Sometimes I work on nursery trees, sometimes I work on client’s trees……and sometimes if I’ve been a really good boy I get to work on my own trees. Hopefully these regular visits will give you an insight into what goes on behind closed doors……….

Studio Stories – Bonsai Maples from the garden

In a corner of my bonsai garden adjacent to the gate are two maples. One is a green maple whilst the other is of the Atropurpureum variety. Both tree suffered from severe dieback over the years but continue to regrow and fill up the space.

However as you can see this corner is looking a bit sad after a long wet winter and the unwanted attentions of two mischievous ever-digging Rottweiler dogs!

So on the 19th April 2013 I decided to lift the maples and introduce them to a better way of life…….One safely away from marauding dogs where their every whim is taken care of in a sheltered protected environment…….welcome to the bonsai training pot!

The trees were dug out with as much root as possible. As much of the heavy roots were pruned away as possible and then the tops were also pruned back. Any potential useable branches were retained and future possible trunk lines were also considered in making the selection.

Both trunks will have good potential for future hollowing/carving especially the purple maple as the central trunk has already died back and could be safely hollowed out.

The pictures below were taken today 23rd May, just over a month later. The trees have been protected in a polytunnel and you can see that despite the cold weather they are sprouting/growing well.

Both trees have far greater potential as bonsai than as garden material and therefore this exercise was justified and really worthwhile………..and the garden???…… well I have had to replant with suitable material from our nursery…….seems to me everyone’s a winner ……. unfortunately the dogs are already rubbing their claws together!!!……. I will let you know what happens!!!

Sometimes I work on nursery trees, sometimes I work on client’s trees……and sometimes if I’ve been a really good boy I get to work on my own trees. Hopefully these regular visits will give you an insight into what goes on behind closed doors……….

Studio Stories – Yamadorii Larch

I acquired these two trees approximately 7/8 years ago as part of a batch of trees. I believe they originated from the Alps.

In 2007 they were transferred from large plant pots into these rectangular heavy duty plastic training pots. They were pruned on a regular basis and both had an initial styling some 4/5 years ago.

Last year they were allowed to grow freely with very little maintenance pruning.

In February 2013 a branch selection was made and then the trees were totally wired. On larch number two a shari was introduced and work was carried out at the apex to try and lighten the top where the tree had been chopped down. it was a case of trying to give an illusion of taper.

You can see why a shari on a larch needs to be wide or re-made each year because the callous it produces is so strong it can heal the shari completely.

Larch number one also needed some shari work to improve the trunk line and deal with a problem of slight inverse taper. The shari started previously would have to be extended.
  

The front and planting angle of the tree is also changed slightly.

Letting the trees grow unchecked has given us a great result as there are plenty of fine branches to choose from and after the wiring the trees form will appear much more refined….. Not easy to really appreciate until the tree produces its lush green foliage in Spring.

For the first time we are really seeing a difference in these two trees with obvious foliage clouds and spaces that should be much easier to refine further. You can see in the centre pictures just how well these trees have back budded and how dense the foliage clouds really are…..there are literally buds everywhere.

If these trees have not sold before spring next year they will be repotted into ceramic bonsai pots……….I am certainly not ordering the pots just yet!!!

Sometimes I work on nursery trees, sometimes I work on client’s trees……and sometimes if I’ve been a really good boy I get to work on my own trees. Hopefully these regular visits will give you an insight into what goes on behind closed doors……….

Studio Stories – John’s Euonymous Bonsai

I believe this tree was originally found growing in a garden somewhere in Yorkshire. It was lifted as a substantial shrub and potted into a training pot. When it’s original owner moved to the Isle of Man this tree accompanied the rest of his collection and went with him.

I first encountered this tree on an open workshop bonsai class. One of my students who attended classes regularly travelled from the Isle of Man and he had acquired this tree.

With it’s large glossy leaves I would normally have shied away from this variety as good bonsai material but the size of this trunk and base was so powerful that the two could work well together. So despite my students misgivings I encouraged him to persevere with the tree.

I acquired the tree in 2005 and the picture to the right shows how the tree looked. My student was struggling to get to grips with the branch structure and large leaves. Furthermore, he liked a specimen bonsai we had for sale and asked me if I would take the Euonymous in part exchange.

Looking at this picture and thinking of the tree he took away I can understand why my wife and helpers thought I had lost the plot!

So it was a case of feeding it well, a lot of clip and grow, and the occasional bit of wire. When the tree was repotted in the March of 2010 you can see how well the canopy has developed.

The tree recovered so well from the repotting that by May it was time for some more drastic pruning.

In the Newstead 4 Exhibition held in September later that year I did a feature on bonsai created from garden material and this tree was included.

The tree has grown strongly in the intervening years and I have continued largely with the clip and grow approach. I have removed fairly large branches on a regular basis trying to open up the front and create a more compact foliage crown. In creating more branches with shorter internodes and more buds the leaf size is reducing nicely and is comfortably in scale with the impressive trunk base.

April 2013 and the tree is ready for repotting into a new pot made specially by David Jones of Walsall Studio Ceramics. In fact David made two similar pots to give me a choice and I bought them both. You can see how fibrous the root system is.

After much deliberation I decided to go with the pot having the large wide rim as I think it was a better compliment to the strong base of the tree. I put the other pot up for sale and unbelievably it sold the very next day.

I am really pleased with the progress this tree has made. It is unusual to come across this variety as bonsai. The Euonymous variety often seen from Japan have a smaller leaf and are much more compact.

It just shows what can be achieved from humble garden material…….. but when you have to work with larger leaved varieties it certainly helps if you have a large trunk to go with it !!