Balkan beech #1

This is a Balkan beech (Fagus moesiaca). It is very similar to the common European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and often is referred to as subspecies (Fagus sylvatica ssp. moesiaca). Everything is a bit smaller and more elegant than we are used to. It is hardy, grows up to 7,000 feet altitude in the Balkan.

This tree I saw in Serbia in 2010 in a seminar and I was intrigued. At that time it arguably was by far the best bonsai in Serbia.

Life is good to me. The tree found it's way into my garden a week ago. It is an 'exotic' species and a very special tree. I am very happy to have th honor to continue growing and styling it. The tree was collected in 2006 in Serbia. The original grower has unfortunately passed away. He gave that tree to Alkesandar, whom I call 'Rasputin'. Aleksandar was never keen to fully wire or extensively style the tree. He more or less left it as was. And the beech did well obviously.

The tree now was wired totally within two days. It definitely needs good frost protection from now on. The front was slightly changed to look more dynamic. after doing virtuals with the wonderful pot by Walter Venne the side with deadwood seems better to me - at least on the photograph. I doubt whether I will do the repotting this spring after all the styling.

Prunus #23

Wild cherry, Prunus cerasifera    The new folige has started to come out. The crown was edited a bit.

Japanese maple #14

The wire was taken off and now we are waitingfor the new growth.

Events in Harrisburg in 2015

Events in Harrisburg in 2015 NEW Oktoberfest in Harrisburg

Woodstock VIII will take place from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29

A new event was added:
Oktoberfest in Harrisburg will take place from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4

Winter Study with Walter and Jim will take place from Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 6


Walter and Jim have been cavorting collectively since 1995. They continue because it is both a fun and informative process for them. We offer the opportunity to work on killer material and advanced techniques with a pair of premier teachers.

Friday 9:30 – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 -5:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 – 4:30 pm
fee: US$ 85/day or US$ 220/3 days// observers: US$ 40/day

These are three day seminars which you can take as a whole or just attend for one day. We will discuss lots of difficult and very difficult material. There will be hands on work on some excellent trees. Lectures of things bonsai and around by Jim Doyle and Walter Pall are part of the event. This is for beginners to very advanced folks. There must be reasons why more and more folks do this ever year again. Give it a try!

For the workshops you can bring your own trees and/or can also work with collected trees from the nursery. Yes, that's right. We will let you loose on excellent material that you don't have to purchase even. You can though.

Call Nature's Way Nursery (Jim Doyle) for more information and signing up:

(717) 545-4555
 natureswaybonasi@comcast.net
or natureswaybonsai@gmail.com

Please refer to the website for class information.  www.natureswaybonsai.com
  or call Jim  717-545-4555 mostly between 9-5 Monday through Saturday.  If
you want us to mail a schedule let them know your mailing address.

It will be possible to participate as
 -full member two to three days
 -full member one day
 -silent observer for a fee one or two days
 - lurker for free for 20 to 30 minutes to see what's going on and to decide whether you want to participate immediately or later

Fun evening on Saturday with the legendary musical event as traditional by now.

You have the chance to see and purchase exquisite collected American material as well as excellent field grown broadleaved material. This is true for everyone. You don't need to take part in the Bonsai Academy for that. There will be a special discount just on these days.

There are about 400 collected trees there. A few dozen are outright world class, many very good, all hand selected by myself. There are over 150 trees in the range from US$ 45 to 600, about 50 from 600 to 1,500. Everybody can find himself a genuine American collected tree. Ponderosa pines, Rocky Mountain junipers, Engelman spruce, Douglas firs and many other native species are available We guarantee for recently collected stuff as long as you leave it in the nursery - money back or credit in case the tree did not make it. 


I am not aware whether there is a nursery in all of  America which has such a lot of quality collected stuff to offer. East of the Rockies. Nature's Way Nursery is THE source for quality collected trees.

Bonsai exhibition at the Noelanders Trophy 2015

Some images from Noelanders Trophy

To see images of the trees go to