2011, 9th Swindon 'Winter Image' Show pictures

Hello Tony. Whats the criteria for showing at Swindon, send the commitee photos?

Will

Maybe I can help with your question to Tony, ...........bribe the Chairman should work. [Only kidding]

Usualy it is by invite, a photo is a good idea to either me or Reg Bolton. I already have several candidates who wish to attend next year, the photo will go to the committee for selection. We would love to have everybody, but of course we have to restrict it or we will need yet another larger hall and then the costs just get stupid.

Paul
Chairman
Swindon & District Bonsai Society

You know Paul … I really can't stop thinking about yesterday's show, it was to me THAT good! I've done a few over 25 years or so, all in the UK as I don't get the opportunity for travel sadly. In my humble opinion (bold statement coming up …. drum roll) it is the best I have ever seen. From the obvious organisation to the space to view, wonderful …cept the flipping lights, boy did they play havoc with camera:-)

I'd also like to thank the very kind Swindon member who took me all round looking for someone in particular, he was so helpful. Senior gentleman on the stall immediately to the right as you enter the room where lectures were. He also took time out to explain in great detail how he had air-layered the Siberian Elm on his table. Roll on next year.

Dear Paul & Geoff,

Those are some real nice trees. Thanks for the pics. Having mentioned that there were about 350 trees.... well it would be great to see atleast 10% of the displayed trees. So please do the honours.... Shall look forward to the same.

Of the trees that Geoff had posted this one is my favourite..

I simply love the way the roots have gone over the rock... BTW what species is this tree???

Regards
Ravi

Thanks Paul. Will send you a pm.
I agree with Ravi......GET SOME MORE PICTURES POSTED. Mark's wierd orb flash seems to have sorted out the cepia tones ok?
Ravi. The tree you mention is a Trident Maple. Its looked after by Tracy M I think and the stone has a pool in it too.

Mike
Thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed it, the lights weren't to bad to the eye just the camera, I hope that Mark has better luck with his state of the art camera kit. I can't wait to see how they come out.

I have already spoken to another club member who is a bit of a camera buff, maybe we could set up a side room with a photographic area. But that is very labour intensive and dangerous, carrying the trees in to be photographed and I am sure that the owners may not be too happy about their tree moving around. It also has the negative effect of disrupting the enjoyment of the visitors to the show. The lighting is certainly better than the last venue and as long as the photos give the viewer an idea of the quality of trees, it will always be better to come and see the tree on the day of the show.

Paul

I took quite a few and will fiddle with them and post anything not already here.

Stunning standard of trees - and imo a better "show" than JOB - as it was all trees virtually with a scattering of vendors rather than the other way round. The majority of the trees were on the large side but none the worse for that.

Your elm (amongst others) would have slotted in a treat here Will

My wife who is a relative bonsai virgin was particularly impressed with the greater proportion that looked "just like trees" but was not so fond of the 20% or so that "looked like pieces of art."

We had a lunch date in Marlborough and had to leave just as some bloke started lecturing about attacking a tree with a hammer whilst drunk.

Does anyone know who he was?


Thks

TimR

Congratulations to the guys at Swindon for organising their best Winter Image Show to date, in which Ritta and I were privileged to exhibit.

So, starting with the smallest trees on exhibit, here are a few photos of the Mame, for which class there was no award. (Apologies for the colour cast from the sodium lighting in the exhibition hall)

Bob B's mini Tokonoma exhibit, complete with Itoigawa, Kingfisher accent, and suiseki



A close up of the Itoigawa in it's new Rene LeCoq pot in an "Ox blood" colour glaze.



Bobs other Mame display



Close up of the Ibota (Jaopanes Ligustrum) and delightful primula accent



A closer look at one delightful tree from another of Bob's Mame exhibits ; a Musk Maple (Premna)



More pics to follow later. Mark

To refer back to the question ask earlier by Ravi about the tree below. It is a Trident Maple over a pool rock, owned by John T and was one of three trees as part of a club's display.




Mark

Thanks Mark

Some nice photo's, you can have the Photographers job next year......if we can afford you!!!

Paul

Mark may look silly wandering around with that baloon like apendage, but it works.
Paul. click the red box next to log out that says messages.

Hi Mark
Thanks for the photo,s and thankyou to you and Ritta for contributing with your ABC display and your stunningly beautiful Shohin display in helping to make this our most successful show ever.Also thankyou for the accents Ritta,what would I do without you?
Bob

Tom wrote:Some very nice trees there.
What species is the one with the hollowed trunk?
What is the group planting in the final pic - Forsythia?

