Stolen trees !!!

The trees on the pictures below ware stolen from a bonsai colleagues garden in Ljubljana (Slovenia). All together 21 trees ware stolen in one night so it seems that it was well organized and it is possible that the tree will surface as trees for sale. 

If someone will get an offer for sale for this trees or will see the trees anywhere, please send me an e-mail: petek.roland@gmail.com or call the owner: 00386 41 690 974.

Juniper urban yamadori

This juniper was collected as a urban yamadori in 2009 and since then the tree is developing with a nice pace. I was looking for a new pot for this tree but until this spring I could not find the "right one", so I decided that I can at least change the position in the old pot and give the tree a new spring "haircut". 

Juniper urban yamadori 2014
(on the small photo the tree in 2009)

Next to finding the right pot, my goal in the next stages, is to develop the lower left branch and work on some details on the crown and on the deadwood.

Juniper Sabina

This tree became a part of my collection in spring 2013. Its a quite big Juniperus Sabina yamadori collected in Spain in 2010. The tree is very dynamic, it has a lots of interesting features, many possible points of interest and offers a number of different design possibilities.

Juniper Sabina when it arrived

The first year the tree was left to rest and no work was performed. I only watered the tree and fed the tree aggressive wit lots of fertilizer. Because the tree showed good health and lost of strength I decided to make the first step and changed the position. While transplanting the tree I replaced all the old soil with pure pumice and because the collector made a great job, the root ball was nicely developed, I had no problems or huge risk while transplanting the tree. Janez also helped me so it was more or less a walk in the park.

Juniper Sabina before the change of position

The current position is not the final one but it is going in the right direction. Now after the tree was transplanted I know exactly the state of the roots and substrate and my plan is to develop a stronger root ball and after that, in the next step, the tree will be transplanted in a more upright position, most probably in the first training pot.

Juniper Sabina after the change of position

This year I will leave the tree to rest again, study the design possibilities and make the decision about the dilemma of grafting new branches to improve the structure and foliage in the future.

Juniper Sabina nebari

Juniper Sabina detail

Juniper Sabina detail

Juniper Sabina twisted live vain

Carpinus Betulus in first pot

A couple of weeks ago I repoted my Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) in its first bonsai pot made by John Pitt. The position of the tree in the pot is far from OK, but at this point it was impossible to plant the tree in a better position. 

Carpinus Betulus 2014-04

Its a pleasure to see how the tree developed from spring 2010 when I collected it in a nearby forest.

Carpinus Betulus before collecting in 2010

Progetto Futuro weekend with Enrico Savini

Finally it was again Progetto Futuro time. Janez, Vid, Matjaz and me spend a great weekend with Enrico Savini in his Bonsai school Progetto Futuro. As usual we had a great time with lots of fun, laugh and also lots of serious work and learning. I learned some new techniques, worked for two days on my two Mugo Pine and at the end of the day, despite that I was very tired, I went home happy with some new knowledge and experiences.

Working in the sun :)

Vid 

Matjaz (Modri)

Janez (The Ham Guy)

Enrico and Janez working on a Mugo Pine

Vid and Matjaz

Enrico Savini

Magic touch

Matjaz and Vid ware working on two Pinus Sylvestris. On the first one a heavy band was made, a new graft was added and then the tree was put to a rest. The other Sylvestris  was ready for its first serious styling. I think the end result of the styling is really promising.

Pinus Sylvestris before the workshop

Pinus Sylvestris after the workshop

Janez also stlyed his Pinus Mugo which was transformed in a very nice tree. When I look a at this tree it is obvious that preparation of a Pine yamadori is one of the key elements for a successful styling with a good result. 

Janez's Mugo Pine before the styling

Janez's Mugo Pine after the styling

I was also working on two Mugo Pines. On the first one we only grafted some new branches to improve the structure of the branches for the future. 

I'm especially happy that I learned the grafting technique because I have a feeling that grafting enormously expands the area of possibilities for a good styling. 

Graft on a Mugo Pine

Graft on a Mugo Pine

The goal of the styling on the other Mugo Pine was to define the future design and prepare the tree for this direction. We made a branch selection and styled the deadwood. In the next steps I will work on the foliage and balance the energy with the goal to develop a strong, healthy basis for the branch positioning and definition of the crown and pads.

Mugo Pine before the workshop

Mugo Pine after the first step

Overall I think it was a great new experience where I gathered new knowledge and experience.

Carpinus Betulus 4-year progress

This Carpinus Betulus is with me from 2010 when I collected it in a forest near to my house.

Carpinus Betulus before it was collected

Carpinus Betulus - 2010-03

In four years of development the tree made good progress and I'm happy with the current image. 

Carpinus Betulus - 2014-03

Of course the tree needs a lot of additional development and many things can be improved. For instance in the upper right area a primary branch is missing. To improve this area I had to "borrow" one branch from the left side and in a couple of growing seasons the new branch will be the same size and in complete proportion with the left side.

New branch development

Noelanders Trophy 2014 - Demo Nr.2 by Ryan Neil

Ryan Neil and his assistant worked on the second day of Noelanders Trophy on a huge Mugo Pine. This demo was anything else but easy, but one more time Ryan Neil managed to show his great knowledge, dedication and impressive energy and managed to style a difficult and huge tree in a very short time. I don't think I have ever seen someone working so hard and fast on a tree. Despite the limited time for such huge tree the end result of the styling was great.

Pinus Mugo before the styling

Ryan Neil

Ryan Neil

Ryan Neil explaining the en result of the demo

 

Pinus Mugo after the demo

Pinus Mugo - before and after