Monday, September 26, 2016

bonsai 30

I attended recently the NIBS 30 year anniversary exhibition in Belfast Botanic Gardens. I had every intention of carefully studying and photographing each tree in the show, but got side tracked so many times, chatting, discussing trees, browsing trees and pots etc. 
Before I knew it it was time to go. I came away with a little more knowledge about Bonsai and feeling determined to know more, but mainly humbled by the progress the NIBS have made over 30 years.   


sales areas

stephen's beautiful maple




ben's parthenocissus

phil's cascade pine

robert porch teaching...







Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Saturday morning Bonsai at Bud Garden Centre, Bunratty

Piotr working on Harry's Ash

Lonicera pileata in need of a repot
  




Andrew's old azaela

 
Repotted into temporary pot

Getting to grips with that Ash

Discussing one of Stephen's nice Hawthorns

Stephen's repotted Boulevard




Wednesday, February 17, 2016

bonsai morning Saturday 5th March in bunratty

Bud Garden Centre will host a Bonsai Morning on March 5th in Bunratty, County Clare. We will have recurring meeting each month, probably on the first Saturday morning of the month. It offers a chance to connect in the mid-west and help to build further the Irish Bonsai network. It's very much for all levels of interest and experience, so bring a tree or two if you have them, if not just come along anyway...




Monday, February 15, 2016

bonsai workshop 6-2-16 cork

I lifted some of these from ;


Also some good ones on;



all the gang

pine before work
during, although Ian did most of it


raffia, heavy wire and guy wires

some care and attention for a few years to build up foliage


hazel before work

after Ian's styling
larch re-potted


Thursday, February 11, 2016

japanese pruning of cloud pines VIDEO

A short guide to pruning pines (growing in the ground), japanese stlye...



Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

bog pine yamadori

I collected some Scots Pines from an area of bog where they had naturally seeded in the last 30-40 years or so. There are mature trees in a nearby drier location which provide the seeds. The seedlings germinate and grow up to 6 feet but then seem to mostly die slowly due to the wet conditions. The largest tree I collected had been driven over by a tracked machine in the past few years and had had some roots torn at the time. It's a bit sickly looking and I'm not that confident, but I've had good success with similar bog pines before so fingers crossed.