Charity shop find.

My wife is a volunteer worker at our local hospice shop and today she came across something she thought I might like.

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These small Chinese bowls, not one.

Not two.

But twelve of them in a presentation box.

Hawthorn.

Today I decided to remove the flower stems from my Hawthorn as they have now died back. I have been doing this for a long time now as I do not let it produce berries, I think it puts a strain on the tree.

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I also took the opportunity to clip it back to a finer image.

Bonsai Thursday with Dave.

Maybe I should change the title of this Thursday post to coffee with Dave during this great weather we are having, as we tend to sit out in the garden, looking at the trees and partaking of refreshment.

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I did however do a bit of weeding and finger pruning on this Larch.

Looks much better without weeds.

Bonsai Wednesday.

Two weeks ago John brought a Boulevard Cypress to get advice and tuition on, so I showed him how to thin the foliage and how best to wire this species. So tonight he brought it back for a second consultation.

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How it was two weeks ago.

Tonight when he brought it back.

I started to thin some more, he got a shock as he thought he had reduced it to much.

This is what I removed tonight.

The finished image, for now.

John had a big smile on his face when I was done.

I think he was pleased.

A visit to Johns.

I had a little time to spare today, so I called in to see John R and scrounge a cup of coffee.

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John with some of his collection.

Other trees in a sheltered area.

Thanks for the coffee John.

A visit from Susan.

Susan G came over today to get some work and advice on a couple of her trees.

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This first one , a Taxus Baccata, she wanted to know how to clean up the bark and the Shari dead wood. I showed her how it is done and left her to get on with it and she made a good job of it.

This next one is a Cryptomera or flame bush, which has been left to grow for a while.

After a good clip and a little wire a nice image has emerged.

This is the front view.

The rear view before work.

The rear view after work.

I really like working with people like Susan because she really wants to learn all about the art of growing Bonsai.

Natter night 21st May 2018.

Yet another really warm day and also a good evening for my get together.

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Beer and Bonsai, my future son in law with his first ever Bonsai, a Buxus.

He seems to be enjoying a little of both.

In the meantime Boxie and I were preparing some of his Satskies for the upcoming show at the Wirral club show in a couple of weeks time.

Time to relax a little when Ken arrived with a very sick Rhodie, which we placed into it's own mini green house to see if it will recover.

A quiet night as regards visitors, but never the less busy with the work done.