Juniper cascade progress series 2009 - 2016

2009

2010

2011

2011

2012

2013

2016

Crespi Bonsai

Last week we made as small trip to Italy where we had a workshop with Enrico Savini. While being in the "neighbourhood" we took the extra mile to visit Crespi Bonsai Centrum near Milano. 

It is an amazing place with a nice Japanese garden, huge sales area and a great bonsai museum where mr. Luigi Crespi is displaying his personal collection. 

Some trees available in the sales area

Nice Pine available in the sales area

A huge Ginko available in the sales area

Some additional trees available in the sales area

Stuning Juniper from the personal collection of mr. Crespi

Chamaecyparis from the personal collection of mr. Crespi

Juniper progress 2009-2016

This juniper started his bonsai journey as a urban yamadori in 2009 and since then it is developing quite nicely.

Juniper - starting material in 2009

Juniper - 2016 

Larix decidua yamadori - First styling

This Larix decidua was collected a couple of years ago and now it was finally time to make the first initial styling.

Larix before the styling

Larix after the styling

Acer buergerianum

This small Acer was imported from South Korea and joined my collection last year. A couple of days ago it was time to make the first steps. The pot is just a temporary one and will be changed to a smaller one.

Acer buergerianum - before the first step

Acer buergerianum - current image

Restart of Acer buergerianum

This Acer buergerianum was imported from South Korea. The tree was healthy and in solid condition but had many wounds all over the trunk, the front side had a weak nebari and considering the fact that soil didn't absorb water normally, it was obvious that the tree was not repoted for a long time. My conclusion was that the tree was neglected for a longer time so I decided that I will rebuild it from scratch and make it a learning with experience lesson for myself.

Acer buergerianum - 2014

Acer buergerianum - 2014

The first step was repoting in spring. When i took the tree out of the pot I found out that the roots have grown around the pot several times because there was no more space in the pot. Even with this variety which is tolerant to all kind of stress this would soon affect the health of the tree. So my advise if you buy trees from resellers, even if they tell you that it is ready to be styled, don't take the risk and at least check the roots before you start to work on the tree. 

Roots before repoting

For the first step the plan was to make the tree as strong as possible so the wounds would close faster. Because of this I decided to plant the tree in a bigger but shallow pot and prepared an aggressive feeding plan. In combination with the aggressive feeding regime the branches ware left almost free to grow and in one growing season some wounds between 2 and 3 cm diameter almost completely closed.

Last week at the weekly workshop where bonsai friends work together at Janez's place I decided to make a branch selection of primary branches and the first very basic styling. 

In the next season the plan is to continue closing the wounds and start to work on the nebari improvement. The last photo shows the current stage of the tree after one year of development.

Carpinus betulus in authum colours

Carpinus betulus yamadori 5 years in training.

Pot: John Pitt

Carpinus betulus

Taxus yamadori first styling

This Taxus yamadori joined my collection as a gift from a very dear friend and finally it was time to make the first styling.

Juniper (urban yamadori) progress 2009-2015

Juniper urban yamadori - 2009-09 

First styling - 2010-09

Second styling - 2011-03

2011-06

2012-04

2012-06

2013-04

2013-06

2013-08

2014-04

2014-06

2015-09

Spruce yamdori progress 2010-2015

This giant Spruce was collected in 2010 and since than it developed at a slow but steady pace. I'm happy with the current image of the tree and I think that it is a good foundation for the final development of all necessary details to reach the maturity level which is necessary to exhibit a tree.

Spruce yamadori - 08-2015

Natural deadwood details

Spruce yamadori - 09-2010

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai"

This Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" was imported from Japan in the beginning of this year and became a part of my collection. On the first photo is the image of tree when it came to my garden. In the next photos the tree was already whit lots of flowers which i think are very nice and special in this variate of Azalea.

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai"

I decided not to make any major styling steps in the first year because I like to see how the tree reacts to its new environment. The only thing I made this year was some minor work on some wounds which need to be closed.

Fortunately the trunk and the branches don't have many wounds and all the wounds are small. I think that in two seasons there wont be any visible wounds on the trunk or branches.

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" 

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" - Nebari

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" flowers

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" flowers

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" flowers

Satsuki Azalea "Kinsai" flowers