Weigelia florida sp.

Cotoneaster graveyard yamadori - update

The Cotoneaster horizontalis was repotted into a training pot in the spring of last year.

The long, untapered stems were reduced significantly and the shoots were cut back to about 3 nodes.

Ulmus parvifolia development

In june 2013 I aquired this chinese elm at the international Bonsai- and Kusamono exhibition. It was the first prepared raw bonsai material I have bought. 

The tree had several long, untapered shoots which, from today's perspective, I should have cut back hard after the aquirement. However, I let it establish at its new home and let it grow freely for the rest of the season,

after I bought the tree in the summer of 2013

summer 2013

The first major "stylings" were done in the early spring of 2014. I decided to cut all but one branch that emerged at the top of the tree to form an apex. The branches that emerged at the trunk were also cut back. The tree was allowed to grow for the whole season except some cutback of the branches to improve ramification. 

The top could grow unchecked to significantly thicken the transition from the main trunk to the leader and close the wounds that emerged after I cut back a few branches at the top.

Even though I was quite please with the looks of the tree then, I would have cut back the branches stronger as they appeared untapered and too long. Also the potting position would have to be changed.

summer 2014

summer 2014

This year, I finally repotted the tree and planted it into a much more fitting position. The nebari turned out to be quite ok with only a slight inverse taper at one side of the tree. I was a bit conservative with the root cutback as this was my first repotting of the tree and it was my first major aquirement. 

A new leader at the top was selected and is allowed to grow unchecked this season. I cut back several branches harder in the spring to create a better taper.

The main goal will be the creation of a nice and believable transition in the trunkline at the top, but the branches will also be allowed to grow strong to promote considerable thickening and also create character in the trunk.

July 2015

The ultimate Yamadori digging tool

I think everyone who does yamadori or dug up a tree in a garden has broken at least one folding shovel or even spade in the process. Almost all of the commercially available products are cheap, weak and just not reliable.

Thankfully, last year I discovered the "special forces shovel" made by Cold Steel and aquired one after a bit of research. As many reviews confirm, this shovel IS extremely tough and versatile at the same time. This 50 cm long, 750 g light tool can be thrown, used to hack (e.g. through roots), to defend and to dig. The spade blade comes super sharp and can easily be resharpened if needed. A sheat is also available and considered useful. The hardwood handle makes this digging spade very robust. It is hardly likely to break even when massive force is applied when lifting a tree. It fits nicely into larger backpacks and accompanied with a good pair of garden pruners, a folding saw and possibly a mason's hammer and crowbar in rocky terrain, these are all the tools you need to dig most trees up to medium size.

Accent plant: Sagina subulata

Last weekend I planted this irish moss that i got from a garden center into a Takahama pot that was standing around without use for over a year. The white flowers will hopefully create a nice image together with the dark, earthy colors of the accent pot.

Accent plant: Fern

Recently, I bought this accent pot from carlos hebeisen- takahama at arcobonsai and planted a fern into it.

New aquirement: Prunus Mahaleb

Last weekend i bought this Prunus Mahaleb at Arcobonsai from Laos Garden. I will let the tree grow unchecked for now and cut back the shoots to somewhat 2-3 leaves in a few weeks time. The big Jin has to be refined and the big cut at the right stem has to be worked on as well.

The tree as offered on the webpage of Laos Garden

This pictures have to be 1-3 years old and taken before its first major styling

how the tree looks now