tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19478329887495949182024-03-19T08:48:17.524+00:00Saruyama BlogBonsai Blog from Peter Warren. Tales from the life of a journeyman Bonsai artist. Trying to make sense of the world through little trees in pots.Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-36802953298582733142015-01-28T12:30:00.000+00:002015-01-28T12:32:59.252+00:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
Despite updating the website and all that jazz, I have been updating this even less than usual. Updating Facebook and Instagram with throwaway nonsense has played a part in that, as has simply being very busy. A lot has happened over the end of 2014, not all of it good, and to be honest I was glad to see the end of it. It has been a pretty bad year for bonsai people in general with lots of people being hospitalised, getting various serious conditions and even worse with the passing of some both well and lesser known members of the bonsai community. I have escaped lightly in comparison and for that I am thankful. I was asked recently during a demonstration why I do bonsai and what is good about it as a profession. Despite a few egotistical idiots and people who seem to kill more trees than they grow, it is really the people in bonsai who make it worth while and the reason for doing it is for others, for clients, students, readers, friends and even for those out there who don't like what I have to say or do.</div>
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There were a few things that happened in the autumn that have made me consider where the future may lie in both bonsai and also the niche in which I can make a living. One of the biggest eye opening experience was visiting Saulieu in October. For those that don't know Saulieu is a very well organised exhibition in France held in Autumn which has aspirations to become the Taikanten to Noelanders' Kokufuten. A complete European bonsai community need two large shows a year, one in the autumn and one in the winter image. Otherwise we just experience one tiny piece of the bonsai spectrum of enjoyment, too much focus in bonsai is placed on conifers and we miss out on a lot of other things.</div>
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That is a little beside the point to be honest as what happened there was the fact that there were over 50 traders and simply not enough visitors to support them. With so many people collecting trees from the mountains with little regard to their quality and suitability to becoming bonsai, there is a glut of material in the market and basic economic theory predicts that as supply goes up and demand goes down, the price drops. Sadly the average enthusiast is guided by price point and what they hear rather than what they see or have experienced to be good quality. One of the drivers of dropping demand is the bad experience that enthusiasts get from poor quality material and teaching...but this is a whole rabbit hole of another nature that we shouldn't disappear down. Point being, fool me once, shame on you. Most people don't come back for a second round of freshly collected yamadori.<br />
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It may sound as though I am complaining about profit margins but as things are in the bonsai community, we will see many nurseries close, many professionals having to quit because of those out there who have a day job but sell bonsai on the side with minimal profit margins or run workshops in their backyards. Lower prices may seem like something beneficial in the short term but success in bonsai is not something which can be measured in economic terms. If the western bonsai community has full time professionals who are talented, dedicated and committed to increasing the level of bonsai then we will all benefit. Sadly sustainability for the bonsai community doesn't come for free but neither is it supposed to be expensive.</div>
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One of the most time consuming things and reasons for the silence of late has been the frankly depressing search for purchasing a suitable property to start a permanent base for Saruyama Towers. I am once again at the mercy of economic forces, Supply of affordable houses is low, demand is super high and so prices are ridiculous. In the area where we are looking, South East London and further out, the market is being ruined by investors. Buy to Let property developers who are making what they think is a short term financial profit but is actually at the expense of society as a whole. As the market becomes more and more inaccessible to people, it all comes crumbling down and people leave as they simply cannot afford it. "Move out to the country!" you say...and make Lady Saruyama commute for two hours plus every day or take the risk of becoming the sole earner and then what happens when I break my leg and cannot work? It is a difficult situation to get out of, however all hope is not lost. Irons in the fire and a new dawn on the horizon and all that jazz; have no fear, there is no chance of me giving up, I have already jumped into the abyss.</div>
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Kokufu is just around the corner, I leave for Japan in a few days so expect the usual photo deluge. I will be busy as usual with setting up the displays from the Chief and Akiyama, sales and looking after clients. This year we are not having a tilt at the big kokufu sho prize but it is still nice to be part. There will be the first ever UK based client displaying at the show as well as a few other foreign entrants. We will have about 14 trees I think to sort out over the two shows as well as setting up for the second suiseki show which looks like being a good one as well. Pictures will come, I have a super high capacity portable battery to keep my phone, camera and wifi router all charged up (thanks santa) so there are no excuses.</div>
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It is a shame that Noelanders comes so quickly after the end of Kokufu and the suiseki show; as a result, I will not be able to attend. January has been very quiet as a result of not having Noelanders and I feel as though a month of my life as just disappeared....still I hope it will be a success and that the UK shohin invasion will prove to be successful.</div>
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So like the all those politicians that are infesting the media at the moment, I shall leave you with the promise that in the future, things will all be better...(just don't ask questions or for guarantees as actual results may vary ;)</div>
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Onwards and upwards....</div>
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<a href="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_2068.jpg"><img alt="bonsai professional" class="aligncenter wp-image-14681" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_2068-768x1024.jpg" height="667" width="500" /></a></div>
Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-77133934423563477242014-08-27T22:56:00.000+01:002014-08-27T22:56:42.848+01:00Finally...It seems as though the website is in order and we are all go. There were some teething problems, the site was down for a few days and lots of stuff needed redoing but it should look reet proper now...across all formats, devices and all that jazz. If you notice anything awry then please let me know.<br />
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It seems as though website renewal must be in the air, either that or summer is a slack time for bonsai professionals because those crazy hill dwellers over at Bonsai Mirai have only gone and launched the first wave of their website. go over and have a look... <a href="http://www.bonsaimirai.com/" target="_blank">BONSAI MIRAI</a><br />
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They have introduced a searchable database with their trees, and believe me, there are some incredible plans in the pipeline, so sign up for their newsletter and watch as Ryan and Chelsea shake up things on a whole new level. Go find the pictures from when the property was first purchased...and see how much blood sweat and tears have gone into the nursery. <img alt="Mirai screen shot" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-14527" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Mirai-screen-shot-1024x978.png" height="764" width="800" /><br />
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Words do not do them justice, so go and have a look at the site and get a feel of what they are trying to achieve.<br />
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On another note, I have been having some family time of late, which has been nice, also been pottering around in the garden a little as well as a trip to Poland where I continued to work on some of my long term projects with Mariusz at Ibuki. I half wrote a massive sleep deprived post on "Breaking the bronco" whilst drifting in and out of conciousness due to some great herbal sleeping pills. I will reinvestigate that at some point.<br />
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I never promise anything but the online shop should be finished shortly. Hopefully at the end of the week.<br />
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If anyone has any suggestions for improvements on the website, things you want to see then please let me know.Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-61851119561625334572014-08-10T17:22:00.001+01:002014-08-27T12:57:09.029+01:00Early autumn, fungal issues and what to watch out forSo I am finally starting to get settled into the <a href="http://saruyama.co.uk/" target="_blank" title="Home">new website</a> and find my way around. There have been a few issues but it seems to be heading in the right direction.
