Willowbog Spruce

I was a guest of Peter Snarts at Willowbog Bonsai over the weekend. While I was there I took the opportunity to have a good look around and I fell in love with this big Spruce that's in Peter's personal collection. Every hour or so I found myself wandering back to it for another look. I thought I would share it here. It's to be repotted in the Spring and placed at a slightly more forward tilted angle.


DSC_0059 by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr


DSC_0060 by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr


DSC_0061 by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr


DSC_0064 by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr


DSC_0063 by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr

and me for scale


DSC_0423 by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr

Beautiful!!!

I'd keep wandering back for another look too!

Don't forget Ian is only 3foot eight though.

Hope you had a great weekend - the special guest appearances to see you were good.

fiona wrote:Don't forget Ian is only 3foot eight though.

Hope you had a great weekend - the special guest appearances to see you were good.

Fiona is right, it's only a Shohin
A star studded weekend, it was good to meet you. Hope you didn't take a wrong turn on the way home

If anyone wants to to see more of Peter's trees, I've added them on my blog. Links below.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

WOW, what a great tree. Great use of the dead wood. Do you know how old, or how long in collection?

Neil Jaeger wrote:WOW, what a great tree. Great use of the dead wood. Do you know how old, or how long in collection?

Sorry Neil, but I'll find out. I did see a photo of the tree as bought when it raw material. Its an amazing transformation.The jins in the middle where natural but the apex jins where done by peter.

Lovely tree Ian

How on earth did you manage to smuggle it back home on the plane.........bit big for hand luggage.

Has Peter missed it yet?? It would look great in your garden.....with your others

Paul B [Swindon] wrote:Lovely tree Ian

How on earth did you manage to smuggle it back home on the plane.........bit big for hand luggage.

Has Peter missed it yet?? It would look great in your garden.....with your others

I think he would have noticed it in the back of the pickup on the way to the airport Flybe's weight limits are crap too

Breathtaking! Absolutely breathtaking!!

What a fantastic tree!!! Can you tell me, when was that collected, in other words, do you know how long is this tree in the pot in time this photo was taken?

Sebastijan Sandev wrote:What a fantastic tree!!! Can you tell me, when was that collected, in other words, do you know how long is this tree in the pot in time this photo was taken?

Hi Sebastijan, I'm still trying to find out some facts about this tree. I'll add them here when I get them. In the mean time, here is the tree as bought, I just don't know when that was!


Picea by Bonsai eejit, on Flickr

Now that's a tree.

Sweat mother of Spock, thats some Bonsai! Great Tree and great styling!!! In a few year this tree will raise the Spruce Bonsai bar to new height! It's will be a show stopper!
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Hans van Meer.

OK, Further info on this tree. Peter bought the tree back in 2004.Origins are either Italy or Switzerland. He jinned the apex shortly after getting it. As you can see it was pot bound in its training pot and Peter repotted it after it's first styling selecting this Derek Aspinal Pot. All styling work carried out has been done by Marco Invernissi, and what a job he made of it!

Hope this answers those questions.

Peter from Willowbog just started his own blog today. So if you wish to speak to him about this tree or any others that I've shown on my own blog, you now have a direct route.
Here's a link to his blog Willowbog Chat

My eye was also drawn by this tree when I was up at Peters' place last year, Ian. For me, it was the best tree there. I have since seen an equally special Spruce in the garden of Mirek Skrabal when we visited the Czech Republic earlier this year, styled by Pavel. It's a toss up which one is best!

i love the trip to willowbog (i live 500 miles away) and never fail to find some great trees to enjoy. Peters trees are always inspiring and there are always a few absolute gems dotted around here, there and everywhere ! this spruce is just about the best one i've ever seen, but i think some of the yews are even better !! two or three weeks time i'll be pointing the car north for a little browse