drive-by yamadori

After a fruitless drive in search of a potential new collecting site I spotted this little beech on the side of the road and eased it up with a spade. It's a twin trunk or three trunk depending on whether the third lighter branch/trunk is retained.

larch yamadori

Some larch yamadori collected just before New Year, all potted up but no pruning carried out yet.

bridges in west cork

root over rock

real root over rock hazel

Lough Derg

I was fortunate to spend a day on Lough Derg last weekend with a few friends as we trundled back and forth across the lake calling to a few of the lakeside villages on the way. 

Willow

The willow whips planted in March 2013 now have so much that they have their own canopy blocking out the light. I would estimate some are 20' tall with stems up to 3" in diameter. Salix smithiana has certainly done best in the very wet location they have been planted. I might consider coppicing them back completely in late winter, but will certainly take some hardwood cuttings and push them straight into the ground in another part of the garden.

the burren perfumery

A pleasant place to while away an afternoon...

twin trunk pine

This twin trunk pine recieved some basic styling a week ago. Still a ways to go, but I think I can see a tree in there.

july air layers

 A few weeks ago I tried a few air layers, a blackthorn and whitethorn from the hedgerow, and a fuji cherry and paperbark maple from the garden (both young plants). I'm curious to see if they work as well as last years Acer palmatum. It's probably a bit late in the year to expect success before winter so I may end up leaving the two thicker ones until autumn 2016 to remove.

Blackthorn, ready to wrap

I had some excellent spagnum moss at hand so I can't blame it if it fails

Covered safely

Oriental Hawthorn, cut at an angle to maybe give a better base later

Wrapping was very tricky because of close branches

Finished and covered with black plastic

Slightly oval shaped Whitethorn, cut at an angle.
Looking at the photo I should maybe have stripped away more bark.

wrapped with more moss than it looks like

Wait and see time

acer griseum , a bit narrow but there are better branches above if this works

 

Fuji Cherry, like the acer, there are better branches if this works

the burren

Trip to the burren, county clare

Summer Workshop at Bud Garden Centre, Bunratty

After looking forward to the day for so long, finally the workshop arrived to us in Bud Garden Centre, Bunratty, County Clare. We had 7 participants (plus one floater) and this ensured a range of tree types in various stages of development. Not many photos were taken because we were all so busy, but Piotr tried to capture as many as he could. 

Here is the link to Piotr's pictures on the Munster Bonsai Club site;

https://munsterbonsaiclub.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/bunratty-20062015/

forest groups

Last evening, along the shores of Finn Lough in Clare I spotted three small three groups close together. I only had the phone for a camera so not too clear, but maybe they could be a useful guide some bonsai day...

willow and birch island

small pine group

beech (?) forest

bonsai workshop in clare

Ever since the first Munster Club Bonsai Workshop back in January of last year (it feels like longer), I've hoped to bring a bonsai workshop to Clare. 

On June 20th next, Bud Garden Centre will host a summer workshop. It's an opportunity (and a responsibility) to promote Bonsai in Clare and the West of Ireland generally.

The format will be of a standard workshop, with room also for observers and those who might want to dip their toes in the water. We may hopefully squeeze in a demonstration during the day along with a question and answer session.

As usual Phil & Ian will be on hand shepherding us further along the bonsai road. They have invested a lot of time and energy in Bonsai in Ireland and a successful workshop would be at least some small payback for their efforts.