Yamadori Crataegus & Prunus, December 2013

I'll let the photos do the talking...



Crataegus and Prunus bagged and ready to go.

My favourite of the haul was this large hawthorn. When selecting yamadori, I look for movement, taper, character and bark... This tree has the lot and is very old! It has very unusual nebari with a secondary trunk (apparently a separate tree) self grafted across the base - clutching a limestone rock. Is it a fault or does it add character? You decide!


My big hawthorn as found.



Pruned and ready for digging.

Front?

Back?

The Unique nebari, clinging to limestone.

Shohin Scots Pine (from nursery stock)

Last weekend I picked up a small Scots Pine from a local garden centre.  I generally try not to buy nursery material - preferring to put my money into petrol in the car for yamadori hunts, but I was tempted into parting with my hard earned £25 so as to have some 'ready-to-work' material for practicing the techniques that I learned from Pavel at Burrs.

Before



After

Usually when styling a tree, I have a very clear image in mind, but on this occasion my focus was more on technique than design - emulating what I had learned from Pavel. It was not until I had finished the styling that I realised just how close an image I had created to the Mugo that Pavel and I styled at Burrs! (An inferior version, of course.)



The Mugo that Pavel & I styled at Burrs

Burrs 2013 Photos

More photos from Burrs Bonsai Workshop 2013.

Larch Rewiring

 

Back in August, I posted about a small larch that I picked up at the Swindon Winter Image Show in February this year. Below is the tree before and after its first styling as featured in the earlier post.

 

 

The tree was left to grow unhindered through the Summer, then yesterday with most of the leaves dropped, it was pruned and rewired.

 

 

 

 

The ramification has come on a good deal in one season. I am looking forward to getting it into a pot in the Spring.

 

Tony Tickle's Garden (Burrs 2013)

During the Burrs Bonsai Workshop Tony Tickle always provides an opportunity for participants to visit his garden and allotment - an opportunity not to be missed! Unfortunately on this occasion, the weather was not in our favour but I did manage to take a few snaps around Tony's garden between dashing in and out of the greenhouse to shelter from the rain.