Bonsai made of a 4 Euro tree... (Pinus pinea)

Dear All, 
A few days ago I was going home from work and I passed a local flower shop.. they had a early spring sale and I stopped to have a look. Since Christmas was over they had these little pine trees for sale for 4 euros each... first I really did not give them much thought until I remembered a video I saw on youtube some time ago.. cant remember who posted the video.. but remember the content of the video... 

A filmcrew was visiting a beautiful bonsai nursery in Japan... and the journalist was amazed by the high quality trees... the owner of the nursery asked the guy: "how old are you?" The journalist replied: "I am 32 years old". The Owner said... "look at all these beautiful trees... if you start doing bonsai now.. when you reach MY age you will be able to have the same.. most of these trees are around 30 years old!"

With this video in the back of my mind... I thought.. "hey.. why not buy a couple of these trees... work on them...not expecting anything special for at least the next 10 years to come out of these little young trees... it is not what I will get tomorrow or next year.. but in 20 years from now.. I want to be that 62year old guy with a garden full of quality trees for my enjoyment"

I think there is something fascinating about creating something that have that long time spand before it turns into something great... and then it will first be highly appreciated.

So.. long story short.. here are a picture step by step one one of the little trees..

   

Rodney Clemons Tree Critique Mid-America Bonsai Show Fall 2014

Walter Pall & Jim Doyle Prairie State Bonsai Show Critique 2014 Part 2

Walter Pall & Jim Doyle Prairie State Bonsai Show Critique 2014 Part 1

Bonsai exhibition at the Noelanders Trophy 2015

Ryan Neil's demo at the Noelanders Trophy 2015

Salvatore Liporace's demo at the Noelanders Trophy 2015

Figus Retusa - Airlayering.

Dear All, 

In 2013 I bought this Figus Retusa online.. but I was not really happy with it. I did the first restyling right after arrival. The nebari was terrible and a huge branch was twisted around the trunk of the tree leaving a huge "scare". I was really not sure what to do with it at the time.. I left the tree.. and sometimes by doing that and looking at it for a long time I got the answer.

I decided to change the front of the tree and since it was in good health I wanted to do something about the ugly nebari. I did a airlayering about 3 weeks ago.. and below you can see pictures of the process. The tree have already started to shoot out new roots and hopefully I can get a much nicer tree that what I had to start with. 
I will also change the angle a bit and repot the tree in a more round pot later. 

the tree as it arrived...

After the first styling but was not happy with the big scare at the front of the trunk!

The tree have just been left to grow...

The new front of the tree.with a much better trunk. I also wired the tree a bit... 

 I removed the bark around the trunk and hopefully new roots will shoot out and create a much nicer nebari for the furture.

I wrapped the part of the trunk in plastic bag and added soil. I now water the tree from the top and make sure the area is not drying out at any time.

(You can already see new white roots inside the bag after one month now.)

One month later I see the tree is in very good health and I already begin to see alot of new white roots inside the plastic bag. So fare it looks like it works. 

I am not sure when I will separate the tree from the old root base but I want to make sure there is enough new roots to support the tree... maybe a couple of months from now on. 

will keep you posted... 

  

Chinese Juniper - Itoigawa

Dear All
I just made a reservation on this tree from Kaizen Bonsai nursery in the UK. It will arrive within the next 2 months. Below I have added a few pictures of the tree. Cant wait to get my hands on it.
The tree is original from Korea and is about 58 cm tall, 60cm wide and with a nebari of 12cm. With a little wirring and some styling I think it can be a great Bonsai in the future. 

Bonsai - Amazing world of Masahiko Kimura at Omiya Bonsai Museum

How to access the Omiya Bonsai Museum

A youtube video on how to access the Omiya bonsai Museum (not mine) 







Best regards

Kenneth

TV program about Omiya Bonsai village in Japan

Dear All

In the below link you can find a nice Tv program about Omiya Bonsai village in Japan.

http://www.jibtv.com/programs/omiyabonsai2014/index.html

All the best 
Kenneth

JAPANESE SHIMPAKU JUNIPER

Dear All

During my visit in Japan I bought a small Shimpaku Bonsai in Omiya Bonsai Village. The tree is around 40cm tall and very healthy. It needed some work to be done but a very good quality.
The pot was very small so I repotted it a bigger pot to make it easier for watering etc.

 At the moment my parents are taken care of my trees as I do not have space to take care of outdoor trees where I live. - Having it in a very small pot would be at higher risk to dry out especially during the summer.

Here are a picture of the tree when I bought it:

My plan is to make it a bit more upright style - the crown of the tree was very rounded when you see it in real life - So I have started to wire the tree and lower some of the branches. The tree is still not finished but I think it will end up looking very nice. The pot will also be changed with time - but for now it is good as a training pot. 

Here are a picture how the tree looks today:

Tree as it is today..

Below I have added some inspirational pictures for the upright style I will try to achieve with this tree:

RAFT STYLE BONSAI IN THE MAKING

Dear All

Two years ago I was digging up a small very ugly cypress from my parents garden. The trunk had some interesting "damages" to it.  It was left in a regular pot for some time as I did not really know what to do with it. 

Last summer I removed the branch on the right side and decided to try to make into a raft style bonsai. I planted it horizontal and removed the bark in some areas on the main trunk underneath to let new roots grow out. 

I left it alone untill last week where I did the first rough styling. It does not look pretty now but in 10 years from now I am sure it can be a very nice piece. 

inspirational drawing from the web

inspirational drawing from the web

The tree as it looks after the first rough styling - not really a pretty sight :-)

For the next 2-3 years I will let the top grow to add thickness to the trunks. Especially the main trunk needs to be much thicker. 

I am not sure about the final hight but think this Bonsai will be quit tall. 

Next spring I will remove the main rootball if the tree is doing well with the new roots. I might also plant it in a bigger pot to give it some growing space. 

Here are a few more inspirational pictures with the style I will try to aim:

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Dear All,

Firstly HAPPY NEW YEARS 2015!
It have been a while since I last wrote on my blog - due to many reasons but hopefully for 2015 I will find the time to do more posts regarding the development of my trees. 

All the best

Kenneth Olsen