If you need anything bonsai related throughout the month of February visit www.hoka-en.nl and get your 15% discount by using the code BONSAI2015.
This year Vic Harris has again created and provided two fabulous bonsai pots as a raffle prize for our Swindon Winter Image show on the 22nd February 2015.
Vic and Glyn Harris are Erin Bonsai Pottery and they create hand made bonsai and accent pots of exquisite detail and design and are a must have in any collection. You can view more of their work on their website Erin Bonsai or via their Facebook page.
Thank you once again for your continued support of our Winter Image Show and if you want a chance to win these two pots then come along to our show on Sunday 22nd February at Stratton Leisure Centre, Grange Drive, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 4JY from 10.30am.
Last chance to discuss the arrangements, the planning is in the details. We’ve been all out preparing the displays, backdrops and everything else that goes into making what we hope will be, another great show.
1st place, PB Cotoneaster
2nd place, MP Maple
3rd place, DH Elm
February in the Northern Hemisphere is still classed as winter and it is a difficult month to predict the weather especially as the mild then cold conditions seem to be prevailing. Here are some generic guidelines to what to do with your bonsai trees in February but this will vary somewhat with specific tree species.
We are pleased to announce this years judging line up at our winter show is going to be a little different, first off we’re thrilled to have Jake Hobson, garden tree specialist and author will be joining the judging panel. For those of you who don’t know him here is a bit of background.
How it all began
In 1997. Jake goes to Japan as a wannabe sculptor, to investigate the cultural phenomenon of the cherry blossom season, hanami. There he discovers the gardens, and the trees, and vows to learn more. Back home in England, he trains as a TEFL teacher, meets Keiko, and drags her back to Japan. Year one is spent teaching, year two working at a traditional plant nursery in a rural part of Osaka, learning all about tree training, pruning and rootballing. Back home again, Jake gets work at Architectural Plants in Sussex, where he is shocked to find people using FOUR LEGGED LADDERS (Can you imagine?) Brother-in-law Haruyasu is enrolled to ship over a couple of tripod ladders (still going strong today) which together with the robust Okatsune secateurs and topiary clippers Jake insists on using, cause quite a stir. And so begins the business.
Eucalyptus
Swindon club member Kit has been very busy recently, he has been whittling these beautifully crafted root stands. I have always adored these unique pieces of craftsmanship; you won’t often find these stands available through retailers as they just aren’t commercially viable to produce because of the investment of time it takes to produce each and the return on this. This only makes them more alluring.
Punica granatum is the Pomegranate. This is a semi deciduous tree which looses leaves if kept cool in winter. The tree is broadleaved. It has bright red flowers but some forms are white, pink or yellow and can have single or double flowers.
Fellow Japanophiles, if you have ever wondered why pine trees are so revered in Japan, this video attempts to explain it, bonsai and all. Made and broadcast by NHK world, shared by Jake Hobson.
In general there are a few rules when it comes to pot colour selection that are based around aesthetics in order that your bonsai trees are displayed to their advantage.
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