Bonllwyn dragon workshop

Hi,
Today Dragon held their weekly Wednesday workshop.
We worked on a number of our trees, re-potting, wiring, carving and trimming.
John dug up a juniper he planted 20 years ago in his garden. Potting, trimming and reducing it.
Gerwyn carved his field maple and I trimmed my blackthorn and a few shohin flowering trees.
A busy time of year with re-potting and preparing our trees for the winter.
Dave shoot this movie during the workshop.


My blackthorn, it was dark by the time I go around to taking a picture.

Cheers Jerry. All sorts of "honeys" on the bench! Keep up the good work. Whats the plan for your Sloe?

Hi Will,
Thanks, There's a lot going on at dragon for sure.

Whats the plan for your Sloe?

I plan to tidy up the dead wood soon. give the branches a good trim and then in the spring feed and leave until the new gorwth extends, wire and cut back again.
I think in a few years, I'll show this tree only when it is in flower.

Where are the roots on your Sloe, on the right or left of the pot? It would look much better if it was dropped more from the horizontal.Got any more photos from different angles?

Hi Will,
Good question m friend.
Last year I cut the roots back and scored the longer and fatter roots looking to induce better and finer and more compact rootage.
There was some improvement, but it will need further work. Feb.this year it looked like this and needed a large pot.

With help from my son, I finally potted up his yamadori blackthorn 9+ year after it was collected on 11th February 2009.

This year I could pot it into a much smaller pot. Still too much root on the far right end.
Time and a little technique will I hope enable this raw material become a bonsai.

Originally the roots looked similar to this. Typical of Blackthorns.


Now I have got them further to the left and was able to cut much of the heavy thick root back. With a bit of tlc and time, I hope to achieve a semi cascade.

I can only speak of one old Sloe I have. Maybe scoring is'nt enough.My Sloe has bark on the roots like a truffle but because it was established and had root infront of where I wanted to cut, I just cut......Roots everywhere, on reduction. Sometimes it pays to be Boris the bold!

Hi Will,
I totally agree, bold is beautiful and getting the roots right is so important for all trees.
I see myself not so much as a Boris, more a Bungle the bald.
I am happy with th progress this far. Boris is in the wings awaiting his call.

Nice video there mr jeremy.
Looks like you guys had a fun and productive afternoon. Great stuff you all make the effort to meet up weekly, that is a rare thing up here, having to look forward to the monthly meets and occassional workshops!
Regards Nick

Particularly good call by John on the Juniper.

There's loads of too tall, wandery off-ish trees around where the owner has been unable to commit to being "Boris the Bold." (guilty myself)

I watched all the vids on the Dragon site the other day - all very good

Keep up the good work lads

Thks

TimR

Thank you Nick and TimR for your encouragement.

Nick,
Dragon have, I believe, a talented and hard core membership We met twice a week, Sundays 10 til dark and Wednesdays midday til dark.
We all definitely need a hobby.

TimR
Yes I think it was a good call by John. We all did discuss the cut, but John knew very quickly it was what he wished to do. Good call indeed.

I agree about John's execution of the top of that Juniper. you know your heading in the right direction when you can make decisions like that. Boris the bold again!

Hi Jeremy

I’ve noticed in the background of the picture of your son the pot in a wooden ‘frame’. Can you tell me what the purpose of the frame is?

Jaco Kriek wrote:Hi Jeremy

I’ve noticed in the background of the picture of your son the pot in a wooden ‘frame’. Can you tell me what the purpose of the frame is?

Hi Jaco,
John, (of boris the brave fame). made the frame to attach guy wires so he could move the acer branches into place.

Thanks Jeremy, that is a very clever idea.

will baddeley wrote:Where are the roots on your Sloe, on the right or left of the pot? It would look much better if it was dropped more from the horizontal.Got any more photos from different angles?

Did a little further work today.

Looking good Jerry. I really wish there was a group, this way, as commited as you lot.

will baddeley wrote:Looking good Jerry. I really wish there was a group, this way, as commited as you lot.

Hi Will
We could always make room for you.
But would you have the time. You don't appear to sleep, what with your work, the IBC and now virtuals, (good job bythe way).
Of course a Wll virtual could attend all our workshops.

If I were Will, I'd send the virtual to work and attend Bonllwyn in person.
Having been once myself, I'm already working on the next trip - possibly as part of a bonsai cycle tour of England and Wales in the summer of 2010 that I'm seriously contemplating.

And you're quite right - I think Will spends even more time than me on here, and that's saying something.

fiona wrote:If I were Will, I'd send the virtual to work and attend Bonllwyn in person.
Having been once myself, I'm already working on the next trip - possibly as part of a bonsai cycle tour of England and Wales in the summer of 2010 that I'm seriously contemplating.

And you're quite right - I think Will spends even more time than me on here, and that's saying something.

I think you'll find Suffolk good cycling terrain.....Even if its your last leg, there'll be no need for the East anglian mountain rescue, thats for certain.

Jaco Kriek wrote:Thanks Jeremy, that is a very clever idea.

John told me he plans to bring the tree in frame in soon. It still has the guy wirs on. I'll get a picture to show you.

fiona wrote:If I were Will, I'd send the virtual to work and attend Bonllwyn in person.
Having been once myself, I'm already working on the next trip - possibly as part of a bonsai cycle tour of England and Wales in the summer of 2010 that I'm seriously contemplating.

Fiona, sounds like a plan.
How are you planning to carry all your tools, Dan's pots and the new yamadori on your bike?

I'm hiring a team of bearers.

Bare wats

DOn't go there. It reminds me of Will B's comment on his other thread too much.