Supply materials: 2019, October 28
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| Closeup of my privet. Right here in Seattle, moss creeps up the trunk very simply in winter. It makes for a pleasant picture, however I would not depart it on for too lengthy except you need a temperate rainforest vibe. |
The primary tree I labored on is an English privet I acquired from our present membership president, Tony Fajarillo. Tony is a landscaper and really expert bonsai artist – all of the carving was finished by him. Earlier this summer season, he bought me this tree at our membership potluck occasion for under $40 if I recall appropriately! Fortunately for me, Tony mentioned he wasn’t positive what path to take the cover. With that quality of carving for that value, I could not resist! I think about making this right into a clump fashion sooner or later.
That is what the tree seemed like after a summer season of unhindered progress. I typically enable new timber to develop for some time after I first get them to verify they’re wholesome earlier than styling them.
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| Earlier than |
I see two potential fronts. At this angle, you possibly can see I eliminated many of the suckers as they steal vitality from the remainder of the tree. I left one on the left which I’d preserve to develop right into a minor member of the clump. I might prefer to develop a department on the appropriate aspect to fill in that area a bit extra.
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| After primary pruning. Entrance 1 |
Beneath is the second potential entrance – and the one I like extra. I really feel like these are the one choices as a result of the carving undoubtedly deserves to be highlighted. From right here, I see I ought to discover a approach to put some motion into the again left trunk. I’ll in all probability do that via the clip-and-grow methodology as bending with wire can solely hope to impart a delicate curve into such a thick department, which might not match the remainder of the design’s tough angles and deadwood.
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| Entrance 2. |
My second tree is a ficus acquired from Kaya Mooney. Lots of you within the bonsai group might know him from his previous work apprenticing with Boon Manakitivipart in San Francisco and now from his work as an apprentice in Japan at Fujikawa Kouka-en. Anyhow, earlier than all that, Kaya was initially working towards bonsai in Florida and I purchased this tree from him as he was making ready to maneuver overseas.
The primary collection of photographs present the tree in early October, a number of weeks earlier than our PSBA assembly. At the moment, I eliminated wires which I had placed on a couple of 12 months prior. I left the wires on a bit too lengthy, creating some scars on the branches. Fortunately, these scars will heal shortly on a fast-growing species like ficus. I additionally selected to not prune again on the identical time that I eliminated the wires; the additional leaves ought to collect extra vitality to assist the tree heal sooner.
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| Earlier than pruning – entrance. |
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| Earlier than pruning – again |
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| Right here you see the trunk has a number of callouses to heal over. Extra foliage additionally will assist heal these sooner. |
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| A few of these rear wire scars are fairly gnarly. I must be extra cautious on a small tree, as these particulars are extra noticeable than on huge bonsai. |
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| Extra wounds and scars to heal on the again. |
I did not actually plan forward till the morning of the PSBA occasion as to which timber I ought to convey. I finally selected my ficus as a result of it’s such a beginner-friendly species, that it might be good to indicate off what could be finished with it. Nicely, that, and the truth that any newbie can stick ficus cuttings in water or dust and develop a complete new tree from my trimmings. I would not need them to go to waste!
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| Entrance “earlier than” pic. I received a bit too keen and made an enormous chop earlier than documenting it, which is why I’m fortunate to have taken the opposite picture set earlier in October. |
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| After |
Entrance “after pic. I just like the progress! I trimmed again some lengthy branches, rewired a number of, and I believe the wire scars had been already trying a bit higher. Now I wait to repeat the method. There are a number of branches I hope to see some again budding on – particularly that entrance left department which is a bit too thick and taperless for our shohin design. Subsequent 12 months I’ll search for a glazed pot to convey it to the subsequent stage.
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| A singular perspective… one other #TeaserTuesday promise met. Observe my Instagram for extra! |
P.S. All returning PSBA members for 2020 get a $10 low cost in the event you accomplish that earlier than the top of the 12 months!
Be happy to ask me any questions you may have concerning the Seattle bonsai group. PSBA is at all times in search of methods we are able to enhance our membership and make bonsai extra accessible.
P.S.S December twentieth Replace:
I forgot I introduced this carved elephant again from after I visited Thailand final 12 months, with the intent to show it subsequent to my ficus. I am nonetheless engaged on three-point show concepts!
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| I match these collectively due to the tropical origins of the ficus. |
