A regular update on the life and times of John Hanby’s Newstead Bonsai Centre……..
Topical Times – Christmas Special December 2013
Every year I try and offer a special class close to Christmas where students are given a selection of trees to purchase but the price also includes a full day workshop on the designated day.
This year the material was Ittogawa Junipers. We had two sizes of material so that we could try to cover different price budgets.
Eight trees were sold but only six students could make the day selected so I will try and accommodate the other two in the new year.
Each tree was discussed with the student and possible styling options were explained. Once a decision had been agreed branches were selected and those not needed were removed leaving stumps suitable for the creation of deadwood.
Each student then created his deadwood and wired all the remaining branches which were then positioned. The pictures below briefly outline this sequence for each tree.
This was an initial styling session to provide a sound base from which the tree can be developed in the future. Some branches were deliberately left long to help the tree recover from this process and to maintain it’s vigour. They will gradually be reduced during the growing season.
Eventually these trees will have extensive shari work connecting the gins and providing great drama twisting around the trunks. It is better to let the trees settle down and show you where the shari needs to go rather than you attacking the tree with a knife and cutting through vital live veins.
All of these trees have a great future and it will be interesting to see how they develop….but then again that is just one of the joys of bonsai!
Happy New Year to you all……..!