Category Videos

Sep 25 2022

Bonsai Intermediate Course 2 from Bonsai Empire

Bonsai Intermediate Course 2 From Bonsai Empire
With Bjorn Bjorholm and Michael Hagedorn

In the course Bjorn Bjorholm and Michael Hagedorn cover extensively the topic of Pruning – breaking it down by tree species as well as by the developmental stages of the tree. They also show how to create a root over rock Bonsai, and investigate various Fruiting and flowering tree species.

I particularly liked the pruning and growth of deciduous trees, Bjorn explains in detail how to development young material from the early stages all the way to refining your tree. Bjorn prunes a Maple bonsai and explains all the steps he takes in setting this tree up for the coming year. For example, he strengthens the lower branches by pruning those less than the tree’s apical growth, all shown in detail in the tutorials.

In describing a large imported Korean Hornbeam Bjorn notes that the original styling is more akin to a pine, and if he was working this tree from an early stage in its development he would have implemented the techniques described in the tutorials. This is why its important to apply good techniques at an early stage, students will learn these from the course.

Included in the course are some interesting tutorials on the Bunjin style (Literati) Michael Hagedorn excels in this difficult to execute style.

It’s a total of six hours and Students get lifetime access to all materials and can ask questions to the teachers.

You can access the course here: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses/intermediate-course-2

Sep 6 2018

Further work on a Yamadori Yew ‘Pagoda’ style

This tree was collected over 5 years ago, this is a tall thin English Yew (Taxus Baccata), it has a shari that runs from top to base. Its never been re-potted out of this washing up bowl and it is now ready. The first work was done in December 2017 you can see the blog post HERE, not actually styling but formulating the branch structure and foliage locations. No wiring, no styling no branch positioning, the tree was left to grow. All I will do over the next 12 months watch out for wire cutting into the branches. The tree will be re-potted in February 2020.

 

Dec 1 2017

First work on a Yamadori Yew ‘Pagoda’ style

Its always exciting when you tackle a piece of raw material for the first time, the element of discovery (and sometimes disappointment) seeing the image that you have in your head appear before your eyes is great.

This tree was collected over 4 years ago, this is a tall thin English Yew (Taxus Baccata), it has a shari that runs from top to base. Its never been re-potted out of this washing up bowl and it is now ready. The first work is not actually styling but formulating the branch structure and foliage locations. No wiring, no styling no branch positioning, the tree will be left to grow. All I will do over the next 12 months is clean the tree and tidy up the cuts.

 

 

 

Oct 11 2016

Video from Manchester City of Trees: Ancient Oak

city-of-trees-logo

In the 1960s my father-in-law Geoff Duckworth, was the assistance chief engineer for Ramsbottom District Council. One of his responsibilities was the construction of new roads as the town began to expand. The widening of Summerseat Lane was needed as a new housing Estate was in the planning, the route of the existing lane would have required the felling of an ancient oak tree. The idea of tree preservation was introduced in 1947 and was yet to be widely adopted throughout the United Kingdom. Read the rest of the story here