Uncovering A Nebari—
Crataegus
by crataegus
13h ago
How to grow a nebari is often talked about. And it should be. The timing and method of uncovering a developing nebari is phase two. In this example we uncover a Red Maple nebari overgrown with fine roots and moss. Red Maple with a good nebari already. If the roots are not buried a bit, even by 1/4”, fused nebari doesn’t happen. The soil and moss on right side and left side are being removed to see if the nebari has expanded. Here the trunk is flaring into the soil in the back, but the question is, what lies beneath? Same question in the front. Fine roots may be covering a fused nebari under ..read more
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Repotting Trivia—
Crataegus
by crataegus
1w ago
Here are a few photos from this spring’s repotting in Seasonal Workshops. Each has a note about what we were doing.  Often pots have few, small drain holes. Sometimes they are not in the lowest place in the pot. In either of those situations drilling new holes can help the pot drain. Pictured here is a diamond hole saw on a drill which, with a spray of constant water (helps to have a buddy), will easily and without much danger to the pot create new holes. Making simple clips for small sized drain holes. Larger drain holes benefit from your more complicated clips. All have their use. A ..read more
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Shohin School
Crataegus
by crataegus
2w ago
This January we had Daisaku Nomoto with Jonas Dupuich and Andrew Robson in Portland, Oregon for the Shohin School. I’ve enjoyed watching this event take shape the last two years, matched by the enthusiasm of its 50+ students. Andrew Robson, Daisaku Nomoto, and Jonas Dupuich at the Shohin School this past January. Many of you know Jonas from his excellent educational resource, blog, and online store Bonsai Tonight. Andrew Robson runs Rakuyo Bonsai, a spectacular deciduous bonsai garden is barely a mile from my garden, here in Portland, Oregon. Andrew and Jonas are the founders of Shohin Scho ..read more
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Root Grafting Stewartia
Crataegus
by crataegus
1M ago
Quick note: Apologies subscribers, we are having a temporary issue with getting the blog to your inbox. We’re working on it! This week, a photo essay of a Stewartia root graft in a recent winter Seasonal class. These winter classes are focused on repotting, and a great time for root grafts. A couple prospective Stewartia seedlings for the root grafts. One site excavated to accept a root graft scion. This area could have better surface roots. A second area that needs nebari roots. Chiseling out the groove to accept a seedling’s lower trunk. Testing the graft’s position and depth. The scion ..read more
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The Garden of David Benevente
Crataegus
by crataegus
1M ago
One name that comes to mind on any list of great creators of bonsai is David Benevente. Years ago David worked at Luis Vallejo’s Bonsai Museum and has since run his own garden outside of Madrid, Spain. This a real working garden. Bonsai are crafted in three separate workshop areas. Given the functional nature of the garden—sales are its main focus—it is a testament to David’s artistic sensibility that it feels like a museum. The use of the site itself is worthy of comment, with exposed granite bedrock surfacing here and there like the backs of whales. David has a knack of placing a branch wher ..read more
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UBE 2024 Show Highlights
Crataegus
by crataegus
2M ago
The annual Trophy in Belgium is widely regarded as the central EU bonsai show, and deservedly so. I was lucky enough to see it in 2015 and felt I’d only once before seen that level outside of Japan, in Taiwan. Less known to those outside the EU is the UBE convention and show in Spain. This is a Spain-only show, which given the quality of the trees speaks volumes about how deep a bench the EU presently has. Much as I am proud of our momentum over here in the Americas, hats off to Spain. Though they have superb imports, they are also working with European natives at that same level: Sabina Junip ..read more
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Hemlock On A Cliff—9 Years Later
Crataegus
by crataegus
2M ago
We made this composition in 2016. It was a funny little tree, so we made an unusual presentation on a rock and it’s been sitting out there maturing. The inspiration for it was medium-age trees that grow upright, halfway down a cliff. Before the big rocks and whatnot crash down on them and add shari and broken tops. Not one of the usual bonsai templates, but then why not. We only have one in the yard. Here’s a link to how we made it: Hemlock on Cliff ..read more
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Black Pine: Subtle Corrections
Crataegus
by crataegus
2M ago
Here’s a GIF of a small Japanese Black Pine after a couple adjustments. These are subtle, so it may take several viewings to see the final adjustments. The GIF has 3 parts. Here’s a breakdown of the adjustments: Part 2: Needles pulled, and lowest right and left branches lowered Part 3: The crown has a peak to the right, making it lopsided; it was tucked back to center, making the tree’s foliage lower, more compact, and focused on the trunk This tree, incidentally, has a Ponderosa Pine trunk that was grafted with two scions of Japanese Black Pine ..read more
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Michael Roberts:
Crataegus
by crataegus
2M ago
A year ago we featured Michael Roberts on a couple blog posts, and here’s another one. Michael not only works with great care and patience over many years but also had the foresight to take photos of his subjects. Which makes posts like these a pleasure. Young Corkbark Elm, 2010. Notice the pots in the rest of the photos. Each one is different. Michael writes of his tree: “This twin trunk Cork Bark Elm was purchased from San Gabriel Nursery in  December 1998 as 1 gallon nursery stock. At that time the tree was probably 5 or 6 years old, and had a trunk diameter of about 1 1/2″. I most li ..read more
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Red Maple 32-Year Animated History
Crataegus
by crataegus
3M ago
Happy Holidays everyone! Take care of each other ..read more
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