My Burresque Adventure

The song “I ain’t missing you at all” is ringing around my head as I put single digit to keyboard as I get ready for my Burresque adventure – My alternative Burrs weekend!!

This time last year I was getting ready for my 1st trip to “Tickle Land” (aka Burrs) and getting really excited. This year, unfortunately, I was going to have to be a no-show but decided to recreate my own event at home and knuckle down and do some work. OK, there is no replacing the real thing but isn’t imitation the greatest form of flattery? So with the booze in, the trees selected its “Roll on Friday” so that I can get started.

Although my “humour” may not translate well to the international IBC audience I hope that you will enjoy my Bonsai Diary and maybe even my trees!!!! I’ve been cleared for takeoff by mission control (Tony to you and I) and hope I don’t embarrass myself with my haphazard approach to bonsai, the clock is ticking……………….

Okk, Okk,
Simon

Here's one of the poor little blighters that will get "Monkeyed"

Hello Simon. Good idea there....Look forward to your updates as the alBURRnative weekend progresses.

will baddeley wrote:Hello Simon. Good idea there....Look forward to your updates as the alBURRnative weekend progresses.

Oh that's terrible! Interesting Hawthorn (?) you got there mr monkey

Hi Will,
Yeah, I hoping it will be BURRilliant.

Yes Rich, it is a little Hawthorn that I’m planning to attack (or will the thorns be attacking me )

Okk, Okk,
Simon

Did you say Burrlesque with Dita von Tease Or Burr-esque with Tickle von trees ??

Stone Monkey wrote:Did you say Burrlesque with Dita von Tease Or Burr-esque with Tickle von trees ??

I think it's a cross between the 2 Tony von Tease
Have a good one buddy,
Okk, Okk, Simon

I can see this post becoming unBURRable

So then the monkey has to get his finger out or this thread will crash and BURRN

Simon,

Tip for you: when bending the trunk of the Hawthorn, try not to BURRSt it

Paul

And I thought mine was bad.....These are just plain emBURRasing.

What are you lot BURRbling on about?

If this keeps up Tony will only try to BURRy it!

will baddeley wrote:And I thought mine was bad.....These are just plain emBURRasing.

Well, you did start it Will

As the countdown to “B-Day” continues, the work on the make shift workshops begins. The carving studio (OK, it’s the shed!) is taking shape, at least it’s a step up from a toilet (but only just!). As you can see the trees lining up like expectant mums, I don’t quite know what they are expecting but they are in for the shock of their lives as I’ve never really done carving solo before. May the Dremel Gods be with me!!



I know that I’m not as Prolific as Pavel, Talented as Terry, Jovial as Jerry, Terrific as Tony, Adventurous as Andy, Hardcore as Harleyrider, as Wacky as the Wirral Crew or even as Drunk as SJ but I’ll give it my best shot. Wish me luck fellow IBC’ers, I’m gunna need it!!

Love, Peace & Bananas,
Simon

Friday Evening - Let Battle Commence!

The journey was a lot shorter than last year (20 mins from work rather than 6 hours) but the need for sustenance was no less. The food was not a patch on the Brown Cow but the vino did help relax me into setting up for the weekend. With my meal (and the children) put to bed, it was time to set-up my workspace. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any resident artists so had to rely on books and my friends on the internet for inspiration. Due to limited “working hours” most of my work would take place after dark – not too dissimilar to some of my finest work last year!!

I thought that I would tidy up my Lonicera that was started at Burrs last year. Re-styled earlier this year it had grown well and had begun to fill out to start giving me some nice foliage pads. The deadwood at the back needs some work but I’m hoping to twist the arm of a guy from Suffolk to give me some pointers next year when he pays our Club a visit. Here’s the image I ended up with.





Thanks to the magic of t’internet I even managed to get a virtual of its new Stone Monkey pot, I hope you like it.
I'm so glad that I decided to keep this tree after all as it's fast becoming one of the best that I've got (although that's probably not saying much!!).



Whilst I was in “topiary mode” I also gave my other Lonicera a Winter haircut. I posted progress on this tree on the IBC earlier in the year but still can’t believe the transformation it has taken on.





In the Spring it will be treated to a new Stone Monkey home to help show it off to its best.

Time for bed and unlike the poor chap in the UTube clip that Steve posted I was able to make it up the stairs to bed in one go, just about, to re-charge my batteries fo the following days onslaught. See ya tomorrow!!

Okk, Okk,
Simon

Saturday – The Hard Work Begins (Pt 1)

I awoke this year not to the offers of Tea & a Bacon Butty from Tony but the now ritual fight for the TV remote between the children. We did partake in the afore mentioned breakfast but not until things had calmed down and all the cartoons had finished!!

Time for some “new” work. I acquired this little Hawthorn at a Club auction, and I posted earlier in this thread, that had been collected locally many years ago but had been neglected. Without Mr Fosters input this time around, I was left to “fly solo” on this tree although I’m quite happy with the result.





The deadwood is completly natural and I will look to inprove this when I'm in carving mode but I think it really gives the tree alot of extra age. Tony, I know that I have 1 long "German Jin" at the back but I think it helps with the balance but I can always cut it back later.



My next “victim” was a small Pyracantha. I use this term wisely as this tree fell victim of my “friendly” neighbour getting over exuberant whilst disinfecting their patio last Spring. I lost the complete top of the tree but it has put on a lot of growth this year so I thought I’d try and make a semi cascade out of it. Not the best material in the world but at least it beat the grave!!





Meal times were nowhere near as much fun as most of the conversations were actually arguments over Lego or who’s turn it was to pick a game for the Wii but it was good Home Made stuff all the same (I was at home and I made it – that’s about as good as it got!) although not on the same level as the delights I had last year!!

