This is a trident maple, about 30 cm tall, with a lot of potential and coming along very well but the widespread roots are not attractive and diminish the quality of the tree. I accepted this for several years (when I should have done something about it straightaway) but eventually could not ignore the need […]
For the last couple of months the BSA has been trialing weekly Zoom meetings. For the first month or so four members tried to get their their heads around how this would work and what the the format would be while our usual monthly demonstration and workshops are on hold. Over the past few weeks,
Now winter has well and truly arrived and it’s time to get going with the repotting of deciduous trees, if you haven’t already started. Some of the species you should be working on include crabapples, maples, elms, wisteria, flowering prunus of all types and ashes. Bear in mind with flowering bonsai, that any trimming you
Being the first month of winter also means it’s the first of three ‘bench sprays’ over the next three months. I like to do any spraying on the first weekend of the month- that way I remember to do the task and it just becomes part of the winter monthly routine. Mix 30ml of lime
As Covid-19 restrictions are gradually being lifted, do we really want to go back to working away from home? Can we tear ourselves away from our gardens and our bonsai collection? Has this time period changed the way we think and the way we live? It will still be some time before things return to
With not much to look forward to in the way of exhibitions in the near future, here is some looking back to the Australian Plants as Bonsai Exhibition held at the Australian National Botanic Gardens earlier this year. The trees are accompanied by the descriptions their owners provided for the catalogue. Growing shohin bonsai (can
This was supposed to be a photo styling article but after a few cuts I decided that nature had the better idea. The plant is a Leptospermum myrsinoides – Twisted Sister – and I got it at the AABC All Native Convention in 2019. It was $20, small enough to just fit into the remaining
What glorious weather we have had so far for autumn. During lockdown I have been busy repotting some of my evergreen species (not conifers) and generally tidying up the area out the back where my collection lives. It’s amazing how much gravel and general debris can build up under the benches when you’re not looking!
Are we missing a cheap bonsai aid by throwing out the plastic tabs that seal the bread bags? They are easy to clip around a small branch and can help keep track of certain tasks without having a plastic marker in the soil. R-10/19 repotted October 2019 W-10/19 wired October 2019 S- 10/19 Sprayed October
We are certainly living in interesting times, with most of us confined mainly to home as a result of COVID-19. What a great opportunity to get out among your trees and give them the attention they have possibly lacked over the very hot summer months. Most of us have probably lost at least a few
