Dawn Redwood.

While removing the wire from my Dawn Redwood I had to be careful not to knock off any of the buds that have formed ready for next year.

It always amazes me how they form at this time of year, then just sit there all winter and when spring arrives they burst out into a beautiful green foliage.

Lots of new buds.

Lots of fungi growing as well.

Natter night 30th October 2017.

A quiet night, but we were still busy with an Itoigawa juniper that Andy P brought.

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The tree before any work was done.

A little prune and clean out of unwanted foliage.

During wiring and placement of branches. You can see the trunk-line more clearly now.

After a basic styling, mainly to let light into the canopy to promote good growth.

A good night's work once more.

Winter quarters.

Sure I have posted this before, but just in case, here it is again.

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At the bottom of the garden I have four green houses and a shade house.

The shade house that is very good for trees that have been collected or a little under the weather. They seem to love the extra protection it gives them.

Green houses, two 8ft by 6ft and two 6ft by 6ft, so plenty of room for the trees.

They are all unheated, but give protection from the wind and rain. This gives me control of the amount of water they get.

Getting cold.

It is starting to get cold up here in the north of England as this Maple shows by the beautiful colours.

Beware of the cat.

Fudge was on guard duty this morning looking after my trees.

Keep up the good work fudge.

A Shohin's tale.

I just came across a photo of an Itoigawa juniper from a couple of years ago and boy has it changed.

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This is when I first purchased it.

After a light prune and repot.

First styling.

Growing well.

Getting closer.

Tonight on the bench.

Progressing very nicely.

Bonsai Thursday.

Today we carried on where we left off on Monday, treating Boxie's Spruce.

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Another coat of wood hardner, which seems to be doing a good job.

Job done and returned to the shade house.

I also did a little refinement work on Dave's Juniper in bogwood.

I have also given my trees a spray with fungicide in preparation for Winter.

Roll on Spring.

In the dark.

A couple of photos taken last night.

Natter night 23rd October 2017.

An early start tonight when Boxie came to do some more work on the Spruce that has rot in the base.

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The tree last week after an emergency repot.

As there is some bad wood inside the upper end of the base we wrapped the pot in cling film, to stop the compost falling out, then turned the whole thing over.

Boxie then brushed some wet rot wood hardner into the space. It was then turned back to an upright position and the rest was coated..

Hope this stuff is as good as it claims to be..

Boxie also brought this White Pine to be dewired.

By the time the work was finished it had gone dark.

Just as well nobody else brought any trees tonight.

Itoigawa Junipers.

Three of my juniper's that have just been reworked.

Dave's Tanuki juniper, update.

I left Dave's juniper in the studio last night so the lime sulpher would dry out. This morning I returned it to the display bench.

Looks nice and clean now.

After storm Brian.

I have been out in the garden to see the damage caused by storm Brian.

Devastation everywhere.

This Larch has fallen over.

My stone pile as well.

On a brighter note this Acer Palmatum is taking on a nice colour.

Looks like we were spared the worst of the storm.

Hope all my friends were as lucky.

Dave's Tanuki Juniper.

Saturday afternoon, wet and windy, what to do? 

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After a look round the garden, I thought Dave's Tanuki juniper could do with another coat of lime sulpher.

This is about one year ago just after Dave brought the tree here.

After a repot and a clean up the tree put on a lot of new growth this season.

Today after a gentle prune and a coat of lime sulpher.

The deadwood will look better when it dries.

Calming down.

I have had a very busy time the last few weeks, with a holiday in Portugal, then a weekend at Bonsai Europa in Bury and last Monday a workshop with Bjorn Bjorholm in Scotland.

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While all this was very enjoyable, it is nice to be able to chill out on a Saturday morning, just doing some work on my trees.

This Itoigawa juniper has had a little clean up and refinement.

This Shohin sized Itoigawa has had a bit of styling work.

It now looks a bit more refined.

My Dawn Redwood is almost bald, thanks to the strong winds on Monday.

A good mornings work.

Bonsai Thursday with Dave and Boxie.

A very interesting day exploring the rot in a Spruce that belongs to Boxie. It was decided to do an emergency repot as the rot was in the bottom of the trunk before it had gone to far.

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The only way to remove the tree from the original pot without causing more damage was with a hammer.

The new pot prepared ready for the tree with a good drainage layer and some charcoal, to keep the compost sweet.

Some rot in the base was removed and the good wood that was left was treated with sealant to stop further rot.

Cleaning the root ball before potting.

The inside of the trunk was also treated .

In the new pot it will go back into the shade house to recover.

It will need a lot more work, but that will be left untill the tree shows good signs of growth.

At least now we know what is happening in amongst the roots.