Part 2 to follow later,
Okk, Okk,
Simon

Saturday – The Hard Work Begins Pt2

Due to family commitments, firework parties etc, the last tree I could work today was a little Prunus. I treated this tree to a new pot earlier this year with the idea of a cascade. Due to me buying a pot that was too small and the position of the roots I was “stuck” with a slanted image. I cut all the braches back and hoped that I could still have my cascade. As usual, nature worked against me but today I wired the tree and styled it as can be seen below.



Probably not the best style in the world for a Prunus but I hope that in the Spring it will look lovely with it’s pink flowers hanging off of the bear branches.

Unfortunately, the evening entertainment was fun it was a little bit “Bonsai” lacking and the only “lecture” I got this year was from the Doris (aka Sally, the wife) for making a mess and staying up too late to play with my trees!!

Better luck tomorrow,
Okk,Okk,
Simon

Looks like you've had a BURRloody BURRilliant weekend Simon! You certainly seem to have packed in as many of the Burrs essentials as you could, with the possible exception of copious amounts of good natured abuse. Fear not though, we gave you a proper slagging off in your absence!

No doubt you'll be hearing of our exploits from SM when he eventually arrives home (it must be awfully tiring on the arms, swinging through the trees all the way from Manchester to (somewhere in) Kent.

Here's hoping you can make it next year, I still haven't finished ribbing you about the umbrella stand yet!

Harleyrider wrote:Looks like you've had a BURRloody BURRilliant weekend Simon! You certainly seem to have packed in as many of the Burrs essentials as you could, with the possible exception of copious amounts of good natured abuse. Fear not though, we gave you a proper slagging off in your absence!

Here's hoping you can make it next year, I still haven't finished ribbing you about the umbrella stand yet!

Yeah, that is what what was missing Steve
No doubt that Andy will fill me in with the slagging off I'm sure but I'm glad that I was missed (no doubt like a hole in the head!!).

I'm running a bit behind on the photo front but hope to have the last of my diary and the last 3 trees posted soon,
Okk, Okk,
Simon

beautiful people and beautiful plants!
Congratulations!

Well done with your alternative weekend Simon. Some very creative trees.

Thanks for your feedback Will. Not as good as the "real thing" but I gave it a go anyway.
I have got somemore trees to post but been a bit up against it!!

Okk, Okk,
Simon

As usual, I didn't dissapoint and was unable to complete my posting task in the aloted time (no suprise there then!) but here's my exploits form last Sunday............

Sunday – The Final Push
Sporting a slightly smaller hangover than last year I was determined to get as much done as I could before my journey “home”. Trimming and wiring “Budget Boys Privet” (yes that is Privet Fiona!) was my next task. This little Clump had reacted very well to being re-potted this year and had been thinned throughout the year but I thought that it need a bit more structure so out came the wire. The deadwood in the centre had suffered a bit so it was cleaned and treated. All in all not a bad little result. I might even treat it to a ceramic pot next year. Any suggestions??





The next tree I worked is in honour of John Pitt. The first time I ever met John he cheerfully told me that there were other trees that could be used for Bonsai, as I had so far only posted my Cotoneasters on the IBC, and as he plucked a nice one from under my nose at Capel Manor I thought I’d do some work on some of mine.



This tree was a piece of Graham Potter raw material that I was alerted to last year by Andy Pearson - my very own Yamadori Monkey!! Earlier this year the tree was best part of cut down to ground level as it had lots of long, straight, thick growth. At the time I didn’t notice how much deadwood it had on it (or was that down to my re-pot?) so I spent some time cleaning & refining it. I know I’m not in the same league as “Makita Bob” I’m happy enough at the moment. Unfortunately, due to family commitments I was unable to finish the carving work but I’m sure you get the idea of where I am going (I hope!!)





The next job was to thin out and start the new trunks off in their new directions for what will hopefully be a nice Clump Image. There was a lot of growth to contend with and I’m not too sure if, at this stage, I’ve left too much to confuse the overall impression. All will become clear in the Spring no doubt, when the tree starts to grow again, but at this point I’m a bit concerned that it’s a wee bit on the large side. Only time, and your input, will tell.



So that was me for another year. All cleared up and put away until the next time. But no, it wouldn’t be Burrs without the group photo. Mmmm, slight problem I’m on my own!! Brain now goes into panic mode and not being wanted to be seen as Billy no Mates I enlisted the wife to take the picture (a Burrs tradition so I understand) with my trees and my little wire and branch collectors Wednesday & Stirling. Ahhhhh, that’s better.



So what I did learn from this experience? Well, it’s surprising how much I did actually learn last year. I didn’t really think I took that much in (apart from the contents of the Brown Cow’s cellar) but I must have as I wouldn’t have approach some of this work, or even the trees, 12 months ago on my own and admittedly they are not all “top notch” material overall I’m more than happy with what I achieved and hope that these trees, and myself, carry on improving. So would I do this again…..No, I’d go to the real thing!!

Thanks for your time to read my diary, your constructive input & comments and hopefully the trees. After all, that’s why we are here,
Regards,
Simon

I think you;ve done an excellent Job Simon. I had a chuckle at all the glum faces in the family portrait.

Is it just me or is Simon Billy Mitchell's long lost twin? That would explain the glum face, I suppose.

Stop knocking yourself, Simon. You've done a great job and your trees are looking all the better for your attentions. And believe me, you got through a whole lot more work than most of the Burrs crew. Although probably not quite as much ale!

Looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labours in Spring, my friend. And to seeing you at Burrs next year.