Japanese maple nr. 8

This Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) I got in a trade in May. it was quite neglected and I thoutht I could refurbish ist somehow and then sell it. Now, only three months later it is coming very well. The trunk to the very right was tilted considerably and this gives a very nice fan shape to the group. The middle trunk will grow freely for a couple of years. Thus it will gain in girth considerably and clearly be the main trunk eventually. At the moment they are all a bit equal. This will also help the development of the nebari. I will probabaly not sell this finally. It is just too nice.

hornbeam nr. 4 doing fine

Thsi shohin size European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is coming nicely. This year it has quite small foliage. The second flush is appearing with great colors.

Scots pine nr. 7

This Scots pine was collected in Finland in 2004 by Michael Tigges. Shapes like these are formed by moose wandering through the bogs and ruining the vegetation. They really are creating wonderful bonsai material. Anyway, this is quite small compared to most other collected Scots pines of this quality. It found it's way into my garden in fall of 2005. I planted it into this interesting container by William Vlaanderen in spring of 2006 and let it grow for a few years. In July 2008 the time had come for major styling. Now it will rest for at least two years and then we will see.

refurbishing Scots pine nr. 4

This Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris, is quite famous. It wa probably the caue of the 360 degree tree, or 3D bonsai movement three years ago. It was featured in Bonsai Today with an article by Will Heath. last year the wire was taken off an now one can see tha it is not easy to stlye a Scots pine. It looked fine with the wire. But the minute the wire is off many branches just drop lke a weeping willow. The trick is to have the heart too get rid of exactyl these branches, even if they make up 80 % of your crown. So I did and then wired the crown again. Now it will be firm and afer that wire is taken off in two years it will probabyl hold the shape. Pick your front on this 360 degree bonsai. The days when you got one front only are over. Now you get endless fronts and have to find the one that you like best.

the saga of mugo pine nr. 19 #4

In summer of 2001 Peter Thali found this pine which later was known as "tornado" in the Swiss Alps. He collected it in spring of 2002. The tree was sitting on a huge granite block on the side. Wonderful spiraling deadwood close to the roots and quite vigorous growth . But all the green was just way too far from the deadwood. The foliage grew very well and it looked quite fit in summer of 2005 already. The tree must be well over 200 years old and the trunk was quite thick. This is impossible to bend. or is it?

the saga of mugo pine nr. 19 #4

In summer of 2005 Peter Thali decided that the tree was heathy enough for really drastic styling. The problem was that the foliage was very far away from all the wonderful deadwood. and the living branch or trunk was way too straight. So it was brought back with force. What an operation! Then one year later, in summer of 2006 the tree is compact and looks like it did not mind the bending.