Warm and confusion

This spell of warm weather has really got things confused.

  
The Chinese quince are pushing out 

   
 
Chouyubai are well away but they flower all winter anyway but look good already.

  
My biggest problem is berries they seem to be going over quick this year which will spoil the effect come show time next year.

   
 
We will have to wait till closer to shows to work out what is going to work. Glad it’s not Noelanders year for shohin. With the national shohin show in April it’s just to early to plan what I will use. Just a case of eat drink and be merry time. 

Happy Christmas all.

Maple trimming time

This is one of my maple shohin earlier in the year on show.

  
Now it has leafed out and is far too congested due to ramification.

  
So having pinched out extension growth as it emerged it’s now time to remove one of every pair to bring in the light and aid further development of inner growth. By removing one of each pair of leaves it will not push out a new set. 

 
It’s looking a little ruffled due to doing in in the rain but it will sort it’s self out and now some light will get in. If you think you may show during the summer leave it here in 3 weeks the stalks will drop off and it won’t show. 

For me it’s still not open enough so I cut in half some of the bigger leaves especially around apex.

   

       
No fertiliser has gone on yet but I will now get some balanced feed on and build some energy through the rest of the season.

Today in the garden

Great to get some colour in the garden.

   

 

My Noelanders shohin exhibit 2015

This is my account of displaying shohin at the Noelanders show. It all started at the 2013 exhibition. Having been interested in shohin since a trip to Japan in 2011 which had fired me up to do more shohin, the whole display concept and verity in pots had a challenge that appealed. During the show I decided having seen the superb displays from Mark & Ritta I wanted to enter the next show, which for shohin is every two years. Easier said than done, but I had the trees but not all the stands needed. Thank you to John Brocklehurst bespoke stands for making the jitta for me. Pots posed another problem and having purchased a great Bigei pot for my Sekka only to find it was too small I was back to the beginning again. Eventually I found a pot while in Japan 1st gen Yamaaki. So with two weeks to go it was time to start getting trees into the right pots.

Having robbed half the neighbourhood of its moss it was the final touch to get the trees mossed up.

My receiving tree was giving me problems I had entered two trees to keep my option open, the #1 tree was a bittersweet when I left for Japan it still had its fruits shut. I closed down the poly green houses while I was away and they decided to pop open and with a lack of circulation then got mould on them. Reserve tree then it would have to be.

After a mock up on my new outdoor display stand (more on that later) I was happy with how it was going.

I had seen while in Japan how the nurserys had packaged up the trees to get to and from the shows so I devised my own version with creates which Andrew Barber of the bonsai shed kindly gave me.

Bamboo skewers were then put round them to stop them moving, and another create over the top for protection. Everything ready for the big day, and at 5:30am it was an early start down to Ashford to meet Chrissie and the others I was travelling with. Hop on the ferry and on to the new venue the Limberghal hall. On arriving it was time for a last pot polish and unpack.

Having checked in it was time to get in the line for the photographer. Once our turn came it was time to put it all together under the watchful eye of Willie the most patient man around.

With my bit done it was down to willie and his team to get the picture they were happy with, this took at least 20mins as a shadow kept being cast on the background after much moving of lights and screens he was finally happy with his shot. I must just say this was my shot if you want to see his perfect shot then get the book when it come out.

Seeing them lit like that was very rewarding and if that was it I would have been happy. It was now time to dismantle and get it over to the exhibition area and set it all up again in the vast hall. By this time some were starting to flag which was understandable as it was now around 8:30pm and hungry tummies were rumbling.

At last it was all set up and ready for the morning.

One happy but released bunny.

A closer look at the individual trees.

A huge thank you to Stewart, Carolyn and Chrissie for all the help.

Better start planning for two years time.

Kouju-en part 3

This is the work room and where work for the website takes place, everyone was bust prepping trees ready for the next big show Kokafu.

The room next door has pots and stands new and old.

That’s all from the nurserys, but starting now our own show season kicks off with Noelanders.

Kouju-en part 2

More trees, you can never see too many trees.

It’s always good to see the boss working.

Now that’s dead wood.

Part 3 soon.

Kouju-en part 1

This was our last nursery to visit, on our last day in Japan. Having checked out of our hotel we caught the courtesy bus down to the main JR station, stashed our bags in the lockers and walked 20 mins to the nursery of Tomohiro. Specialising in shohin of the highest quality we had a great 2hr on the nursery.

This was the only nursery we visited where the trees were in winter quarters, Due to the colder conditions In Kyoto.

Not everything on the nursery is shohin and the staircase up to the roof area had superbly finished Hinoki.

Part 2 soon

Hope you enjoy the video it gives a better perspective.

Taishoen Part 2

I thought I had taken more pictures at the nursery, but realised I must of just been soaking up the enjoyment of our surroundings.
This maple was undergoing some major approach grafts.

Plenty of superb larger trees of the highest quality.

This sign really says it all, the commitment to expand and share the hobby with the whole world.

Thank you to Taiga for all his hospitality during the day and to my superb travelling companions Mark & Ritta and Stewart.

Taishoen Part 1

This was a true highlight of our trip, not only meeting the talented and very welcoming Taiga, but being treated to a bright clear day to see the majestic Fuji-San

The nursery is bigger than the average that I have visited in the past, the work room is comfortable and warm lit by large glass windows and doors. It was good to see Taiga working alongside the deshi even if his material was better than there’s.

The nursery is well known for its shohin bonsai but it also has a good spread of sizes and species.

That’s all for now, part 2 soon.

O and I brought a pot.

World Photo Competition at the Gafu-ten 2015

This was the first time the Gafu show opened up a separate competition for the rest of the world to enter

All the entry’s were on one huge wall next to the main exhibits, with the blown up picture and name card. Three winners were selected.

This was the awarded for the whole composition.

This was my entry.

This was all the other entry’s.

Well done to all the entry’s for braving the scrutiny of the Japanese public, whenever I saw the wall it always had viewers. Thank you to the organisers for giving the whole world the chance to participate in the finest shohin show in the world.