Start of the new growing season

Looks like spring is finally arriving here in the midlands.  Most of my Bonsai are waking up from their winter dormancy.

 I have used the last few days to tidy my mame and shohin bonsai and re-pot were necessary.

Having a bit of nice and relatively warm and dry weather is a definitely a bonus.

Just a couple of pictures.

Chinese Elm, grown from a root cutting

Chinese Quince- accent plant

English Elm, grown from a root cutting

Tranquil Plants - Something a little bit different

My friend Stephan popped in the other day and dropped of a sample of his plant range.
 
He is just starting his new Business Tranquil Plants and was looking for a bit of feedback.  As you can see by the picture, he has taken House plants to the next step to make them contemporary and unique.
His inspiration comes from a traditional Japanese method called kokedama, where the plants roots are wrapped in moss rather than displayed in a pot.

My wife loves the red Peace Lilly, so I you are looking for something a bit different and special, (not long now until Valentines day!) have a look at his website for a great range of plants.

Merry Christmas

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Larch Group Planting Progression photos

This group was started in 2000 from nursery stock plants bought at the local garden centre.

Initially it was five trees, but I added more as the group was developed.

2000

2002

2002

2004

2007

2007

2013

Juniper Progression photos

This juniper came from a neighbours front garden.  Had to be removed because they had the front paved over and I was fortunate enough to get my hands on it for nothing.

It's a golden form of juniper, most likely "Old Gold" and the foliage is quite feathery.  Does not make the nice compact foliage clouds you would get from a Blaauws or Itoigawa, but makes a nice image.

I lost most of the pictures of this tree due to a harddrive failure, so these are the only shots I have.

2004

2010

2011

2011

2012

2013

Japanese Mountain Maple Progression photos

This Maple was bought from the "Bargain Section" at Greenwood Bonsai Studio in 2002 at the princely sum of £45.

Not sure why I have taken so few pictures of this tree over the years.

2003

2007

2007

2010

2012

2013

2013

2014

2014

Cork Bark Maple Progression

Not much to do on the bonsai front this month, so i spent some time organising the photos on my computer and found some early shots of some of my trees.

I thought it may be good for some to see the progression over a number of years.

First up my Cork Bark Maple.  This was started from a cutting back in 1988 (if I remember rightly).  It is not as vigorous as a grafted maple and seems to grow very slowly.

It was grown in a large plant pot and then planted into its first bonsai pot in 1999.

May 2000

Sept 2000

2004

2006

2008

2010

2013

2014