Do We Seal Both Conifer and Deciduous Cuts?
My bonsai garden is a long-term experiment with tree technique. Often this is a conscious thing, sometimes it isn’t. For the most part over the last two decades I’ve sealed cuts on both conifer and deciduous. Occasionally I didn’t seal, due to curiosity or forgetfulness or some other reason. Here are a few observations. The overall […]
Shrubs and the Three Bears
Trees grow big roots that spread wide and deep. Shrubs—no surprise—have smaller root systems, but they differ in other ways as well. Right under the leaf litter is where most of the roots on a freely growing shrub are found. In that soil zone shrubs find moderately moist soil. Typical root system of a tree: […]
A Schedule For Repotting
When is best to repot? Do we repot them all at once? The general guideline to repot as they break bud is a good one. Some, like pines, though, are best repotted a bit before we see bud elongation. Maples, as buds open. If you have a long spring—one that goes on at a mild […]
Mountain Hemlock Redesign—
Fronts are personal decisions. Fronts can also be a reminder of how dumb we were last year. Which relates to the previous statement. But front choice gives us a chance to highlight what we like about a tree. And this week’s example is one of a changed mind. For some years I convinced myself—and a […]
Uncovering A Nebari—
How to grow a nebari is often talked about. And it should be. The timing and method of uncovering a developing nebari is phase two. In this example we uncover a Red Maple nebari overgrown with fine roots and moss. Red Maple with a good nebari already. If the roots are not buried a bit, […]
Repotting Trivia—
Here are a few photos from this spring’s repotting in Seasonal Workshops. Each has a note about what we were doing. Often pots have few, small drain holes. Sometimes they are not in the lowest place in the pot. In either of those situations drilling new holes can help the pot drain. Pictured here is […]
Shohin School
This January we had Daisaku Nomoto with Jonas Dupuich and Andrew Robson in Portland, Oregon for the Shohin School. I’ve enjoyed watching this event take shape the last two years, matched by the enthusiasm of its 50+ students. Andrew Robson, Daisaku Nomoto, and Jonas Dupuich at the Shohin School this past January. Many of you […]
Luis Vallejo Bonsai Museum, Spain
I’ve many memories of January’s trip to Spain. Visiting the UBE convention and show in Madrid. Seeing David Benavente’s bonsai garden. Meeting Bjorn Bjorholm, after all this time for the first time (and a good lunch, that). Visiting (and another lunch) with long-time collaborator Oscar Jonker. And to wrap up the trip, a visit with […]
Root Grafting Stewartia
This week, a photo essay of a Stewartia root graft in a recent winter Seasonal class. These winter classes are focused on repotting, and a great time for root grafts. A couple prospective Stewartia seedlings for the root grafts. One site excavated to accept a root graft scion. This area could have better surface roots. […]
The Garden of David Benavente
One name that comes to mind on any list of great creators of bonsai is David Benavente. Years ago David worked at Luis Vallejo’s Bonsai Museum and has since run his own garden outside of Madrid, Spain. This a real working garden. Bonsai are crafted in three separate workshop areas. Given the functional nature of […]
