Japanese Black & Red Pine Summer Update

Bit of an update on some of our pine work this season.

Niwaki outside the Bonsai Gallery

We have completed the first stage of training this huge Ficus macrophylla as a niwaki in front of the Australian Bonsai Gallery.

It has a long way to go but, inspite of the cool climate, it will develop rapidly and add some interest to the gallery area of the gardens.

The chooks are their only for scale.!

Ficus Macrophylla 2016 to 2021 Development

 I posted a story about this old Ficus macrophylla some time ago when it was repotted.  Going through some older images I found a pic of this tree from 2016 and decided to show it here with some more recent images.  It is easy to forget how your trees have improved over time unless you have these comparitive images.

Continued pinching back to two nodes will see smaller leaves develop.  We don't defoliate every year in Dorrigo as the Spring-Summer temperatures can be as low as 20^o C MAXIMUM.!!!!

Seikou-en - Goyo Matsu

 Yet another beautiful Goyo Matsu from Tomio Yamada - Seikou-en.

 KuroMatsu Masterpiece

Another masterpiece;  this time from the collection of Masahiko Kimura.  This is a missive bonsai.  It does not appear often on the internet so I thought I'd post it here.

A careful study of masterpieces like this can, as I have said, teach us all so much.!

Seikou-en - Omiya Village

 Just going over some images from our Japan trip in 2016 and thought I should share this not often seen image of one of Tomio Yamada's Goyo Matsu.

At over 1mtr high it is an epic bonsai to see.!!  Just one of many masterpieces at Seikou-en, this one has an 'ora' of age, a natural style & balance that must be seen to truly appreciate it.

Bonsai like this one can teach us all so much.!!

New Pot for an Old Trident Maple

After searching and missing out on many pot purchases we have finally found 'The Pot' for this old Trident Maple.

After doing a quick 'cut-and-paste' to see exactly what the tree would look like, in the new Murrumbung pot, we were convinced that it was the 'perfect imperfection' we were seeking.

 Our appreciation and admiration go to Tracey Francis from Murrumbung Studio Ceramics for creating such a fine bonsai pot.!

Pot created by tracey francis 36.8 x 28.3 x 4.8cm interior 39 x 30.5 x 6.3cm exterior thrown and assembled oval container in smooth, tan clay, rib details in a couple of spots, and glazed in ancient bronze which shows variations of colour from dark bronze through to dark tan and even a hint of navy blue fired in an electric kiln 3 x 28mm central drainage holes, 2 x 20mm side drainage holes and 4 sets of 4mm wire holes

Old Cedar Powering this Spring

 This old Atlantic Cedar is powering this Spring.  All due to a 'trickle' feed over last Autumn/Winter.

Scroll down for a short clip.... switch to HD for a better view.

Japanese White Pine - Spring Flowers

Resukyū (レスキュー ) is always putting on a show of some sort.  Spring flowers, pollen cones, are a stand-out on this old white pine right now.

Don't you just love Spring

Spring first flush is always an exciting time at The Australian Bonsai Gallery.  After a long, cold Winter it is a very pleasant change.

The Trident maples in the following clip were propagated from cuttings in the mid 1970's.  The large Japanese maple was purchased from the Koreshoff Nursery, as a stock plant, around the same time.