The shop will be opened for business shortly, within the next few days. I have shown a few people some items and they have said it looks good. I doubt anything will sell because it might be a bit "how much for that dirty old pot!" and such like, but it is time to start making space at Saruyama towers so I can fill it up with more stuff. In fact I just purchased a rather nice maple and I now have to start looking into the planning permission and health and safety regs for building double-decker benches. It was however, too good an opportunity to miss out.
As part of my Japanese training which now seems oh so long ago, I was introduced to the idea of seasonality in bonsai display, bonsai cultivation and cuisine. Unless you are a farmer or a keen gardener as a child then nowadays we kind of grow up thinking that tomatoes grow all year round, cucumbers are an acceptable addition to Christmas dinner and the only season you are worried about is the start of the football<br />
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Developing as a bonsai practitioner, I started to attune my spidey senses to weather, climate and any little seasonal changes. Growing up in the UK you kind of know naturally when it is going to rain just by the feeling you get in your bones as you stare up at the sky or peer from the window of a morning, but there is more to climate than just rain, just as there is more to climate change than global warming (love that argument that climate change doesn't exist because our winters are still cold). Cast your mind back and remember the winter and early spring we had in Europe...(apologies to the rest of the world)...it seems as if the seasons are shifting up the calendar. It would appear as though we are on the verge of autumn.
A few things have made me think this recently...the incredibly red berries on my hawthorns, the slight chill to the air of an evening and the morning and as I was driving to a clients on Friday morning, I looked up to see
<img alt="saruyama bonsai autumnal geese" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14463" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-7.jpg" height="534" width="800" /><br />
Obviously this isn't the photograph that I took as I drove up the M1, but I saw some geese on their way some where and it was just another nail in the coffin of summer.
Another sign which made me ever so slightly wish I was back in Japan (although it is still incredibly hot there 34 degrees) was the misty moon the other night which along with the migrating geese, is a very typical autumnal image used in bonsai display<br />
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<img alt="saruyama bonsai misty moon" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14452" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-8.jpg" height="360" width="480" /><br />
Again, not my picture, but it is kind of what I saw. the harvest moon is a bit early, we are a month away yet, but it was definitely feeling autumnal the other night. Such images are often used in Japanese bonsai display in October/November when the trees are starting to turn colour.
<img alt="autumn blog pics 4" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14460" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-4.jpg" height="1200" width="545" /><br />
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I got this image from the <a href="http://capitalbonsai.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/autumn-tokonoma-display/" target="_blank">Capital Bonsai blog</a>, read it for more autumnal excellence and a full explanation of this scroll<br />
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<img alt="autumn blog pics 3" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14459" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-3.jpg" height="598" width="800" /><br />
This image comes from the 2012 International stone symposium at which Mr. Morimae did a seminar on mainly suiseki display. He actually painted the scroll himself, a classic <i>oboro zuki </i>(hazy moon)
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<img alt="autumn blog pics 11" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14455" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-11.jpg" height="480" width="638" /><br />
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Like this rainy image...<br />
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<img alt="autumn blog pics 9" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14453" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-91.jpg" height="565" width="700" /><br />
And there you go, yet another bonsai display with a misty moon, not taken at the Chiefs, I got this from google. Nice pine, shame about the suiseki though..<br />
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<img alt="sauyama bonsai display" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14473" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/autumn-blog-pics-9-better.jpg" height="565" width="700" /><br />
Apologies for the poor photoshoppery but why does everyone feel the need to put three items in a display? These Japanese don't know anything, or maybe I just prefer to be lonely.
Anyway, what does all this mean for our trees? This late summer, early autumn period is very important for lots of reasons.
Trees start to think about the upcoming winter, next year and make preparations. We will see a final growth spurt which may manifest itself as another flush of extensions on Junipers, bud setting on pines or thickening in deciduous trees. It is important to fertilise appropriately, so keep up with fertiliser, especially a high P-K fertiliser (organic naturally). In addition to this, seaweed extract is advisable for all those micro nutrients and growth hormones that will strengthen cell walls and assist the tree do all sorts of stuff that trees need to do. I will be selling an incredible brand of this shortly. It has revolutionised my garden (well made it much greener) but that is by the by.
Other things that you need to think about are wires digging into to branches as they thicken, especially deciduous and Scots Pine. Many people transplant pines in the Autumn, I rarely do this but I have seen it done successfully.<br />
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<img alt="white pine" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14476" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/white-pine.jpg" height="800" width="592" />
If your White Pines are starting to look like this...with the orange needle casing starting to fall off then now is the best time to start pruning back. Cut back the strongest buds when you have other secondary shoots behind them. In certain cases on very strong trees you can remove the entire bud, kind of like candle cutting on black pines and it will stimulate new buds further back in. I would not advise this until you have experience of what can and can't be cut or you will end up with a lot of blind shoots next year. I will go into more detail in another post sometime this week weather permitting so wait for that.
One of my biggest concerns this year has been the proliferation of fungal problems on trees, in particular junipers. I was having a conversation with the owner of a reputable bonsai nursery about the increase in fungal infections. Tips dying off, branches dying and in some cases entire trees just collapsing in the blink of an eye. Look for browning growth tips, yellowing foliage, anything out of the ordinary and then look closely at the dead foliage. Can you see black spots? chances are it is some kind of fungus and do some more research. Books are good...but the internet can be useful.
What can be done to prevent this? Good hygienic practices and preventative spraying of fungicides is always a good idea. Good hygiene is basically cleaning any dead branches as soon as they die, allowing good airflow around the tree and also sterilizing tools as you work on different trees to stop cross contamination. Understanding how and when fungal spores form and distribute will help you to stop infections spreading. Sadly one way they are spread is by the wind and so that is hard to prevent, but rain and water on the foliage can be controlled.
