Category Pine

Mar 12 2012

British Shohin Association Annual Show 2012 photos and movie

I have just returned home for the BSA Show at Willowbog…Willowbog is in the wilds of Northern England 5 mile along a single track road off the main road network. It took me a total of seven hours travelling to get to the show and what a show. The Quality of display and the excellence of the trees is the best we have ever seen in one show in the UK.

The BSA has really come into its own with the group producing a wonderful event with a great friendly atmosphere. John Armitage and Peter Warren were on hand to offer advice and they gave a ‘trade secrets’ demo/talk in the afternoon. Andy Hardman (who was celebrating his 50th Birthday) gave talk on Accent plants, the room was so full I could not get in!  I also managed to interview two more potter for my potters showcase series.

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Feb 21 2012

A video of Ryan Neil featuring Randy Knight Yamadori Master Collector

Photo by: Walter Pall

Bonsai Mirai is the never-ending dream of bonsai professional Ryan Neil. Through his International Bonsai Mirai garden Ryan is working to create and instruct bonsai at a higher level. Check www.bonsaimirai.com for information on classes, educational opportunities, and continual updates of Ryan’s most recent work.

I have had the pleasure of being up close with both Ryan and Randy. Two guys who are shaking up the Bonsai scene in the USA. This is a new video from the guys. All I can say is ‘WATCH THESE GUYS!” its all about QUALITY.

Feb 18 2012

Styling a Scots Pine to create an elegant image

This is a Pine that Pavel brought over for me last November when he came to Burrs with Mirek and Jakub.

I would not normally work on a pine that had only been potted the year before however this pine was responding well PLUS I used a strong strap to hole the tree firm whilst I worked.

The major branches were first wrapped in Raffia then Self Amalgamating Rubber Tape. Minor branches only had Raffia and thin branches no protection. ONLY copper wire was used.

I tend to style from the bottom up, working each branch and positioning before I wire the next. I always have the image in my head that I wish to achieve, this process saves wiring unnecessary branches.

I decided to work the deadwood after styling as I wanted the canopy to determine the size of the deadwood. On this occasion no long jins or stylised carving, only hand tools were used.

Feb 12 2012

Yamadori, Bears and Wolves in The High Tatras Mountains of Czech Republic

I have collected Yamadori throughout Europe but one of the craziest adventures was with Pavel Slovak, his son Kuba and two of Pavels friends. The ‘walk’ in to the collecting site took THREE HOURS! and we climbed over 1,200 metres. But it was NOT the climbing that I had to watch out for it was the Bears and Wolves.

The trip was very successful bagging 10 trees… but it was exhausting. I reported from the top on one of the mountains that we climbed… and from the top of a tree so that I could get a better look at the view.

After climbing the tree I was told how foolish I was because Bears climb trees… as once you are up a tree you have nowhere to ‘run’ 😦

Feb 7 2012

A video tour around Peter Thali’s Amazing Bonsai Garden


Peter Thali has one of the best personally collected bonsai collections in Europe. Almost all the trees are now mature Bonsai there are a few pieces of raw material scattered around the garden. Pines, Junipers and Spruce make up the majority of the bonsai in Peter’s garden.

ALL collected locally… Peter does live IN the Alps. I was honoured to visit Peter’s Garden whilst I was at the Bonsai Autumn event in Switzerland.

Take a look at the video and drool over am amazing collection of trees… I wanted to take so many home with me 🙂

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