A couple of bonsai trayscapes

I wanted to share these two trayscapes with the forum. Some may have seen them before, I have posted them previously on another forum. Since that other forum now appears to be permanently down I will re-post them here (I will post a then-and-now of each trayscape).

The first one was started in 2004, using a Chinese elm from Homebase and two lonicera nitida cuttings.

Looking back, I'm astonished how raw the original planting looked. The pot did not suit at all, but it was all I had available at the time.

Regarding the second photo, I am very happy with how this has turned out. The shallow, cream pot suits very well, and the loniceras have bushed out well. They need pruning every couple of weeks. The woodwork has weathered very attractively, it is untreated so it will eventually rot, but I'm not bothered by that. Some of the fence posts have already rotted down to nothing, I will never forget watching them slowly being eaten by the moss over several months. I'm quite happy to repair and replace as necessary, and in the process of weathering and wearing down the stile and fence can only gain character.





Chris.

This second trayscape is a simpler affair, a small Lonicera nitida and a brick wall. I put it together in February of this year, by way of easing myself back into bonsai after 18 months or so of minimal participation.

The Lonicera was kindly donated by a friend in the Netherlands, Jerry Norbury.

As with the first trayscape, the first photo looks a bit raw. The second photo is a lot more attractive, with a fuller canopy on the tiny tree and a full carpet of lush moss. The moss has grown up and onto the wall, it helps greatly in ageing the whole planting. There is a little tumble of broken bricks under the shade of the tree on the right hand side, now gone all gently bumpy with moss.

It is a very simple little bonsai trayscape, but I love it and so does Mrs Treebeard...





Chris.

I like these, Treebeard. My preference is for the first one, but both show another side to bonsai which I think many non-growers would find more easily accesible.

Have you seen Dan Barton's 'Cotoneaster hedge with stile and maple'? It's on his website. I suggested to him that it wasa good way of attracting the younger generation into our hobby/pastime/obsession.

I'm definately going to try something along these lines myself one day. I've got a box somewhere full of all my old fantasy wargame scenery, buildings and miniature characters, so perhaps something along those lines?

Love them Chris always have always will, sounds like a love affair here
Please show Bag end!!! Thats the cherry for me!!

When are you starting Fanghorn????

All the best mate

Andy

Hello Harleyrider, thanks for the comments, I have seen Dan Barton's cotoneaster, stile & maple, loved it. I say have a go, if you've got the inclination.

A lot of the fun for me is in the doing, the cutting of the bricks, tumbling the edges off, gluing them together, taking them apart and doing it properly this time, etc etc. I almost find that the tree part comes second...

Hi Andy, thanks .

Regarding Bag End... it is temporarily dismantled. Bugs (crane fly larvae I think) got at the moss and completely destroyed it, when I say completely I mean COMPLETELY. Nothing but dry, dead shreds left, with about 50 wriggly grubs all through it. I didn't have any replacement moss to hand, or any peat muck or oasis, so I decided to take it apart for a year. I am in the process of growing some moss specially as we speak. The hill at the back was built up from florist's oasis and covered in moss, it had deteriorated quite a bit. Next time I will use a carved thermalite block.

(Fangorn is in the works, but that's for another thread... )

Here is the most recent decent photo, from 2007:



Chris.

Whoaah! Niiice!

I have a hand-painted lead miniature of Gandalf somewhere........

In fact, I'm sure I've got the whole Fellowship. How cool would that look!

That is excellent, a lovely piece of art.

Thank you Harleyrider and Smithy. I've got the fellowship in lead miniatures somewhere, unpainted. I'd steered clear of including them for fear of cheesiness . Just the hint of habitation in the form of the broom and flowerpot seemed enough.

Chris.

Chris

Next year at Joy of Bonsai in Bath Simon Temblett is organising a "Bonsai Innovations" display. Your landscapes would fit the bill perfectly I totally recommend you contact him.

Simon

Are you reading this ??????

Chris

Bag End looks superb. I also think if you had Gandalf in there it would not look that cheesy at all, but that's me, you know some die hard purists would scorn but hey what the hell

Regards

Andy

I love Bag End. Is the dwarves mark on the door somewhere?

Treebeard wrote:Thank you Harleyrider and Smithy. I've got the fellowship in lead miniatures somewhere, unpainted. I'd steered clear of including them for fear of cheesiness . Just the hint of habitation in the form of the broom and flowerpot seemed enough.

I think you made the right decision. It would detract from the illusion to have a person (hobbit, wizard) standing perfectly still (tho it could look okay in photos). Unless the figure were posed as if taking a nap, leaning back against the door or hillside, cap pulled down to cover the eyes, so that you don't expect to see any movement.

What if you connected a model train smoke generator to the chimney? Little puffs of smoke to show someone's home.

Inspiration for the next one?

I visited this Neolithic burial mound on Anglesea yesterday and your post sprang to mind. Another thing I thought about was mankind's earliest fascination with upending rocks and using them for display.



The interior

Jim, no mark... although there should be one...

Cliff, A dozing figure might work, yes. And that's a novel idea about the smoke...

Kev, great inspiration. Here's one I made earlier... the tray is home made from quick dry cement coloured with wood stain.



Chris.

I love your landscapes Chris.

That's a brilliant adaptation of the concept of penjing, with local trees (well, from a distance, a Chinese elm looks like an English elm, doesn't it?) and shapes that are the ones you can see in the English countryside.

And thanks for sparing us the lawn figures, that would have been crossing the line between poetry and kitsch.

Absolutely marvelous Chris and well executed. Several years ago I ran across a site with (maybe these treescapes) or others. I believe the site also had quite a collection of steam engines. Have you seen it in the past, and if so would you have a link. I seem to have misplaced mine.