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<a href="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/sprayer.jpg"><img alt="sprayer" class="alignleft wp-image-14475" src="http://saruyama.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/sprayer.jpg" height="723" width="535" /></a><br />
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Preventative spraying should be done on a regular basis at various times of the year. Now and spring in particular. It is important to have a few different chemicals in your armoury and vary them up on a cyclical basis.
Spraying chemicals is a very dangerous process and this should be covered in more detail somewhere else but it isn't yet..so the short version.
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<li>Use a mask, use a good sprayer, use gloves and goggles and a waterproof rain coat.</li>
<li>Don't drink the stuff, breathe it in or spray it on anything other than your trees.</li>
<li>Avoid any other living things, especially fish. Spray early morning or in the evening to avoid bees and prolong the life of photosensitive chemicals.</li>
<li>Don't do it on a windy day or a completely still day.</li>
<li>Use measuring instruments and calculate the correct concentration. Double and triple check.</li>
<li>Mix thoroughly. Some chemicals, especially daconil, are much heavier than water and have relatively poor solubility. They will sink to the bottom of your sprayer and the last quarter of a tank will come out like rancid milk. (You learn that from experience don't you mike)</li>
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A lot of people will say you should be organic and think of the environment and I agree entirely on an agricultural level....but not on my trees. No way. Minimise environmental and human damage as much as possible, but there is yet to be as effective an alternative.
I would recommend these items and chemicals to be used with great care. Clicking on the links will take you to amazon uk or .com, if you buy anything I will earn like 0.02% so it will be some kind of payback for the two hours it has taken for me to give you this free information ;)
All items are recommended/used at Saruyama. The sprayer might be too big for most people, but go for a good brand rather than a cheap and cheerful one.
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For UK visitors...</div>
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For US visitors...</div>
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I will say again. Please do be careful if and when you use any of the above chemicals. They are highly toxic and should be handled and used with great care. Think of the environment.</div>
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That said, I don't want to sound as though I am the harbinger of doom and gloom, I hope we have a month of summer left, especially as we are spanking the Indians in the cricket but I have one eye on the weather forecast and one eye on the sky every morning.</div>
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Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-34912226589817668172014-08-01T16:48:00.000+01:002014-08-01T16:48:54.133+01:00As you may or may not have noticed, there has been a <a href="http://www.saruyama.co.uk/" target="_blank">new and improved website update</a>. I have, with some professional help, been working on this intermittently for what seems like half a year. The google blogger blog will remain as is and I will post the same content on there for a while but start to move across any subscriptions to here. I will put email sign up thing on in due course.<br />
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The transfer of the old blog to the new wordpressery has resulted in some weird photo stuff going on there so my apologies. For the old blog go to <a href="http://saruyama-bonsai.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://saruyama-bonsai.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
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There will be shop bit opening up once I get around to photographing all the stuff I want to sell...which isn't much lets face it. Also there is a portfolio of a few of the trees I have worked on.
There will be some ironing out of creases in the next few days but any problems with the site viewing on different systems, recommendations etc. etc. <a href="http://saruyama.co.uk/contact/" target="_blank" title="Contact"> please email me</a><br />
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Onwards and indeed upwards<br />
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Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-44076961331413148282014-06-11T08:10:00.001+01:002014-06-11T08:10:51.886+01:00Another trip back...
<p> After the self inflicted trials and tribulations of Florida at the BSF convention, which went very well, I find myself back in Japan for a short trip. For some reason, perhaps its the combination of great people, sun and alcohol, I always enjoy my visits to florida. My demo tree was a great buttonwood, literati style. As always no pics. No decent ones anyway. What a terrible bonsai artist I am to not do that. I ended up buying it in the auction because I liked it so much and well it was ridiculously cheap. The one thing about conventions I dislike is the auctioning off of material after the demos, they never go for anything near their true worth and so I didnt want to let this get away. I set myself a limit and the tree came in spot on. Many people thought I would be taking it home with me, but apart from the illegality of it all, buttonwoods like heat and sunshine. Two things that the UK tends to lack. Instead it now has a home at my good friend <a href="http://feducciasbonsai.com" target="_blank" title="">Michael Fedducia's</a> bonsai nursery in Plant City. He will look after it and do what is necessary. I will visit when I am there next and maybe one day put it in a show when I am judging and win first prize. </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">The throbbing crowd before my second demo. It soon filled up mind.</p>
<p>The exhibition itself was very pleasing to see...it showed off a lot of styles of bonsai from traditional Japanese, to American and Chinese penjing influenced. Even had a bit of <em>asobi kokoro</em> in there too. Here are some pics.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Both the above trees are in very nice pots by Japanese potter Shuzan. I was pretty impressed to see them. Without wishing to sound boastful, to the untrained eye, they may not look anything different, but looking at the <em>tsuchi me</em> or the clay quality/consistency, it becomes apparent. Nice patina and well matched to the trees...and before you ask, no I did not sell them.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although I wish I had done...mmmm.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brazillian Rain tree forest, winner of best big tree, great story behind it we later heard.</div>
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<p>A very well thought out display showing a cow chilling under a big spreading oak tree image. Attention to detail was great. Deservedly won the best display.</p>
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<p> This display featuring a little figurine flying a kite next to a windswept tree was evidence of the <em>asobi kokoro</em> that can be all do often missing from the uptight and rule obssessed world we live in. If all tres were like this it would be kitsch and ridiculous, but every now and again, it is necessary to have an <em>amuse bouche</em> to refresh the soul. </p>
