Category Videos

Feb 21 2012

Bonsai Potter Showcase #1 Andy Pearson Stone Monkey

Andy Pearson at Stone Monkey Ceramics, is the first potter to be featured in my ‘Bonsai Potter Showcase”. I will featured a new potter once a month here on my blog, other potters that have been ‘interviewed’ to date are:  Dan Barton and David Jones of Walsall Ceramics.

I have known Andy since his early days working in ceramics and I am fortunate to have some of his early work… including his first foray into Raku. Over the years Andy has developed a keen eye for detail, his work being very much in demand by the Shohin specialist. A great artist and I advise you to buy now as The Monkeys work will be collectable pieces in the future, as has been demonstrated with Andy’s annual ‘Collector’s Edition’ pots. Limited Edition or ‘one off’ pots that have shaken up the bonsai world with their finesse and beauty.

Feb 15 2012

The Tall Yew Six years after collecting.


Today I filmed this tree because this year will see a dramatic increase in foliage, refinement of the image and maturity of the bonsai. The tree had its first styling last year when the main branches were put in place.

Creating the right structure from an early stage means that you can avoid having to correct mistakes and loose years of work later. The image is OK now but it is still a very young ‘bonsai’ but not a young tree. With good horticultural technique, timely application of bonsai ‘know how’ and a good few HOT summers this bonsai should be ready for exhibition in 2016.

The story of collecting this tree from the mountain can be seen here. 

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 🙂

Scroll to the bottom to view the Video

Feb 5 2012

A Winters walk in the Bonsai Garden with LOTS of Snow

We have managed to get off lightly with the harsh freeze for now. Here is a video I made this morning of the snow in my garden. I leave the hawthorns out all year, this encourages the aged bark that is so desirable, and they are really tough trees. Yews I always have at least one freeze because Yews are a winter tree, the needles simply glow after a cold snap! I also leave out my Scots pine.

The worst weather we have ever experienced was last year when we had one night at  -17c and 9 days of -10c. for now its 5c… quite warm compared to the rest of Europe… Pavel Slovak tells me it is -26c in Czech!