Got Moss??? Let's see

Following this forum for many years I don't ever recall a thread about bonsai moss photographs. I feel moss covering adds much to a bonsai tree.
We have only a few varieties of moss to use here in my part of Florida, but this forest floor looks pretty nice about now. The cool weather has been good for it.

The trees are Winged Elm. This forest planting (called Circa 2001) was featured in my book. The variety in the moss looks like a miniature forest glade.




Let's see some moss photos - or other ground coverings.

One of my favourite themes. Can´t miss it Rob
Very natural looking forest ground Rob.

Here a few, not close ups everyone, but mosses are present...

Regards
Morten

Hi,
I like moss too...
Very difficult to cultivate in the south of France.




Regards
Luc

A mixture of mosses and Lichens. I can never keep mosses for long though, as the blackbirds pinch it for nesting material.

Here is a picture of Pixie cup lichen on a Dan Barton pot which is 3 inches long



Another shot of the same species of lichen in another accent planting.




Both are surviving well and are getting on for 18 months old.

Rob Kempinski wrote:Following this forum for many years I don't ever recall a thread about bonsai moss photographs. I feel moss covering adds much to a bonsai tree.
We have only a few varieties of moss to use here in my part of Florida, but this forest floor looks pretty nice about now. The cool weather has been good for it.

The trees are Winged Elm. This forest planting (called Circa 2001) was featured in my book. The variety in the moss looks like a miniature forest glade.




Let's see some moss photos - or other ground coverings.

WOW! I really thought that this is photo from the real forest as an example of natural moss! I'm totally shocked. Only the thin wire on a tree on the right side reveals that this is Bonsai forest. What can I say, it's kind of masterpiece

The tropics and semi-tropics (where I live) seems to have more exotic variety in plants but the temperate climates seem to have more exotic mosses and lichens. They sure look good in a pot or on bonsai soil surface.

Amazingly though I do not suffer from zone envy!

ItalianCopper wrote:WOW! I really thought that this is photo from the real forest as an example of natural moss! I'm totally shocked. Only the thin wire on a tree on the right side reveals that this is Bonsai forest. What can I say, it's kind of masterpiece

Thanks Italian Copper (interesting Polish Name) It is looking particularly good this year. I framed the photo to try to create that illusion. Thanks for noticing.

This is the forest shot from a few seasons ago. It's too big to easily move into the studio for an updated photo. And two years ago I had to change a few trees due to mortality issues. Last year a yard tree I was trimming fell off at an unplanned angle and took the top off of the main tree (Hate when that happens) but it's growing back. The pot is made of cement over hardware cloth and tulle fabric based on a metal electrical conduit frame.


BTW the reason I call this "Circa 2001" is that I am originally from New York city and my father worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. They owned the World Trade Center for many years. When the terrorists took out the Twin Towers I made this planting to commemorate the twin towers and my memory of my father. It would be as if you are looking at Manhattan from the New Jersey shore.


I have found one of the secret to growing good moss covering is to use microsprinklers for watering bonsai. Microsprinklers go off for about 8 minutes in the morning and cover the surface with a fine mist of water. The moss seem to love it. Also try to find moss that can take sun.
As I play golf I am always on the look out for moss beds. It seems golf course irrigation creates conditions favorable for moss colonies. I keep a spatula and plastic bag in my golf bag for impromptu moss collecting sessions between golf shots.

Your moss does look really natural Rob. Any chance of a picture of the whole composition?

Huh, that's not my name but some kind of my own weird play on words that I used to use as a login I must try this idea of moisturizing foliage and moss with microsprinklers, very clever
How have You got this realistic looking lichen on a rock?
And, btw, are You from Poland, Rob(ert)?

will baddeley wrote:Your moss does look really natural Rob. Any chance of a picture of the whole composition?

I think we were two electrons passing in the night.

Applause. Thanks Rob, also for the story behind.
( Zone envy - not heard that one before )

Regards
Morten

will baddeley wrote:A mixture of mosses and Lichens. I can never keep mosses for long though, as the blackbirds pinch it for nesting material.

Stirling Moss post Will

Tomy

tony wrote:

will baddeley wrote:A mixture of mosses and Lichens. I can never keep mosses for long though, as the blackbirds pinch it for nesting material.

Stirling Moss post Will

Tomy

Stirling Moss was ok but I always favored Carroll Shelby (he's a Ford guy)

tony wrote:Tomy

Some sort of identify crisis Tony???

Rob Kempinski wrote:Some sort of identify crisis Tony???

kinda complex... you need to ask Will Badguyly

Originally a typo on my part on one of Tomy's threads. I now see you more as a Tomy than a Tony, Tomy.

will baddeley wrote:Originally a typo on my part on one of Tomy's threads. I now see you more as a Tomy than a Tony, Tomy.

Here we draw a line in the sand as this may well discombobulate Johnny foreigner.

I'm back to Tony... Period

Tony Period......? I think that will confuse our foreign friends even more. I'll stick with Tomy, Tomy.

will baddeley wrote:Tony Period......? I think that will confuse our foreign friends even more. I'll stick with Tomy, Tomy.

Hi Will I put in 'Period' for our American cousins... trying to keep IBC Global 'ain't all that easy you know!

We should have more good Will and less of the bad

Neat thread!