<p>After a short trip at home including a seriously jet lagged appearance at Sutton Club, it was to Japan to tie up some business from February and also look for some new stuff. Plenty of pot orders which are as yet unfulfilled but have managed to find some trees for clients that will be shipped in the winter/next spring. </p>
<p>Akiyama and I drove for over 2000km and visited a lot of places. One thing that became apparent is a lack of good trees and stuff to buy. Akiyama has been disappointed as have I too a certain extent. I have made a few purchases including a yamadori kifu sized juniper which is very raw. It will stay at Akiyamas for two years while it grows out (again, they tend to do that better in Japan) while it gets its plant passport and then I will import it in the future...unless I make it here and enter it into Kokufu for somebody.</p>
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<p> Either way it was a great tree to find and Akiyama would have snapped it up if I didn't.</p>
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<p> The trip was planned to coincide with an auction down in Kumamoto. As always, there was fun and games and I managed to pick up some cheap pots. One of the brokers brought a lot of clients stuff which was on a no reserve type deal, so went to the highest bidder. There were a few chuhin and larger nakawatari chinese pots that I bought for much less than I thought, so expect to see those for sale at some point on my soon to be redone website. The guy in the white T-shirt in the foreground is the recently returned Moriyama-kun, son of Mr. Moriyama (unsurprisingly) and he has just finished his apprenticeship under Mr. Kimura. Ryan Neil was his senpai for a number of years and talks fondly of him (on the whole). He was busy wiring away when we got there, and there were a number of trees in the nursery which had his touch on them. I hope in the future he will become well known, but he is a shy kid so who knows. </p>
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<p> It was a learning experience as well for both of us. Akiyama was giving a lot of thought to business operations and nursery size so he compared nurseries and the way they worked. There is always some new technique or nugget of knowledge to gain. One thing I realised yet again is that all the healthiest trees and those which looked the best were one which were repotted infrequently and when they were, the core root ball was left relatively untouched. Over the last few years I have been repotting less, often due to inability to get it done, but I have noticed an increase in health. </p>
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<p> A white pine, 20 odd years in the same pot and soil. "It is still geowing well so I didnt see the point...now I can't get it out of the pot!" joked Miyao-san, the owner of the garden.</p>
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<p> The central root ball is left relatively untouched. As long as water can penetrate and the tree is healthy, leave it alone.</p>
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<p> Miyao-san was also the dude who put funnels/radio antenna on his trees to collect water for the pots of the whips that are being used for approach grafting.</p>
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<p> Didn't get much chance of sight seeing, but what is new there...this was the view from a service area near Miyajima, Hiroshima. Some of the drive was breathtaking, especially the Shin Meishin expressway which I drove because Akiyama hates the heights. It winds itself through the mountains sometimes several hundred feet above ground level. No pictures except for this...a very confused car navi</p>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I will spread out the tree <strike>porn</strike> pictures over the next few posts...but here are some </div>
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<p> Ok. Thats yer lot for now...</p>
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Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-64412152981783784672014-05-20T08:10:00.001+01:002014-05-21T16:35:28.736+01:00Books and learning....<p> On my recent trip to the United States I made some trees and did some demonstrations and all that. Here are some of those trees in case you don't stalk me on social media. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jYvE7HINbEw/U3r_fdKxlcI/AAAAAAAAGxk/SHuQBWyPRfk/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000740.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jYvE7HINbEw/U3r_fdKxlcI/AAAAAAAAGxk/SHuQBWyPRfk/s600/Photo%25252020140520000740.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192797.22" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="600" alt=""></a></div><p> A limber pine done by Akiyama and myself (Mainly Akiyama). We considered buying it between us and then entering it into a major show one day...however seeing as there is a big possibility I would be the judge and also we have nowhere to keep it, we decided against it. It was a shockingly good piece of material. I went all a bit hipster instagramtastic on the filter there. Makes things look that little bit more <em>wabi-sabi</em>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NqEgKhtr2Q0/U3r_lnI356I/AAAAAAAAGxs/o9kV19hVtII/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000740.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NqEgKhtr2Q0/U3r_lnI356I/AAAAAAAAGxs/o9kV19hVtII/s600/Photo%25252020140520000740.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192884.5952" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="450" alt=""></a></div><p> We got through a few trees at Natures Way during our two days there. Perhaps we did too much. We did lots more but I am not here to blow my own trumpet. Lets leave that kind of activity to the FBM* crowd. </p><p>What I am here to do is that unpleasant thing and talk about important things rather than show pictures of overly wired badly styled trees that all look the same and get lots of attention. (Can you tell I have spent the last week with Akiyama talking about what makes good bonsai and a good bonsai professional, mainly from the exasperated point of view that FBM's seem to be directing the dialogue on what is quality or true and what is not?)</p><p>What I am here to do is point out the fact that I did some book learning. Flicking through a lot of old books at Nature's Way, I learnt some ground breaking stuff...made me realise what an absolute gamble it is when you pick up a book. For instance, I learned from some random book that...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bqk4cK-l2HujVLQ3Yy28jZDX0E5HhNdGOeh_CiW7SW5K6pL4WRbDOK3IOW3vxZi4vOyrg8o1K3rIrpzGL8skglovQULFoLCJpOUCF8cuctveKBRZEF7wscvcKbpU7nJXuu1weQ2VkBQ/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000740.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bqk4cK-l2HujVLQ3Yy28jZDX0E5HhNdGOeh_CiW7SW5K6pL4WRbDOK3IOW3vxZi4vOyrg8o1K3rIrpzGL8skglovQULFoLCJpOUCF8cuctveKBRZEF7wscvcKbpU7nJXuu1weQ2VkBQ/s600/Photo%25252020140520000740.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192867.2175" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="450" alt=""></a></div><p> That for me was an eye opening piece of information as I had been going around telling people for the last ten years that the root system on a bonsai was the foundation for a strong, healthy, well ramified and generally lovely looking tree. Turns out I was wrong. Apparently the roots don't matter that much. </p><p style="text-align: center;">*** in case you don't realise, I am making fun of this nonsense that was published ****</p><p style="text-align: left;">After having a chuckle at how little they knew back then, for the book was published in the 80's, I picked up a book entitled "American Bonsai" published in the sixties, I forget the author, which is a crime I know. I didnt take a picture of the cover. I will admit, I opened it expecting to have regressed even further back in time. As it happened, I should have had a plate, with a knife and fork, ready to eat my words...