View this beautiful short video on Ben Oki and a styling of a collected tree. If you are not yet familiar with Ryan Neil and Bonsai Mirai, get on with it. Mirai Live is the best way to watch and learn bonsai on a screen. (my opinion)
BONSAI CLUB SHOWS
That time has come again! From April to June, local bonsai clubs hold their annual shows across The Lower Mainland. This is a great opportunity to check out what local clubs are doing, meet some of the people and see the trees that enthusiasts in our region have been cultivating. Some shows even have plant material for sale. Check out the calendar on the about page for info on this springs events.
BONSAI CERAMICS (UPDATE)
China Pottery in Richmond, BC has some new stock. As of Feb 26 2019 they have a few bonsai pots to choose from. They are one of the few local retailers. Check ’em out.
Check out this post by Bonsai Tonight. Here I was getting ready to upload my photos from the event when I spot this post. His images came out better than mine. Enjoy this snapshot of the show. I had a great time there!
The Bonsai Society of Portland and Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association presented the 2018 Northwest Bonsai Rendezvous this month in Milwaukie, Oregon. The event was a big success! Three days of workshops, critiques, and demonstrations made the time fly by. Just steps away, a high quality exhibition featured some of the region’s best trees. Here…
via Highlights from the Northwest Bonsai Rendezvous exhibit — Bonsai Tonight
WINTER IS COMING
The bonsai season is all but over and winter is heading our way. More importantly, the cold, the wind and the rain are heading for our trees. As winter rolls in for us in the temperate zone, we must protect our trees. Keep your trees from getting too wet over winter. Shield your trees from harsh drying winds, especially those twiggy trees. Remember that roots in shallow pots are highly susceptible to freezing. Heeling-in our trees or placing them on the ground next to the heat of our homes is often enough protection from our mild winters. Enjoy the last days of fall and we will see you at the end of winter.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE SUMI BONSAI SHOW.
On May 19 & 20 2018, Sumi Bonsai Club had their annual show at VanDusen. The show consisted of one room full of bonsai on display, a few live demonstrations and vendor tables along the hall entrance. These shows are great opportunities to purchase material at fair prices. Small Japanese Maples, Azalea’s, the odd Juniper, Cypress, Pine, and other various deciduous trees can be purchased in pots. I walked away with an exceptional Hornbeam(Carpinus) bonsai. Here are just a few images of the show including some trees that caught my attention. Enjoy.
AIR-LAYER FOLLOW UP
On April 23 2018 East Van Bonsai hosted an air-layer demo lead by Peter B. Here are some photos and words regarding the layer done on a big larch. Assuming all goes to plan, Peter will revisit the larch in August. Hopefully enough roots will have formed by then to remove the layer in the same year.
WOOD TRAINING BOXES. EASY & AFFORDABLE.
Before that magical bonsai tree of yours reaches the refinement stage, focus should be on growth and development. A shallow ceramic pot looks great, but may not be ideal for optimum growth. Wooden training boxes allow for bespoke dimensions to accommodate any size of tree. By allowing your tree to build up it’s resources and develop a strong(compact) root system, you propel it’s rate of growth, moving the tree ahead. There is good reason why bonsai professionals use boxes. Here are some benefits of using training crates.
1. Build to size, any size. Finding the perfect dimensions in a training pot for your tree can be challenging. Make your box to any specs.
2. Inexpensive. Buy affordable planks of wood. Use wood you find or already have.
3. Easy to customize. Attach handles for large heavy trees. Fasten screws in the wood for guide-wire mounting points or tie-down wires to secure on the bench or railing.
HOW-TO; WIRE TREES INTO BONSAI POTS.
This is a re-post from Bonsai Tonight. Jonas puts it very clearly so that it is easy to follow. View his blog for tons of helpful and informative articles on bonsai. Link below.
https://bonsaitonight.com/2012/02/24/how-to-wire-a-bonsai-pot/
I WANT A BONSAI TREE. WHERE DO I START?
Here are 10 helpful tips on how to begin.
1. Determine the space or area you have for your tree(s). What is the light level like? Full sun, a few hours of sun, or bright shade? Heavily shaded or dark areas are not ideal for growing healthy bonsai.
2. Research tree species. Figure out which tree types will thrive in the space you have available. For example, Pines do best in sunny locations. Japanese Maples do best in part sun or bright shade.
3. When starting out, aim for specific species that are commonly used for bonsai. This ensures that you can find plenty of information on your tree. Plus you have a higher chance for success when developing your bonsai. Some plant material may be very appealing, but will not tolerate bonsai development techniques like root pruning or won’t reduce in twig and leaf size. This can cause some frustration… or just lead to a nice garden plant.