Tom

tom its mountain maple - it was on our display the overhead colours from the lights in the hall give a false colour. the tree opened out dramatically as the day went on!

Paul, Will and Bob, thanks for the kind comments. Much appreciated.

Bob, Ritta says that "your are most welcome"...that's what friends are for.

Shohin exhibit pictures will be posted very soon; watch this space

Mark (& Ritta)

I'm currently 'fettling' the 70-odd pics I took at the show and will post them shortly. Those lights were a reet pain!

Mucho thinkitude has to go to the organisers of this truly awesome show. The sheer number of quality trees that it attracts says more about it's importance than any amount of plaudits I could heap on it. In short, you need to put it on your 'Bucket List' asap!

Yes, Mr Baddeley, you were conspicuous in your absence. I was really looking forward to a spot of verbal sparring!

It was great to catch up with some IBC/Burrs faces (Wirral crew and Dragon Boyos), as well as meet some for the first time (Big Steve and the Splinter Group). Even Fiona managed to put in an appearance, albeit a little later than anticipated! (I think she broke the record for the number of 'feckin's' you could fit into a 1 minute phone call!)

The pics that will be appearing over the next few days will say more about the show and the trees therein than my meagre grasp on the language could, so I'll shut mi gob an' go upload a few o' mi own. Si'thee.

Erm......if anyone got a pic of Mr T recieving his innoculation certificate, can they share it cos I was otherwise engaged trying to calm down an irate Glaswegian bird in the carpark at the time

Hi Paul

Very beautiful trees. Definitely a good show.Thanks for sharing photos.

Pavel

Harleyrider wrote:Erm......if anyone got a pic of Mr T recieving his innoculation certificate, can they share it cos I was otherwise engaged trying to calm down an irate Glaswegian bird in the carpark at the time

Your wish is my command. Here's Tony receiving his well deserved certificate(s) from the President of the Swindon and District BS, Reg Bolton ......



Mark

Cheers Mark. I only asked cos we needed to prove to his carer where he was.

Harleyrider wrote:

Cheers Mark. I only asked cos we needed to prove to his carer where he was.

You ever thought about writing as a career? You have made me chuckle so you have No doubt Tony will be allowed out again soon in the near future to play.

Mike

Harleyrider wrote:

Cheers Mark. I only asked cos we needed to prove to his carer where he was.

No problem ..you're most welcome.

BTW I liked your's and Tony's exhibits.

Mark

Some folk are gonna to be BARRED from IBC

I like that, lol. MINE and Tony's exhibits, lol.

The Swindon Club tried turning the lights off in the hall, but then we couldn't find where someone had put the camera :-
cause it was too dark.

You had to be at the show to fully enjoy the splendour of all the trees. oh, and to catch up with all the old friends there.

Mark, that's a lovely photo of the Certificate, maybe we should have turned off the lights after all.

Paul
[Swindon]

Harleyrider wrote: Even Fiona managed to put in an appearance, albeit a little later than anticipated! I think she broke the record for the number of 'feckin's' you could fit into a 1 minute phone call!

Is it actually possible to break one's own record?

But seriously, despite my late arrival on account of Swindon's all too obvious love-affair with traffic roundabouts and no street signs, I was hugely impressed with this show. Billed to me as a "local club show" it knocked spots off some of the larger "national" shows I have attended in terms of quality of tree and quality of display. No single tree or display was less outstanding than the others. There was also a good mix, as someone has said already, of trees and traders, and a wonderful atmosphere. I wondered beforehand why I had never been before and now I am determined to return next year with more time to spend wandering about.

Regards
the formerly irate Glaswegian bird in the carpark who is now overwhelmingly gobsmacked by the sheer breathtaking quality of the Swindon show.

btw the bicycle journey breakdown was Bristol to Swindon (outskirts thereof) - 40 miles in about two and a half hours. Swindon outskirts to venue - 5 miles in about erm... two hours, three phone calls to Harleyrider and a detour round about 100 roundabouts. Or was it the same one 100 times? And please note "that" phone call was only 45 seconds.

Fiona

Really sorry I missed you. You are not alone, I must have gone 'round' that magic roundabout 60 times, and what bright-spark ever decided to name it as such?

Got home 40 minutes quicker than I got there.

Catch you later in the year Fiona.

Mike