Hopefully all your bonsai trees are being protected for the winter and here is a quick generic guide to bonsai in January.
At this time of year it is all about preparation for our upcoming show. Tonight the topic in discussion under everyones’ lips is pot choice. Getting the right pot for the right tree can be tricky, and a matter of taste. Trying to keep a pot in an oversized, cheaper pot for most of the year is a good idea as it aids the health for the tree but also keeps your ‘show pots’ in better condition.
A tokonoma display area was set up so everyone can see what arrangements look like in situate, having a good selection of pots to choose from is helpful, as well as other people’s opinion to get another perspective.
1st place, DH Elm
2nd place, KB Black Pine
3rd place, SM Korean Hornbeam
Ask any bonsai enthusiast here in the UK about what they do to protect their trees during the winter and you will usually get a very confident answer; although there does seem to be variation in what people say. I will offer one piece of advice straight away, the smaller the tree the more protection you should give it, this is all dependant on conditions of course and there are no right or wrong answers. The more options you have the better off you will be, the more precautions you take the better off the tree will be. You can extend the growing season by using good protection and lessen the possibility of ill health or worse death. The vast majority of trees do require a period of dormancy however.
GOOD NEWS – The bridge is open as works have been cancelled. So just ignore whats below………..see you all at the show
Railway bridge closure, November – April 2015
This information is for anyone attending the ‘Winter Image’ show on the 22nd Feb 2015.
I wasn’t going to post this just yet, but a number of people are already arranging their accommodation within the Swindon area and they may find this helpful.
It affects anyone attending the show venue, from the town side of Grange Drive. The railway bridge on the B4006 at Greenbridge, has been closed and will remain so until April 2015 while they renew and raise the bridge for the electrification of the main London railway system. There is a diversion signed, but it takes you back towards the town centre. See Map
The railway bridge on Ermin Street, which is off the A419 Swindon bypass, A420 Oxford Road junction is no problem and may be your best route to the show. It is controlled by traffic lights which keeps the traffic moving as it is busy at peak times. Luckily the show is on a Sunday as traffic is lighter.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m27!1m12!1m3!1d1239.8434481356837!2d-1.7528925333714078!3d51.57397316844575!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m12!1i0!3e0!4m5!1s0x487145e7136e0151%3A0xf5cc5feb30347558!2sStratton+Community+Leisure+Centre%2C+Grange+Drive%2C+Swindonwilts+SN3+4JY!3m2!1d51.579246!2d-1.745733!4m3!3m2!1d51.5738086!2d-1.7531961999999999!5e0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1418667275131&w=770&h=600]
San Jose Juniper Bonsai owned and created by Simon Temblett
Simon Temblett gave an evening talk to Swindon Bonsai Club and during his talk he ran through some of his bonsai creations. One stood out, his San Jose Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) which he bought 25 years ago as a tiny plant from a garden centre.
Welcome to the world of creating Bonsai Ents that Simon Temblett introduced to club members at our recent club night where Simon showed us that there can be so much more to bonsai than just a tree in a pot, how about your very own Ent.
Sculpture and bonsai tend to go hand in hand and it is an opportunity to create something that is unique and unusual whilst still maintaining a living bonsai tree and Simon has been perfecting techniques like this over 30 years developing his experience, he is now sharing it with us.
One of Simon Tembletts more well known creations is his Boulevard Juniper (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘boulevard’) but sadly of late this tree has been suffering from what Simon believes is natural dieback as opposed to a pest or disease problem. He puts the dieback down to mild moisture stress due to continued growth restricted to a shallow pot with unstable pot temperatures affecting the roots. That root dysfunction thus explains the canopy / foliage die back and even though this is very natural in a tree in the wild it is a significant issue on a bonsai tree.
Tattooed Beech
Who would have thought to tattoo a tree, well Simon Temblett did just that with his creative flare and design to challenge the artistry of bonsai and sculpture which is an inspiration to us all.
You must be logged in to post a comment.