Since seeing a Seigen for the first time in Bonsai Today #47, I have wanted one. Finally, several years ago, an acquaintance on Bonsai Nut found a site offering them as grafts and I grabbed this one. As purchased in spring 2019: My plan was to plant it in the ground and begin to propagate … Continue reading ‘Seigen’ Japanese Maple Air Layer→
There are some areas of this tree that need more volume, particularly noticeable if the viewer walks around it. Most of it will correct with time, but some areas will benefit from keeping this year’s extension growth instead of candle-cutting. Typically, candle-cutting in my area is in early to late July; allowing a 100-day growing … Continue reading Selective Summer Candle Cutting on a JBP→
Our annual show was last weekend, here are a few unedited shots from the show, along with a link to a video walkthrough. Enjoy. Here are my submissions. I did have a chance to edit these shots. Our auditorium is difficult to photograph in. And here is a link to the video walkthrough on my … Continue reading 2025 Alabama Bonsai Society Spring Show→
This maple was pruned back and lightly wired last winter: I usually repot it each year in March: As buds open, I pinch out the central bud, leaving a single pair of leaves on each shoot. This keeps the internodes short. Sometimes a few get past me, which I address when I do summer work.… Continue reading Summer Japanese Maple work
This maple was pruned back and lightly wired last winter: I usually repot it each year in March: As buds open, I pinch out the central bud, leaving a single pair of leaves on each shoot. This keeps the internodes short. Sometimes a few get past me, which I address when I do summer work. … Continue reading Summer Japanese Maple work→
With around 100 days before our first frost, it is time to perform summer candle-cutting on these Japanese Black Pines. This is removing this year’s new growth which prompts in another flush of new candles and needles that are smaller, and usually provide another course of ramification; making this a refinement training activity. Here is… Continue reading Summer Candle-Cutting with JBP
With around 100 days before our first frost, it is time to perform summer candle-cutting on these Japanese Black Pines. This is removing this year’s new growth which prompts in another flush of new candles and needles that are smaller, and usually provide another course of ramification; making this a refinement training activity. Here is … Continue reading Summer Candle-Cutting with JBP→
Years ago, I wrote off the practice of summer candle-cutting corkbark JBP because they just didn’t respond well. The result was often just buds setting for next year, some lethargic new candles at stronger branches, but nothing consistent throughout the tree. In summer 2024, with my small Hachi-gen in strong health but with long needles,… Continue reading Summer candle-cutting a corkbark JBP?
Years ago, I wrote off the practice of summer candle-cutting corkbark JBP because they just didn’t respond well. The result was often just buds setting for next year, some lethargic new candles at stronger branches, but nothing consistent throughout the tree. In summer 2024, with my small Hachi-gen in strong health but with long needles, … Continue reading Summer candle-cutting a corkbark JBP?→
When I received the book, “Classic Bonsai of Japan”, one of the first eye-catching compositions was this Japanese maple in an antique Chinese container. So much so that I commissioned a replica from a potter friend, Byron Myrick back around 2010. He made 3 or 4, one on which the glaze hit just right, but… Continue reading An old Chinese Pot
When I received the book, “Classic Bonsai of Japan”, one of the first eye-catching compositions was this Japanese maple in an antique Chinese container. So much so that I commissioned a replica from a potter friend, Byron Myrick back around 2010. He made 3 or 4, one on which the glaze hit just right, but … Continue reading An old Chinese Pot→
Happy Thanksgiving to the American readers. Here are a few shots from this fall. Hoping to do a little wiring over the next few days and to share updates on a few trees. It has been a minute.
Happy Thanksgiving to the American readers. Here are a few shots from this fall. Hoping to do a little wiring over the next few days and to share updates on a few trees. It has been a minute.
This gem came from Telperion Farms around 10 years ago. It was last styled at Bjorn’s a couple years ago, and repotted in spring 2025. I candle-cut it in July and had a chance to work on it this fall. A quick look over the last 10 years… And finally, the money shot. Next year,… Continue reading Japanese Black Pine, ‘Arakawa’
This gem came from Telperion Farms around 10 years ago. It was last styled at Bjorn’s a couple years ago, and repotted in spring 2025. I candle-cut it in July and had a chance to work on it this fall. A quick look over the last 10 years… And finally, the money shot. Next year, … Continue reading Japanese Black Pine, ‘Arakawa’→
I bought this Shimpaku from Evergreen Gardenworks in 2011, and it was a massive tree when it arrived. I didn’t do the best job planning for its future, and as a result, it only has a single live vein. For years, the front was this: That lowest-left branch is actually pulled down from above and… Continue reading Finding a new front
I bought this Shimpaku from Evergreen Gardenworks in 2011, and it was a massive tree when it arrived. I didn’t do the best job planning for its future, and as a result, it only has a single live vein. For years, the front was this: That lowest-left branch is actually pulled down from above and … Continue reading Finding a new front→
In 2014 I purchased this Itoigawa from Bjorn. Years later, when I was visiting Chikugo-en in L.A., Gary Ishii recognized it as one he grew. So it has some cool history. Originally, we styled it to move left: During Covid, I sent several trees to Bjorn to wire. Among them was this Itoigawa Here is… Continue reading A neglected Itoigawa
In 2014 I purchased this Itoigawa from Bjorn. Years later, when I was visiting Chikugo-en in L.A., Gary Ishii recognized it as one he grew. So it has some cool history. Originally, we styled it to move left: During Covid, I sent several trees to Bjorn to wire. Among them was this Itoigawa Here is … Continue reading A neglected Itoigawa→
This one always starts growing as soon as temps get over 45 for a few days. It requires that I repot far sooner than I am mentally prepared for. So last weekend, I broke the seal on the 2026 repotting season. Which also means temps will for sure drop into the 20s within a few… Continue reading Chinese Quince Repot
This one always starts growing as soon as temps get over 45 for a few days. It requires that I repot far sooner than I am mentally prepared for. So last weekend, I broke the seal on the 2026 repotting season. Which also means temps will for sure drop into the 20s within a few … Continue reading Chinese Quince Repot→
This one is pretty well developed, but needs some tidying up every year to keep it in balance. here is a shot from before work started. Branches getting relatively too thick for their position on the tree, congested branches, and raising branches all need to be addressed. Look below and see which ones jump out… Continue reading Chishio Japanese Maple maintenance
This one is pretty well developed, but needs some tidying up every year to keep it in balance. here is a shot from before work started. Branches getting relatively too thick for their position on the tree, congested branches, and raising branches all need to be addressed. Look below and see which ones jump out … Continue reading Chishio Japanese Maple maintenance→
Login
