Sunday, March 21, 2010

GINKO FOREST


In this months CLUB MEETING post, I included a photo of my Ginko forest, and said it was do to be re-potted. This is the results, thanks to Kanemi. He had this tray in the nursery and re-potted it for me. We removed one of the original trees and added three new ones.
What an improvement.
"THANK YOU Kanemi."

BONSAI WORK SHOP Mar 20

George has negotiated monthly use of the Trilogy arts & craft building for our club meetings. In exchange for the use of this facility our club will conduct a quarterly bonsai work shop for the Trilogy residents.

I thought this first work shop went very well. George brought in pruning scissors, and some of his terrific 1 gallon junipers. It was fun to help out and bring the joy of bonsai to many enthusiastic attendees. Every one went home with a nice bonsai and many bought a second tree to work on at home. I was having so much fun helping with the trees that I almost forgot to take photos. I took these few photos at the end of the work shop.

Click on photo to enlarge.

















Friday, March 19, 2010

CLUB MEETING Mar 14

The topic for this month was Forest style bonsai (YOSE-UYE), which replicates the feel of a forest in miniature. The forest should contain an odd number of variable sized trees. Forests are planted in a shallow pot with the trees spaced more to the back and to one side of the pot. Check out John Naka's Bonsai Techniques I (pages 215-226)
Club members brought in the three forests below.









Keith brought in this wonderful juniper forest. The rocks and grass are optional elements. Some like to include ceramic figures in their forest, but the bonsai purist do not care for these items.













What magnificent color in John's maple forest. John, 4 trees? Did you lose a tree or is there a small tree hidden in this photo?











This is my Ginko forest. These trees appear to be in a strait line but they are not. The pot is much to deep and the spacing of the trees is not very good. The tree spacing will be correct when I transplant.













Carmen worked on her cascade juniper. I like the movement in this tree.















Here Kanemi is helping restyle Ron's cascade juniper.













This is one of Jeff's collected California Juniper. He calls this a "fish bone style".















George has helped Bob with his cypress. They have selected a new apex and have wired it up vertically. Can you find it? It is coming off the left side of the tree by George's elbow.













This is a terrific white pine bonsai. White pines are grown further north and do not do well in this area. The tree is already showing discoloration in the needles. Kanemi said they need more moisture. Maybe keeping a pan of water under it, or spritzing it often will help.