Richard’s Larch
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
1M ago
The transformation of a small Larch bonsai. July 2023 – The tree had suffered in the past and lost some branches leaving a large gap between the lower branches and the apex.Problem solved! ? – well to some degree yes. So now we can just let the tree grow freely for the remainder of the seasonDecember 2023 – The needles have dropped and you can now see the growth the tree has put on in the past few months.The tree was too flat so now we have to consider changing the angle to give a much more plausible dynamic design.The tree after pruning and now ready for wiring.January 2024 – The tree now wir ..read more
Visit website
Paul’s Grey Owl Juniper
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
3M ago
March 2016 – A compact styling based on the branches available.August 2017 – The tree has grown well and has lost its shape.August 2017 – The wire has been removed and the dense foliage has been cleaned out.November 2019 – The tree is in the process of being rewired.November 2019 – Wiring completed the tree has been cleaned out and styled.May 2022 – The tree has been allowed to grow freely and now looks much stronger and healthier. Much larger and more impressive now than in the original picture.May 2022 – The tree after some pruning and cleaning out.December 2023 – The tree after wiring and i ..read more
Visit website
Carrying out some private work at a clients home.
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
4M ago
I was recently asked to visit a clients home to work on some of his junipers. A half cascade juniper ittogawa wired and ready for styling.The tree after positioning the branches.Another wired juniper ready for styling. This appears to be juniper sergentii.After styling and the removal of two large lower branches.This juniper ittogawa has no wire on but just needed cleaning out and tidying up.What a difference and what an amazing composition with such a natural looking rock formation.Hard to believe that this is the same tree that was exhibited at my Newstead Bonsai Extravaganza in 2010. More a ..read more
Visit website
Some recent visitors to classes……
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
5M ago
Before – an octopus like leggy juniperAfter – now much more compact and organised.Before – This larch is just losing its needles and retains the seasons new growth.After – Just a little bit of pruning to restore order and refine the image.Before – Chamaecyparis Boulevard nursery stock.After – Pruned to form the basic structure of a tree with scope now for some wiring.Before – Juniper Ittogawa wired and ready for tweaking.After – a more compact mature image.Before – This small shohin juniper is becoming too largeAfter – Removing the lower branch brings the tree back into scale and in tune with ..read more
Visit website
The story of a Japanese Yew (Part four)
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
9M ago
May 2022 – The tree is vibrant, strong and healthy. The basic shape is visible but now somewhat unkempt and overgrown. January 2023 – The tree is brought inside ready for a complete overhaul.Old needles are removed. Shoots are selected and thinned out.Work begins on cleaning the live veins and the deadwood areas.The secondary thin live vein in the centre of the picture is no longer being used by the tree. The bark will be removed and it will be incorporated into the deadwood.Old cut off roots will be carved and hollowed to create a more natural appearance.After the work had been completed and ..read more
Visit website
The story of a Japanese Yew (Part three)
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
9M ago
August 2014 – The new growth is clearly visible.Old bark between the live vein and the dead shari needs to be removed.It’s easy to get behind the bark with a knife.Old bark can be removed from the upper surfaces too.The veins are becoming totally rounded standing proud on the trunk enhancing the maturity and character of the tree.The centre of the trunk is now hollow too.March 2017 – The tree had spent time on the sales benches and now stands without wire There is a sparseness about the foliage but the tree is budding well.June 2017 – The new growth is strongMarch 2018 – After another wiring a ..read more
Visit website
The story of a Japanese Yew (Part two)
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
1y ago
March 2010 – Following the tree’s first styling in February I decided to carry out a repotting and set the tree at its new correct planting angle.The tree has a dense fibrous rootball typical of the species.The tree happy in a new pot with the planting angle adjusted. The protruding original rootball to the left will gradually be reduced and eliminated. A view from the other side, the back of the tree.February 2013 – The tree stands now with no wire on and the protruding rootball has been completely removed.September 2013 – The tree has grown well, complete with self generated accent plant!A c ..read more
Visit website
The story of a Japanese Yew (Part One)
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
1y ago
This is the story of a Japanese Yew (Taxus Cuspidata). I think I have told this story once before in my blog but for this new version I have unearthed some previously unseen early photographs whilst the story is brought up to date to a recent styling in February 2023. January 2005 – The tree arrives from Japan somewhat unceremoniously wrapped in a hessian sack. There were four trees in the batch and I bought two of them.February 2010 – The tree had been standing for sale on the nursery and despite a lot of interest remained unsold. It looked impressive but maybe people were unsure how to get t ..read more
Visit website
Junipers recently brought to classes for styling
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
1y ago
This Juniper is an air layer but the trunk and branches are just so long and spindly.Now with a much more compact design in scale with the trunk and giving the impression of a tree of greater age. The existing canopy is too wide for the thickness of the trunk and the orientation needs changing.The canopy is now in much greater harmony with the thickness and character of the trunk.The twisting shari and live veins are really impressive.Another small juniper that has lost its way with untidy elongated foliage.A much more pleasing compact silhouette ..read more
Visit website
John’s Juniper – Now we can see the tree!
John Hanby Bonsai School
by John Hanby
1y ago
December 2021 – The existing wiring is inadequate and needs to be removed. For a shohin size tree the branches are too long in their present format.September 2022 – Looking a good colour and ready for rewiring.The tree viewed from the rear. You can see how strong it is but also how leggy the branches are.November 2022 – The main branches are wired.Just a bit of manipulation to the main branches and the tree is already looking more compact. Now for the wiring to the thinner branches.What a difference! The foliage at last looks in proportion to the trunk and we now have the image of a very power ..read more
Visit website

Follow John Hanby Bonsai School on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR