HV66 Bonsai

Here are two of my kusamono in summertime…

1: Campanula takesimana ‘Elizabeth’. Height: +/- 15 cm. Pot: Japan.

Campanula takesimana 'Elizabeth'

Campanula takesimana 'Elizabeth'

2: Hosta “Blue mouse ears”. Height: +/- 14 cm. Pot: Horst Heinzlreiter.

Hosta "Blue mouse ears"

Hosta "Blue mouse ears"

This is an update about my Chuhin Pinus sylvestris…

(You can find the previous entry about this tree here)

A few weeks ago I decided to remove all wire and raffia on the main branch which now forms the trunkline, as it was growing in on some places. This branch was not fixed or stabilized enough yet, so I had to place a few guy-wires to ensure everything stays on its place. On a few spots the wire was biting in on the branch, but I am sure there is no permanent damage done. I left the wire on the smaller branches, because there still is some space left over for more growth in thickness there. This pine did not have any problems for now, it keeps growing well. The new candles are now opening. Here are some recent pictures…

Front

Rightside

Backside

Leftside

I planned to repot it this pine this year, but I think I will wait another year with this one. I would like to be sure its health is optimal before repotting, so maybe I will repot it this autumn, otherwise next year in spring…

To be continued!

This is a yamadori Scots pine I have in my collection since the summer of 2007. This tree has nice movement in the trunk, and some beautiful deadwood features. But it also has a major problem in the roots that became visible when I repotted it for the first time in march of 2009.

As you can see, there are only two main roots on this tree. This means I am very limited in changing the inclination of the tree. My first thought was a cascade or kengai…

Today I tried to shape this tree as a cascade, but the result was a bit disappointing.

Then I got a suggestion to change the inclination again. On the picture below you can now see the nice movement, which was a bit hidden in the kengai option. So I changed the styling to a more upwards position.

I still have some possibilities changing the inclination a little bit, but I have to figure out a way how I will get the root on the backside in a pot. The main root is about two fingers thick, so maybe I can change its position a bit by wiring it the next time I repot it. Or I have to order a custom made pot.

Anyway, I am not finished with this tree yet…

This month I decided to work again on this common juniper. After studying the tree I moved the heavy falling branch on the rightside completely upwards , and used it to build a more dense canopy. A branch that was behind it, has now taken its place. I think this tree has benefited from this  in terms of movement.

Below you see a picture from 2007 after I decided to use this side as front.

While looking at the possibilities of the tree, I did something stupid. I wanted to see how the tree looked like if I pulled  the long  jin a bit downwards. But almost immediately a piece of dead wood broke off. You can see the light brown color on the spot where a piece broke off. Apparently this dead wood is already very old, and now also become very fragile. Well anyway, it’s a nice fracture, so I am thinking of gluing that piece of wood back on the dead wood. I think it will be hard to see it once broke off. In any case, we now have learned we should be more careful with moving dead wood …

Last time this tree was repotted was in autumn 2007, so I also decided to repot it again. For myself it was a pleasant surprise to see how many new roots this tree had created. They all looked very healthy. The narrow lifeline on the back and the corresponding roots didn’t survive, so it seems like the tree didn’t need them anymore. Fortunately this is not realy a problem because they were not important factor in my design. So all the roots you can now see are from the root on the rightside…

The choice for a new pot fell on a round drumpot by Erwin Grzesinski. The roots fitted smoothly into the pot, and because there is still enough room for new root growth, I did not prune any roots at all. But since all root growth comes from one main root, it was difficult to properly anchor the tree in the pot. So the tree still remains supported by a wooden wedge, and with two wires anchored to two jins the tree was firmly secured in his new pot.  The dead root on the left was already decaying, but since this root is still very useful as an aid to support the tree, I treated it with woodhardener. After applying this woodhardener, I gave the product some time to penetrate the dead wood. (which was about 30 minutes)  Then I started adding new soil. As new soil mix I have used a mix of akadama, kiryu and bims in a ratio of 60-20-20…

As you can see, plenty new roots…

And here below the result after repotting…

Now I will give this tree a year rest to obtain its vigour again, and if all goes well, next year a little further refinement…

Regards,
Hans

Welcome to my renewed website!

Once in a while you will see new stories and reports about my bonsai-do appearing here. I decided to publish my posts in English language from now on. Most of the older entries from my previous Blog are added, some are translated into English, and some are still in Dutch language. If you have trouble reading English or Dutch, you can use the Translate button, just below the Share to Facebook button. With this button you can translate my posts into whatever language you want. I hope you like this new website lay-out. If you have any thoughts about my work, please don’t hesitate to comment…

Thanks for visiting my website, and hope to see you again soon!!

