Apr 24 2013

Rick’s Fern

When I was in Florida a few years back I picked up this little fern courtesy of Rick J who’s bonsai collection I visited. I just love the red foliage. I keep it permanantly in the poly tunnel and it seems to work. I managed to split it in the Autumn and ended up with three. One now resides in Scotland. Pot by Susan Francesca Hunter

Apr 24 2013

Dancing Hawthorn Spring Growth

My Dancing Hawthorn is probably the further on growth wise of all my Hawthorn this year. Still early days structurally but going in the right direction. Pot for training not for life 🙂

Apr 23 2013

Maple Two Weeks On

Just a quick update on my maple after a repot. This is it before the repot.

and this is it now.

I spent about 30 minutes after this photo going over the tree pinching out the growing tips. It even flowered this year for the first time!

Apr 23 2013

Comeback Trail

My Chuhin Maple is now well on the way to making a comeback after the insect attack that saw me lose several branches mainly at the apex. I I siad it would take 5 years to resemble something approaching it’s former quality. That’s one year down, four to go!

Apr 22 2013

Evening Walk with My Better Half

Last Friday evening after a hectic week at work I took a stroll out with by Better Half. Nothing fancy just a walk along the floodgates in Ards. I usually walk in the mornings so it was nice to see a different light for photos.

Tide was out and there was plenty of wading birds about.

Everyone happy,

even the dogs

Only folk not happy were the owners of the two cars in the carpark. Windows smashed and handbags stolen! They were busy complaining about how slow the police were in getting there. The police were two miles down the lough fishing a skull out of the water and looking for the rest of the body. Nice and peaceful!! It’s as well Smudge only found a Tennis Ball! 🙂

Apr 22 2013

Ivy Air Layer Update

I made a few alterations yesterday to an air layer taken last year. Story Here

This was it before work.

The leaves were a bit tatty and they like frequent defoliation. To help me see what why to progress this tree I removed the leaves and ended up removing some of the deadwood too. It was confusing the flow of the tree.

Going for a semi cascade as you can see. This is a different view to show you the movement.

Work still required on the deadwood to the rear but no rush, early days.

Apr 21 2013

Larch One Week On…

What a difference a week makes. If only our exhibition was a week later, we would have had a little more to work with.

This is my larch at the show.

And today

Apr 21 2013

NIBS Exhibition – Demo Trees

During the Exhibition last weekend we worked on a few trees as a sort of rolling demo for the public to watch. Sadly I didn’t always get an after photo. I can Hear Phil saying, ‘You Dick!!’

Here’s a few shots I did take.

Ben’s Blue Cedar that fell off the back of a lorry! Really!! Before