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Yeah, the little flowers are beautiful in the spring.
I have a small ficus bonsai as well and it didn't seem to mind a little heat and sun when I had it outside, but I've had it inside for the last two months, near a window, and it seems to be doing well there too. I got it from a nursery in town and it had been cut back too far, the remnants of the main trunk are about an inch in diameter but all of the budding limbs are new growths as of this year.
I am tempted to go to the bonsai nursery near my house (over an hour away:()and get a nice trident maple. I love these trees. They have such nice three lobe leaves and in the fall their leaves get so scarlet red.Unfortunately, My wife may have something to say about that. I think in the spring I am going to take a ride.Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL
Here is a picture of an arakawa maple I found on the internet and the second is mine. Mine is not as good but I am going to work with it this spring.
Those are nice. I also have a couple that flower. My prunus mume and another I can't think of the name at the moment. Yes, I have found myself liking the larger bonsai. The smaller sizes are just as interesting but they do require more care (the soil dries quicker etc..) I do like MAME I think they are called. Here are a few pictures I got off of the internet. I find these particularly interesting.The last 2 are mume and the same plant I believe. Maybe I can take an air layering from my large mume in the ground and see if I can create something like that.:D
Some fall shots and shots of my inground trees that may make it to a pot this spring.The arakawa I may just start pruning to shape the black pine I am thinking I will put into a pot. A also found this small frog hiding on my amur maple bonsai today.The bamboo is a buddah belly bamboo I have had for about 8 years now.
http://www.bonsaiboy.com
not cheap BUT they have a lot for the hobby from plants, indoor and outdoor, to books and pots etc.
Just thought i would post the link for those looking into it.
:w
OK... edit done sorry lol
Bonsai Boy of New York Bonsai Trees and Bonsai AccessoriesQuote:
Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL
sorry about that
Soil drying out is a problem for me since I work during the day so I have to find a perfect place for my trees too(somewhat shady).I would love to have smaller trees but because of that I can't. They would all die. I would love to see your Mume. Mine is the large on in the ground.Here is a picture:
Cuttings are tough. I have never even tried to grow a cutting. It is a lot of work.I think I may try air layering this spring though. Hopefully that will be easy.You have bonsai classes that you go to? that must be interesting. I went to a class on how to prune japanese black pines once.I learned most of my skills from books and experience.
The names of some of my trees are:
PINUS THUNBERGII
ACER PALMATUM "IRAKAWA"
ACER GINALLA
ACER BEUGERANIUM
PRUNUS MUME
BAMBUSA VENTRICOSA
Excuse my spelling.:D
Well Zenshaver, I'm sure you will be very excited to hear that the 100yr old bonsai is none other than... Drum-roll please (dum da da dum dum da).
Prunus Mume; Omoinomama. Can't tell you the species name though, I have searched and searched and searched but to na avail.
This is a tree that you own? WOW. My mume is maybe 10 years old.That is great.I am getting myself hooked again on bonsai. I can't wait till spring when I can get some more going.There is nothing like the smell of fresh bonsai soil.:D
No no no, that's my sensei's bonsai. Crap I bet that would be worth more than Lynn's entire straight razor and accessory collection.
I got back my Komurasakishikibu trees that I got from the inlaw's place, theres practically nothing left, but new leaf buds are forming, which is interesting given its autumn now, but he thinks they will die over winter, then new ones will come again in spring. However I have been given a task, to see if I can get them to survive the winter. I'll snap some pics for you tomorrow. It will be great to watch the development of them, though I don't have before pics.
The Shirosh.itan probably won't survive as it only basically had a tap root and no firbrous ones. Quite funny coz sensei was still going on and on that it was the wrong time of year to have dug them out, but as I had told him, and my inlaws had too, they were an obsticle and were going to be removed no matter what.
If it dies then it dies, there is no loss, if lives well then thats one more bonsai for my ridiculously large collection. I am now damn near officially right out of space for any more.
I am curious how it progresses.:D
OK so here they are, my battery died yesterday and by the time I got it charged, the light had gone.
The other pics are of the Muresuzume and the tree which is still unknown. Its leaves are falling off now, damn autumn. I like evergreens personally.