</p><p style="text-align: left;">The section on soils just amazed me. Why hadn't I read this before? Why hadn't this knowledge been repeated in other books? Who stopped this important and essential information from being disseminated? This knowledge is lacking in most people's understanding in the 2010's and this dude was talking about it 50 years ago. 50 years. Things have advanced a little, but not that much. The soil mix bit with peat moss can be ignored but otherwise, this is essential reading. By breaking copyright laws I hope I don't upset anyone, and if Bill Valavanis could tell us what/who the title/author is, that would be great...but as a starter to soil science for bonsai, you can't get much better than this</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhTo6P2LRbON95ALBOYWn9tddVKrydty6kMvmQ-hvm7KLtgNSM_FxM3puuEU-10fA4phCE29j01KJcOZURHGRlvWqbOuP57kMcIfQ-JOcYS2CoybNg2W63mbs7AIFs6dkVlfypzzWRTA/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000741.jpg" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhTo6P2LRbON95ALBOYWn9tddVKrydty6kMvmQ-hvm7KLtgNSM_FxM3puuEU-10fA4phCE29j01KJcOZURHGRlvWqbOuP57kMcIfQ-JOcYS2CoybNg2W63mbs7AIFs6dkVlfypzzWRTA/s600/Photo%25252020140520000741.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192862.8132" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="800" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ELRMVwFgmNg/U3r_vVGk3PI/AAAAAAAAGyE/B2Sq8gZ0bNU/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000741.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ELRMVwFgmNg/U3r_vVGk3PI/AAAAAAAAGyE/B2Sq8gZ0bNU/s600/Photo%25252020140520000741.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192862.6301" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="800" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckpgrOu13TydlHQo4Zipom9eGNS35yDA6oaLgqz3VAxHhryiGMbel8Z_S6bNodjv91EhC3Cpqr7Xg7oC2SqF3w-tCSMdO4vZjBo0YumVPcP4p1V3cnHXiU_gS6zIMYMLvQQ6m4OzEGsI/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000741.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckpgrOu13TydlHQo4Zipom9eGNS35yDA6oaLgqz3VAxHhryiGMbel8Z_S6bNodjv91EhC3Cpqr7Xg7oC2SqF3w-tCSMdO4vZjBo0YumVPcP4p1V3cnHXiU_gS6zIMYMLvQQ6m4OzEGsI/s600/Photo%25252020140520000741.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192798.2405" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="800" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7gDas4-w19s/U3r_2bJuv1I/AAAAAAAAGyU/SySWZjbAOjM/s2048/Photo%25252020140520000742.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7gDas4-w19s/U3r_2bJuv1I/AAAAAAAAGyU/SySWZjbAOjM/s600/Photo%25252020140520000742.jpg" id="blogsy-1400686192833.6626" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="800" alt=""></a></div><p> There is absolutely no excuse for not knowing this stuff now, it was knowledge around in English fifty years ago. Next time you have a workshop or watch a demonstration with a FBM then ask them about the three forces acting on water in the soil. Next time your teacher uses Akadama straight from the bag without sifting it ask them why. "Because it doesn't make a difference" is not an answer that should be accepted.</p><p>Apologies for the rant but this is fundamental knowledge that should be understood and practiced. Sometimes it is better to get off the unedited and irresponsible internet and get back to more traditional ways of learning. Even better, get off the internet and work on trees, it is so much more enjoyable.</p><p> </p><p>* In case you didn't figure it out, FBM = Facebook bonsai master...and yes, I have started posting pictures there. In order to change society, you must first be part of it. It won't last though...</p><p> Edit **** So I was being a little bit over enthusiastic on the dates....turns out I was like 20 years off...but that still means that goddamn it I was mostly right. Thank you Bill and Frank Kelly. As Morrissey once sand..."There is always someone, somewhere, with a big nose who knows, and trips you up and laughs when you fall". ****</p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-51286663249057580882014-05-15T02:44:00.001+01:002014-05-15T02:48:10.069+01:00Organic pest removal...<p> A no nonsense post for once. No jokes. No messing. Just solid information. A break from the norm for once.</p><p>Assuming you are not liking me on faceache or following me on instaspam then this will be new. If you are appreciating my attempts to be social and media friendly then apologies for the repetition. The new presence of said social media sites is to attempt to make myself more visible because according to my PR people, that is what I should be doing. </p><p>After a few demos and workshops at Nature's Way Nursery near Harrisburg in PA, Akiyama and I have arrived for some work at a large collection nearby. At this time of year many trees have lots of lovely long shoots which are soft and tender. These are juicy and easy to eat for many sucking insects such as aphids. Symptoms of aphids can be the presence of little green insects known as aphids on the soft tender growth. They crap everwhere which makes things greasy and shiny. The growth may also be deformed and less vigorous, mainly because those little suckers are taking away valuable nutrients. Another tell tale sign is the presence of ants running around your trees. They <a href="http://www.antark.net/ant-life/ant-feeding/ant-farming.html" target="_blank" title="">farm the aphids,</a> looking after them and offering protection, moving them to fresh pastures all for a small cut of their honeydew takings. In effect ants are insect pimps and the aphids be their bitches who better have their money.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XuvhngRJ-LU/U3QbwIOzU5I/AAAAAAAAGwo/sMScgAF6TUQ/s2048/Photo%25252020140514214222.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XuvhngRJ-LU/U3QbwIOzU5I/AAAAAAAAGwo/sMScgAF6TUQ/s600/Photo%25252020140514214222.jpg" id="blogsy-1400118472974.423" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="800" alt=""></a></div><p>If you are faced with this problem and are either organically minded or know how easy it is to damage tender growth with incorrect use of pesticides or chemicals that are too strong, especially on chojubai who drop their leaves easily; then how, other than squishing them one by one, can they be removed? Easy. </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0r0-ci9k4X8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p> Now you can see from the power of the water jet (for that is all it is people) that this will damage weaker varieties or possibly knock wired branches out of shape, so adjust the power accordingly. Blast those suckers off into hyperspace. If any ants turn up to protect their bitches, gun them down too like the weak ass pimps they are. Make sure you get the shoots from all angles, not just above. Check out the 360 degree death jet in the video. </p><p> It is incredibly effective. Physically removing all of them and washing their crap off the leaves at the same time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9xh5Dvx7XVwG-zKXp8y4qfhpywuXjVs02vTAuxWYgpUj2FKL_JQOrWUNxBZNBbl7MXrjZhX799E8M8tIsq95JhtQhiQvKZXBGkzDz_j5-laWA-jUSiXYcHTSNTB5sNDSC7Ko1tI6X3U/s2048/Photo%25252020140514214222.