Jan 19 2013

Noelanders Trophy 2013 Photos Part 1

As per last year, even though I didn’t make it to the Trophy, it’s great to have friends 🙂

Harry Van Herck has helped me out once again. Here are the first of his photos from this Years Noelanders Trophy. There’s that many I’ll post them in batches as I get them. I know there’s more than me out there waiting for a good look at how this year’s show has gone. I especially asked Harry to get the shohin as well, and he came through for me 🙂

Enjoy.

Jan 18 2013

Ian B’s Trident

Ian Brought this Trident Maple on Saturday. Not much done, just a little structural pruning of branches to remove crossing or overly thickened ramification. A few tweaks with wire but that’s it.

I suggested a slight change of front from the one showing. With a slight turn the back branch comes more into view adding a little more depth to the image.

Before work

After

Slight angle change

Jan 17 2013

Shohin Japanese Maple

I did a little thinning out of unwanted buds on this maple. I also wanted to remove the moss that was mostly growing on the tree and hiding the nebari. I also noticed a new root emerging from the moss, it’s on the move already.

root emerging

Trunk and nebari hidden

Afterwards with moss removed

Nebari uncovered

Jan 16 2013

Purple Beech

This is a pretty raw Purple beech that was field grown. I cut back some of the unwanted growth and did a little wiring to direct branches into the right areas. long term project but great colour in leaf and brightens up a bench.

After

Jan 15 2013

Belvior Forest Park Belfast

Some photos from a recent walk in Belvior Forest and along the Lagan river.

view from carpark

oak still in leaf!!

big ole cedar

Lagan

on it’s last leg

nice knarly tree

water dipping willow

A fantastic old Oak

oak

beech

oak

amazing nebari on an old beech, great around the full 360

I love you too

swans

you’ll be missed

cold!

graffitti?

Jan 14 2013

Ian B’s Zelkova

Another one worked on with Ian on Saturday. A Zelkova that he has had for a very long time, from seed kit I think!

The before image looks great with lots of fine ramification but if left unchecked it will go backwards this year. We gave it a haircut removing some dead inner branches and thinning out the outer canopy.

Before

After

It’s in an old Lark Lane pot, if anyone remembers those. They used to be in every garden centre in the country about 20 years ago, some crap ones but I love this one.

Jan 13 2013

Ian B’s Larch

Our dedicated club treasurer was at my house yesterday and we worked on a few trees, mostly minor tweaks and a little wiring.

This is his Japanese Larch that has thickened a little in a few places and we removed what we could replacing branches with a finer structure.

Before original front

Before slightly different angle

After

Jan 12 2013

The Magnificent Seven +1

As expected, last nights club meeting was a very low turn out due to the road blocks and protesters across Belfast.

However 7 brave souls and me managed to get there. We used a smaller room and managed to have a great nights craic 🙂

Phil with the usual hat glued to his head.

and his usual two fingered salute. Ben appears to be taking steps with side branch cutters to cut Phil off in his prime. Also note, a rare sighting of Harry on the left most camera shy guy I know 🙂

Is that a Christmas jumper Michael? 🙂

Ben slightly traumatised having been beside Phil all night!

A special mention must go to Alan who after hitting his fourth roadblock gave up and went home. Good try Alan

Jan 9 2013

Boat Booked!

That’s the boat booked for our trip over to Willowbog Bonsai on 25th January for the Ryan Neil Demo and Workshop.

Looking forward to getting over there and seeing some old friends and a few new ones to boot. Funny this internet carry on. I chat with folk every day who I’ve never met. It’s always interesting to actually meet them in the flesh and see if they match up with who you thought they were 🙂

I have my driver lined up, Phil is taking his van over as both our workshop trees are rather on the large side, however they might not be on the way back. If you follow this blog, you all know Phil ‘The Fingers’ Donnelly.

Joining us as a passenger on his first trip to Willowbog is Ben. I’m not sure he’s wise getting into a van for a long drive with Phil as these two constantly banter when together. I think I’ll have to sit in the middle 🙂

Ben will be gutted when he realizes that the chance of getting a mobile phone reception at Willowbog is practically zero! I think his expression will be similar to this 🙂

Or this 🙂

The children playing together 🙂

Enough about that pair, what I’m looking forward to is a good walk around Peter’s benches to get another look at some great bonsai.Here’s a gallery showing my last visit.