Tag Archives: Tree

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 6 2012

The Best Tree at Noelanders Trophy XIII?

Let me indulge myself… its my website after all!

One of the best things about taking part in a BIG show is that you get to view the exhibition when it is quiet. On entering the exhibition the very first tree was this amazing Scots pine by David Benavente.
The maturity of the bark and branches, the tiny needles, density of the foliage pads and sensitive styling make THIS TREE my favourite… and one that I would kill for to have in my collection.

I have known David for quite a few years… being fortunate that at the last Ginkgo Award of getting up close and personal to this pine… and… I cannot find anything that i would change, its pretty damn near perfect.

That is not to say the winner was not an amazing tree… its just that… I like this one more 🙂

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!


Jan 31 2012

The best Noelanders Trophy XIII experience video EVER from Le Bonsaï Club du Léman

This has to be the best Noelanders Trophy XIII experience video EVER, if you have never been to this event…THIS video sure sums up the experience, its from Le Bonsaï Club du Léman Not an exhibition bonsai in site, just travel, friends, coffee, beer, fun and laughter…I love it… and I must make sure I do the same very event I go to!

Jan 29 2012

Changing the Position of a Hawthorn Bonsai when re-potting

I was never happy with the viewing position of the tree in the pot, I commissioned Gordon Duffett to create a new pot that would enable me to rotate the tree and make the image more dynamic. Take time to watch the movie of the re-potting, there are a few surprises!

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I have had this tree for over 15 years, its know as ‘The Fat Guy’ (because I have a hawthorn called ‘The Tall Guy”)