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9xh5Dvx7XVwG-zKXp8y4qfhpywuXjVs02vTAuxWYgpUj2FKL_JQOrWUNxBZNBbl7MXrjZhX799E8M8tIsq95JhtQhiQvKZXBGkzDz_j5-laWA-jUSiXYcHTSNTB5sNDSC7Ko1tI6X3U/s600/Photo%25252020140514214222.jpg" id="blogsy-1400118472970.823" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="800" alt=""></a></div><p> That said however there will always be one or two that escape the blast and manage to stay on there. They can reproduce very quickly and one female can have thousands upon thousands of babies, spreading like a plague across your trees. Get on top of it quickly. After the tree dries out completely, later that day when the sun starts to set, mix up some insecticidal soap and weak contact killer pesticide such as Pyrethrin and spray the new growth. One area to be especially careful of with trees from the rose family such as Chojubai which send out soft tender sucker gowth on the inside of trees is the soft tender sucker growth on the inside. Not only will these be covered in aphids but they will also take away energy from the growth on old branches, so make sure you check inside. </p><p>Whenever handling chemicals be careful not to inhale, breathe or get covered in pesicides and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Whenever handling aphids, be careful not to upset their ants.</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-71512202730985942662014-04-29T10:56:00.000+01:002014-04-29T10:56:40.946+01:00A massive barrel of laughs from the past...I have been raking through my old hard drives looking for pictures and stuff for the website renewal that I gave up on and asked someone else to do, and I found this file. I wrote it in November 2007. Thankfully I never published it anywhere (I don't think). I think I must have been <i>a bit </i>miserable at the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u>The Beauty of Solitude</u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If one were to ask most
Western Bonsai enthusiasts to name the top three Japanese
professionals then the chances are they would name Kunio Kobayashi,
Masahiko Kimura and Shinji Suzuki. All three have similar things in
common, multiple award winners, superb technicians and visionary
artists. Another less obvious bond links these three contemporary
greats together; suffering. Each man has gone through painful
difficulties in their personal lives, some are well known and
publicized, others not so. This is not the place to discuss the
detail of their sufferance but it gives us an insight into the Bonsai
aesthetic and what makes their trees stand out from the crowd. All
three are first generation Bonsai artists, self made men, driven by a
burning passion inside which is fuelled by pain, deprivation and in
many ways loneliness.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyBruGY5Y7Av73f3NR1uQ4alQyPgymx2KpSdHGCIDCaIBPAbq83SVJX4O1WUgNLUdxqojYn9Y4ip_VsnJCNSYkjVxS4evSckYV2pTOAeXfdcbBT5uvZsuIM6Iim9sIV46mh7tQwJ6gtU/s1600/mikkatsuki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyBruGY5Y7Av73f3NR1uQ4alQyPgymx2KpSdHGCIDCaIBPAbq83SVJX4O1WUgNLUdxqojYn9Y4ip_VsnJCNSYkjVxS4evSckYV2pTOAeXfdcbBT5uvZsuIM6Iim9sIV46mh7tQwJ6gtU/s1600/mikkatsuki.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
Asking the question
“Where do we draw the line between a tree in a pot and a bonsai?”,
leads us into a discourse regarding, beauty, aesthetics and the very
nature of life itself. Traditional Western aesthetics could be
described as the combination of many to create an exquisite whole,
layer upon layer of oil paint on a canvas, a vase full of blooms
creating a medley of colour and fragrance. It draws us in, inviting
us to be part of the landscape, making us feel warm and alive.
Diametrically opposed to this is one aspect of the Japanese aesthetic
and one which is of absolute importance in creating meaningful
bonsai. We must remove all that is unnecessary, stripping away layer
after layer until we are left with the essence of the subject. A
single flower in a vase, a seventeen syllable poem or a simple cup of
tea. Unlike Western gardening, Bonsai comes not from what we add, but
what is taken away.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUVX4MhWmv1fD0AgzG1ByUShWj602zbOmpcxH6x2c4h4gwwYhVj3DRKYCBF10XhApieHOn2BfvHX0D8aKcjOLFdq3RVIte7PZ6gckCVnqVMGGDEMCPhp2NwC901QrmaNyaSJXlPhXTGo/s1600/oldbook7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUVX4MhWmv1fD0AgzG1ByUShWj602zbOmpcxH6x2c4h4gwwYhVj3DRKYCBF10XhApieHOn2BfvHX0D8aKcjOLFdq3RVIte7PZ6gckCVnqVMGGDEMCPhp2NwC901QrmaNyaSJXlPhXTGo/s1600/oldbook7.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a>Consider the literati
style of tree, the most distilled form of this concept in bonsai.
The name, <i>bunjin</i>, is taken from the literati class of
scholars, painters and poets; many of whom led ascetic lifestyles and
underwent self inflicted hardships. Inspiration for their work came
from their suffering; <i>Nanga</i> pictures were often melancholic
and yearned for life outside of the restrictive Shogunate which
controlled Japan at the time. They expressed the essence of the
severe side of nature rather than depicting nature in a realist
sense. The ideal image of a literati style tree can be found in the
paintings of Ike no Taiga and Yosa Buson who were inspired by the
poetry of Matsuo Basho, arguably the father of modern haiku and
throughout whose canon of work runs a deep theme of loneliness and
isolation; on the passing of the cherry blossoms and upon departure
on a pilgrimage he wrote,</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“With spring
leaving<br />
The birds cry out regret, the fish<br />
Have tears in their
eyes.”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The ideal literati tree
should create a feeling of solitude in the viewer. Rather than being
welcomed into the image and feeling warm, it should make us feel cold
and hungry, just as the tree feels, having grown in a harsh
environment battling against the elements and deprived of fertile
soil. It should not make us unhappy or uncomfortable, solitude
should not be confused with such negative feelings; solitude, a
personal choice as opposed to the imposition of loneliness is, by
implication incredibly liberating. It is an escape from the ties
that bind and the pressures that restrict. When viewing the perfect
tree we stand alone, like the <i>bunjin</i> centuries before us, on a
distant mountainside, far from the madding crowd, free from society
and most importantly free from ego.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvDMjOir75Dfhm6Q-RYNz50d8wG4PO3oeECdatUgcDd8aY0vUbbIuEHg5k7ducVWT013ZmYIA0UYHXUYlYN4dougK65gm4nhgCj5nAux9IH5_nYWMF18gEb_lBMcOaWEc-t_43SSkDoo/s1600/rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvDMjOir75Dfhm6Q-RYNz50d8wG4PO3oeECdatUgcDd8aY0vUbbIuEHg5k7ducVWT013ZmYIA0UYHXUYlYN4dougK65gm4nhgCj5nAux9IH5_nYWMF18gEb_lBMcOaWEc-t_43SSkDoo/s1600/rose.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a>The last statement
implies a high level of empathetic understanding in the viewer;
without a personal appreciation of suffering it is almost impossible
to transpose oneself to the same place that the artist seeks to
represent. In classical terms this is pathos at its most intense
level, by observing a tree which appears to have existed on the knife
edge between life and death we are made aware of the transience of
nature and the fragility of life. Only those who have a personal
relationship with death can truly appreciate life, without knowledge
of the dark there is no light. A key theme of bonsai is the cyclical
relationship between life and death, rebirth and regrowth, one which
recurs throughout Japanese aesthetics and philosophy, particularly in
one area which the West has an unhealthy obsession with, the Samurai.