Hans

Due to bad weather conditions early this year we had to postpone it a few times, but yesterday we finally managed to visit the studio of Peter Krebs with a small group. It was a long ride to Herborn, but I don’t think anyone regretted this trip. It was a really wonderful experience. Peter Krebs is not just a potter, because this guy lives and breathes his passion for bonsai pots. And it shows clearly as he brings us his story…

He has now been in the making of bonsai pots for about thirty years, the first five years he did it purely as a hobby. But after many trying, and all learning from his own experience, he has developed into one of the most competent and most appreciated European potters. He is inspired by the art of Chinese pottery, and much of his work is also influenced by the Chinese. He does no longer has bonsai for himself, for all his time is going to comprehending the art of ceramics, and making wonderful pots.

His studio is not that big, but when you step inside, it is like a little boy walking into an amusement park. If you want to inspect all pots decently, you probably will loose a whole day. You can find so many pots over there which I would call absolute masterpieces. In any case I have never seen so many beautiful pots on such a small space. You just put down 1 fine pot, and your eyes are soon attracted to yet another beautiful pot. Have a look for yourself…

While we were treated with coffee and cake, Peter briefly told us some of his philosophy with photographs and drawings. He gave us miscellaneous tips and tricks for the enthusiast in choosing a suitable pot. Unfortunately our time was limited, so unfortunately we could not philosophize about the art of bonsai pots long enough. But it was a wonderful experience which I will not quickly forget. My respect for this man and his magnificent beautiful pots…

Some of his beautiful work:

More pictures of our visit on this web-album.

Now I know this is not an Oscar gala ceremony, but according to me this man should definitely receive a lifetime achievement award! Well done Peter, and keep up the good work! Many thanks for showing us a glimpse in your world…

Regards,

Hans

New tree in my collection, a Stewartia monodelpha imported from Japan. Height is about 45 cm from the rim of the pot. Don’t know who the maker of this pot is, but it is Japanese. In Japan this tree is called Himeshara, hence the name of this post.

Stewartia monodelpha 21-03-2010

It’s a specie you won’t see too much over here, they are rather rare. The bark is very distinctive, smooth orange to yellow-brown, peeling in fine flakes. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, serrated, usually glossy, and 3-8 cm long. The flowers are large and conspicuous, 3-11 cm diameter, with 5 (occasionally 6-8) white petals; flowering is in mid to late summer. The fruit is a dry five-valved capsule, with one to four seeds in each section. The species are adapted to acidic soils, and do not grow well on chalk or other calcium-rich soils. They also have a high rainfall requirement and will not tolerate drought. As the tree gets older the characteristic cinnamon-colored appearance comes out, which is already quite present on this tree. A beautiful fall coloring in red and purple increases its value as a bonsai, and in winter it is particularly attractive because of its very fine branch structure.

Anyway, I am quite happy with it…

OK, last weekend we had our first club-exhibiton in the history of my Bonsai club Eda Uchi Kai. As member of this club it was a very stressfull and busy week. Because the organisation of such events take so much effort, I even had not enough time to catch up with some people I met over there. But with the united forces of all members, we realized an unique club-show on Belgian ground. We already have received positive reactions, even from other countries. And it was also satisfying for myself. I am very proud some of my trees were exhibited in such a beautiful show.  Below you can find some of my trees which were shown on this exhibition.

I made a web-album for BonsaiCafé, with all the trees in the exhibiton, and some pictures of the demonstrations. Click on the link below to view this album:

Eda Uchi Kai Bonsai Ten 2010

I would like to thank all visitors of our show for coming over. I hope you liked what you saw at our exhibition, and of course I would be delighted to see you again in a future edition – which probably will be held in autumn 2012.

Kind regards,

Hans

Nevertheless it is only february, I started repotting some of my trees which I will show at the Eda Uchi Kai Ten. The reason is very simple: I want my trees to look as good as possible. So if I have a better pot to present one of my trees, it’s always an advantage to repot it just a few weeks before the exhibiton. Also, with this Zelkova I had my doubts about the previous pot from the beginning.

I have chosen to repot it in cream-coloured low rectangle pot by Wallsal Studio Ceramics. I think the colour of this pot suits this kind of tree very well. This pot is also less broad as the previous one, but a bit deeper. It was also high time this tree was  repotted, because the roots were already entangled and growing out of the pot. Here are some pictures I made after the repotting:

Front:

Left:

Right:

Back:

I placed a nice layer of moss on the soil as finishing touch, this to protect the finer roots in the top-layer from drying out too fast. Because frost still is possible, I will keep this tree frostproof so it want get into trouble. If you like shohin bonsai, and you would like  to see this tree ‘live’, please come to our Eda Uchi Kai Exhibition which will take place on 20 and 21 of february in Base school Papillon in Diepenbeek. There will be more shohin exhibited, this Zelkova in broomstyle is one of them.

Hope to see you there!

Regards,

Hans

Tijdens de elfde Noelanders Trophy die op 23 en 24 januari is doorgegaan, heb ik weer heel wat foto’s kunnen nemen. Vandaag heb ik dan alle foto’s uitgesorteerd en hier en daar nog wat bijgewerkt. Het resultaat kan je nu terug vinden in een web-album dat ik aangemaakt heb op BonsaiCafé: http://bonsaicafe.be/NT XI 23-01-2010/

Veel kijkplezier, en tot de volgende!!!

Hans