrinchium are fast becoming addictive! Here are 3 of the four that I have. The only missing one is the Yellow ‘Californium’. I’m on the hunt for more 🙂
E.K. Balls
Biscutella
Dragons Eye
Sisyrinchium ‘EK Balls’
My Satsuki
This is my satsuki azalea, I have it more for flowers than for bonsai but it gives me pleasure at this time of year. I didn’t let it flower last year to help build strength. It has four flower types but I have only put photos of three below. The missing one is a pale pink flower with a dark pink stripe. Those ones have still to open. The first few photos where taken a few days apart so you can see it opening.
Dark Pink
Pale Pink
Mix
Accent Rhodohypoxis Deflexa
Welcome Home Old Pal
Peter Snart kindly delivered my Root Over Rock Trident Maple back to me a few weeks back. It had been over at Willowbog Bonsai for the BSA Exhibition. This is it as I got it back. A little over grown but in fine health as you’d expect 😉
I had to address the overgrown shoots that had now overly thickened some of the outer canopy. The only way I could do this was by defoliation and then thinning out of the fat areas. This was it after defoliation.
and again after thinning out, you can see I’ve also removed the moss, I want to be able to keep an eye on the watering better and the moss was obscuring my view of this and also taking some of the water for itself.
In hindsight I have missed an opportunity 😦 I should have left the bottom few branches untouched to allow them to fatten further to get a better balance in the tree. Ah well…
Wrong Tree Mate
This young blackbird snuck into my garage on Saturday past to get away from the heavy rain. It perched on top of the wrong tree 🙂
I had to catch another on in the poly tunnel before it done itself a mischief! Another smashed a pot in the greenhouse!! Found a few plants ripped out of the pots too, but you got to love them all the same 🙂
Cotoneaster in Flower
Bonsai Eejit 