Yea I know they are not much to look at ATM but they will be eventually.
Actually they will do better than the Shirosh.itan, coz even if it lives, sensei says its not bonsai material. Basically it will be a tree in a pot. I didn't take pics of that one.
EDIT: I forgot to tell you the most important news. I decided to count my bonsai today, boy did I get a bloody shock. I have 34 bonsai and of course next month is my sensei's bonsai group exhibition, and there will be bonsai on sale there. I'll be sure to take many hundreds of photo's.
I like the budding. I hope it makes it. It could turn out to be a nice bonsai. The trunk looks nice already. The one you have trained in a semi cascade style looks nice too. I am envious.Is that moss you have them planted in?
Nah the moss is just a little on the surface to keep moisture in, since they got a little dehydrated.
Very nice. Now I really can't wait for spring.
Ditto, it's going to be a great spring next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by zenshaver
Man saying it like that makes it sound even longer.
At least another 5 months for me.:(
I got up this morning and it was 27F outside. I guess bonsai season is over.
We had a cold snap about 2 weeks ago, but now we're back to the mid 20's. (Celcius of course.)
Oh and I noticed the leaves on my camellia have curled up, I thought some roots had sprouted but obviously not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zenshaver
Just picked up my first yesterday, a smallish juniper. I did some trimming, although I have yet to wire the trunk (I may let it grow for a month or two before wiring it) and it looks ok for now. I'll post some pix up later... it's definitely still got a long way to go.
I find a completed tree boring. There is nothing to do but look at it. Then there is no thinking of what you need to do next or nothing.I think that is part of the fun of bonsai. Just relaxing and working on a tree.
Wow, does that apply to other art you haven't created yourself too?Quote:
Originally Posted by zenshaver
No, But what do you do next? you know what I mean? I get more enjoyment of imagining of what I am going to do next.I suppose that is why I have a lot of uncompleted trees. As a matter of fact all of the trees I have (in the ground mostly) have a lot of work to go with them.I suppose one or two completed trees wouyld be nice too. If my wife has her way though all of my trees will stay in the ground.:(
I read somewhere that a bonsai is never really completed. It is always changing and growing. So, essentially you are never done with your bonsai. You are just at a different phase in its growth.So, I suppose you just have to think of what to do next with it. Either it be pruning new growth to keep its shape or what branch you want to go where. Either way I enjoy it.
It's just the way your comment came across, that if your not the one creating/who completed the art, then its boring. See that's the thing with text, no emotion, so its easy to take things the wrong way.Quote:
Originally Posted by zenshaver
Bonsai, they never stop growing indeed. IMO bonsai are just like people. People never stop growing, sure they reach a certain height and stop growing, but the cells in which a person is made up of, they break down, then new ones replace them, some get damaged, and they are replaced. A bonsai is just the same, cells growing continuously.Quote:
Originally Posted by zenshaver
True. In essence it is teaching you how to harmonize with nature. How things keep themselves in balance.I recently read another article where someone had stated that when transplanting trees they believed that instead of pruning upper branches when the roots are pruned the tree will balance itself out. In other words the branches the tree cannot support will die until a balance is met. Of course, this way branches may die which you do not want to. It is still interesting to learn.
I forgot to mention earlier, that the Shirosh.itan has a tiny wee leafing bud. I haven't taken pics yet, because, its only one, and so tiny, I don't wanna risk damaging it in any way.
I managed to find a small fern growing right next to a rock in my japanese style garden last week and put it in a small bonsai pot with bonsai soil and brought it into work. So far it is ok and is growing under the flourescent lights at work. I would take a picture but I can't bring a camera to work with me.These ferns usually grow to about 2 feet long but this one is about 4 inches long. It makes a nice accent plant.So, essentially I am growing a bonsai fern.I could take a picture of it with my cell phone but do not know how to download to my computer.I will have to try that.
Here are some of my fall colors.
I just had to add a couple more pics of my japanese maples in their fall colors. By the way Old school. How are your trees coming?
Fight the urge and don't buy anything.:D
No fair. That is hitting below the belt.:nono:
UPDATES, PLEASE. :gl:
Kev