At last we are able to hold our club meetings back at the Coleview centre. The tables have been well spaced out so we can keep our distance from each other, if needed. There weren’t too many of us at the first meeting, due to many reasons but at least it attracted two new possible members to attend to ask many questions. Here are a few quick photos from the evening…….
This Trident Maple started life as a cutting purchased in 1988 for 50 pence. It was planted in a length of drain pipe for two years to help develop long roots, during this time it was fed well. It was then taken out of the pipe, all the soil washed off, sat on this piece of stone and tied in place with Raffia. The roots were laid out and any surplus ones wound round or tied to others. It was then planted in my front garden, during this time the height of the tree was not reduced.
This is unusual. Hoya Kerrii is classified somewhere between a succulent and a plant. From south-east Asia, they are used as houseplants for the rather obvious visual quality. They have water-holding leaves and a shallow root system. Interestingly if you purchase a single or double-leaf plant like mine you won’t be able to propagate or grow it on further. This is a cutting, and has no node. I thought I would have a go at creating a bonsai style one for a bit of fun.
Several years ago, the club decided to award a merit shield to a club member, together with a voucher to attend one of John Trott’s workshops near Shepton Mallet, so not too far away. This was decided by the current committee and consideration was given to the improvement of members trees, what that member had contributed to the club and which member’s trees would benefit from a workshop. John is well known in bonsai circles and regularly displays a major events and RHS shows. In 2019 he was recognised by the RHS [Royal Horticultural Society] as their ‘Master Grower’ for that year……… https://swindon-bonsai.co.uk/2019/05/18/rhs-master-grower-john-trott/
The Coleview Community Centre is now open again, so meetings will hopefully start again at 7.30pm on Tuesday the 8th June 2021 in the Towcester Suite [Big Hall]. For the time being it will be workshops until we can compile a new programme to take us up to the AGM next March. Any members with ideas of what you would like to cover during our meetings please let a Committee member know.
I had my eye on this little Ginseng Fig with a view of air layering the top bit. The long aerial roots are a hallmark of this plant, but I saw a small ‘sumo’ style configuration at the top of this tree which I wanted to create. So here we go.
This year there have been a few observations from bonsai enthusiasts of an orange fungus appearing on their Juniper bonsai trees. It is likely that this is a species of Gymnosporangium which is host shifting rust that causes systemic infections. It is widespread and common and visible from March to August occurring on different species of Juniperus.
I like to style my trees to resemble those I have seen in the wild. While I was on holiday in Devon, I saw a row of old oak trees that had been gently shaped by the wind over many generations, this was the image I had in mind.
I have often wondered if the trees pictured above could be arranged into a group. I decided to try them in a straight line as if they were the remnants of a very old hedge.
I bought this tree at the Caple manor show about 10 years ago, it was in a flower pot. The two pieces shown in the pictures above were originally attached. I thought it had the making of a good raft style which I have always wanted. The two pictures above have been cropped to show the original soil line in the pot.