In focusing upon the supposed fierce loyalty and barbarity of the
warrior class we fail to appreciate that many had a serene acceptance
of the ephemeral nature of the universe, an understanding of the
profundity of life and conversely, the inevitability of death.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Acceptance of sadness
is an alien concept in modern society where we are told it is our
inalienable right to pursue happiness; sadness does not sell yet it
pervades our culture and provides a driving force for many artists in
other fields. Composer Benjamin Britten puts it perfectly, “It is
cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty
of loneliness and pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of
disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature
and the everlasting beauty of monotony”</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Many Bonsai artists
both in Japan and the West, including myself, struggle to identify
this concept in their creations because of our difficulty in
accepting death and the surrendering the self. Only through
introspection on the nature of life and a move away from reason and
the head can we truly move to a new level of Bonsai, particularly in
the logic obsessed West. The question we must ask ourselves is how
can reflect our experience and understanding of death in the unique
living art form of Bonsai?</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Thank god I have cheered up a little bit since then. Still it is all true...</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TjPhzgxe3L0?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-9675866835864190412014-04-19T08:29:00.001+01:002014-04-19T08:37:05.986+01:00A change of clothes or a change of tack?<p> Recently I have been working on a number of junipers across Europe and also on a few of my own. This is not an uncommon thing as somewhere across the globe at any given moment, there is a bonsai enthusiast working on and more than likely ruining a juniper, this is what we bonsai enthusiasts do for fun. What has become apparent over the last five or six years of globle trotting professional life is that the majority of people seem to treat all junipers the same no matter what species or foliage variety they are. They all just become junipers and are worked in the same way, Sabina, Rocky Mountain and Itoigawa alike.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9TcgXMJ3Dg4/U1IlGau690I/AAAAAAAAGqM/g5X8NNTWF2Q/s619/Photo%2525208%252520Feb%2525202014%25252018%25253A10.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9TcgXMJ3Dg4/U1IlGau690I/AAAAAAAAGqM/g5X8NNTWF2Q/s600/Photo%2525208%252520Feb%2525202014%25252018%25253A10.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011866.847" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="504" height="619"></a></div><p>Across Europe we have a number of different native junipers but let us take the lowly Sabina as the example here. Much mailgned as a species, they have, as a species an undeserved reputation for being difficult to work on, or they get too leggy or they do this or they do that and they should be abandoned as bonsai material.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bohAQU0RnsY/U1IlJLM7eQI/AAAAAAAAGqU/lWWrvu9k3kI/s1681/Photo%2525208%252520Mar%2525202014%25252009%25253A30.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bohAQU0RnsY/U1IlJLM7eQI/AAAAAAAAGqU/lWWrvu9k3kI/s600/Photo%2525208%252520Mar%2525202014%25252009%25253A30.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011810.6313" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="402"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjvR91VadMj25h7fhdQLpgPITr7HSiJ7rACwJ5rMgFpsbfMfiAXkpuBe1dTADK863oHs2SsV4KVw4fVP5oQ6ghL-h8ono_8-92MAgQ-wFUJ-nXDp0iK3VDrLwxpqaCdtx6qmm7dPKybM/s498/Photo%25252019%252520Apr%2525202014%25252007%25253A34.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjvR91VadMj25h7fhdQLpgPITr7HSiJ7rACwJ5rMgFpsbfMfiAXkpuBe1dTADK863oHs2SsV4KVw4fVP5oQ6ghL-h8ono_8-92MAgQ-wFUJ-nXDp0iK3VDrLwxpqaCdtx6qmm7dPKybM/s498/Photo%25252019%252520Apr%2525202014%25252007%25253A34.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011833.3362" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="424"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>Across America, they have a number of different native junipers but let us take the Rocky Mountain Juniper as the example here. <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Much mailgned as a species, they have, as a species an undeserved reputation for being difficult to work on, or they get too leggy or they do this or they do that and they should be abandoned as bonsai material.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3DW9EbHfSUw/U1IlLErUJQI/AAAAAAAAGqk/v46YYspgPJM/s465/Photo%25252030%252520Jan%2525202012%25252007%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3DW9EbHfSUw/U1IlLErUJQI/AAAAAAAAGqk/v46YYspgPJM/s465/Photo%25252030%252520Jan%2525202012%25252007%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011810.8843" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="466" height="412"></a></div><p>Across Japan they had effectively one species of juniper which covered the islands, but with such dramatic difference in foliage characteristics they could almost be considered as different species. Going back over a hundred years ago when the fad for yamadori really kicked off, a wide range of trees were collected across the lands, each with different growth habits and different trunk characteristics, depending on where it came from. Most of us know the words Itoigawa, Kishu and maybe Tohoku but how many know about all the sub varieties and slightly different strains? Itoigawa is just the name of the place where Junipers from that area were sold and although they all had much finer and tighter foliage than other areas, there was still a variance across the trees. Some types grew quickly and had many long thin branches whereas others tended to have short, highly ramified branches and form into clumps. <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">This difference is due to in part to environmental response but also <a href="http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr048/psw_gtr048_hamrick.pdf" target="_blank" title="">genetic variations</a>, which happen not just across continents but also <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0088996" target="_blank" title="">within populations</a>. On the same mountain side you can find two trees next to each other with different characteristics. However b</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">oth were given the name Itoigawa but the way in which they are best worked upon is very different. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UxE1P-cihttbTkr5mBT8d5VLOyhCJ9TPJs4bPfLslQWEAjINyuyaaDTrt22q3pJ7mpH2u0Gkgs5bSLk_cmuHp2FGJl2VS_W72QA4ifj2b9qbfSxAownwhHmOaApkko_Uj-hdD_vix6A/s1662/Photo%2525201%252520Feb%2525202014%25252022%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UxE1P-cihttbTkr5mBT8d5VLOyhCJ9TPJs4bPfLslQWEAjINyuyaaDTrt22q3pJ7mpH2u0Gkgs5bSLk_cmuHp2FGJl2VS_W72QA4ifj2b9qbfSxAownwhHmOaApkko_Uj-hdD_vix6A/s600/Photo%2525201%252520Feb%2525202014%25252022%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011900.1096" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="660"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hpWOVlEbT7g_4ZY4bbLRP9VsHuvbZcchqRv_qmVaROHIi_yqQW4dHlTMxrGlBeIjRzbpvmO9TDj3dlASHgvS5BQtJkc4VWBwT_-VvqE5a5UG4Hq1Y1eJcIWUbTbQUbXYzf3wyBvgNRQ/s1909/Photo%2525201%252520Feb%2525202014%25252023%25253A00.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hpWOVlEbT7g_4ZY4bbLRP9VsHuvbZcchqRv_qmVaROHIi_yqQW4dHlTMxrGlBeIjRzbpvmO9TDj3dlASHgvS5BQtJkc4VWBwT_-VvqE5a5UG4Hq1Y1eJcIWUbTbQUbXYzf3wyBvgNRQ/s600/Photo%2525201%252520Feb%2525202014%25252023%25253A00.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011820.747" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="521"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2RtGWpa0css/U1IlVM2P0CI/AAAAAAAAGq8/P2ALFoq2FJ0/s1564/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252005%25253A14.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2RtGWpa0css/U1IlVM2P0CI/AAAAAAAAGq8/P2ALFoq2FJ0/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252005%25253A14.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011901.2231" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="588"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lVXezFj1-aw/U1IlYGOvLRI/AAAAAAAAGrE/ETjKppyxoRw/s1679/Photo%25252011%252520Feb%2525202014%25252001%25253A25.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lVXezFj1-aw/U1IlYGOvLRI/AAAAAAAAGrE/ETjKppyxoRw/s600/Photo%25252011%252520Feb%2525202014%25252001%25253A25.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011866.321" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="535"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5jb0xWU7gZY/U1IlcA5wXvI/AAAAAAAAGrM/eM6NUSDSgto/s2048/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252005%25253A15.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5jb0xWU7gZY/U1IlcA5wXvI/AAAAAAAAGrM/eM6NUSDSgto/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252005%25253A15.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011831.2263" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="803"></a></div><p>All classed as Itoigawa trees, all slightly different growth habits...can you tell the difference? Does it really matter?</p><p>Many of the collected trees were impossible to compact because they either had leggy branches or they had a poor foliage type. Some trees have a tendency to flower heavily or not at all, some may have limp foliage which leads to a prostate form and others may just have extremely coarse foliage on a small trunked tree. This fundamental natural deviation led the Japanese to graft usable foliage on to the trunks of unusable trees. Out of a hundred collected trees, maybe less than half actually needed grafting, maybe more it is difficult to say now. What is obvious is that through a survivial of the fittest process <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">a few strains of highly efficient and attactive foliage began to develop, replacing all the flowering or leggy, prostrate foliage types and standardising the idea of what Juniperus Chinensis foliage is to the modern bonsai world. We jumped into this hundred year plus process in the last thirty years and we only see the end results.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Many trees that are imported and worked upon by enthusiasts have been container or field grown by a mass producing bonsai farmer and come ultimately from the same parent tree. They chose the foliage type with the best characteristics for creating shohin or dense foliage pads with minimal work and then made thousands upon thousands of cuttings which eventually became the Juniper on your bench which has been selectively bred. This is genetic engineering in action people.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The point I am making is that Japan has been through their period of selective breeding and coming to terms with changing the foliage where necessary on collected species where the foliage proved unsuitable for bonsai. One of my favourite words in Japanese is used to describe this process....衣替え or <em>koromo-gae </em>which means the changing of the wardrobe depending on the season. Around April and October, Lady Saruyama does her <em>koromo-gae </em>and I...well there is no need as dirty jeans, blue hoodies and polo shirts are always in fashion.</span></p><p>Anyway I digress...</p><p>So where is this heading...towards the fact that what is good for Itoigawa is not good for Phoenicia. What is done to Kishu should not be done to Sabina. What is accepted practice on a field grown chinensis is almost certain death for a collected Rocky Mountain Juniper. It is also towards the point that not everything that comes out of the mountains is going to be suitable as is for becoming a bonsai. A sabina I have been working on in Poland for several years is showing this to be true. It has a foliage type which is limp and without any serious lignification in the tertiary branches. Limp and lifeless it needs support through wiring to stand up and point to the sun. On top of that it flowers pretty well every year which results in growing tips that cease growing, causing leggy growth with no internal foliage.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevsxHpJ9DDb95iDefO1hyKGGcx_ad_TddOM1XsvA10uZ8zxfMQUuBizgklL9qKHcg006oDGfpV4ItFafITeUF5PvTdnbkJhyo_JJ4nL7Zk2R1URrqTCjskK_1s_wZ4lML-K7a0m7rq7o/s2048/Photo%25252017%252520Apr%2525202014%25252009%25253A37.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevsxHpJ9DDb95iDefO1hyKGGcx_ad_TddOM1XsvA10uZ8zxfMQUuBizgklL9qKHcg006oDGfpV4ItFafITeUF5PvTdnbkJhyo_JJ4nL7Zk2R1URrqTCjskK_1s_wZ4lML-K7a0m7rq7o/s600/Photo%25252017%252520Apr%2525202014%25252009%25253A37.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011854.2434" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p>This grows alongside another sabina which has a much perkier foliage type, barely flowers at all and after three years of work from freshly collected is possibly another two years away from Noelanders. <span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> Both trees get the same conditions, the same care and techniques but one responds well, the other just simply cannot be made into a tree with tight foliage pads. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1acEsd9MajLp_xEz6_IFNe56OFH-LpgQZLamm4UVnExtwKVBOX-9vYeHsDCWmVnPZDn-oFo4_RNnC5BiQOszVafHVE9N4WHvrbmiamkM9tKzGBKg1x4oWidLRzyd7I9X6LSB3m61DjkA/s2048/Photo%25252017%252520Apr%2525202014%25252013%25253A09.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1acEsd9MajLp_xEz6_IFNe56OFH-LpgQZLamm4UVnExtwKVBOX-9vYeHsDCWmVnPZDn-oFo4_RNnC5BiQOszVafHVE9N4WHvrbmiamkM9tKzGBKg1x4oWidLRzyd7I9X6LSB3m61DjkA/s600/Photo%25252017%252520Apr%2525202014%25252013%25253A09.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011902.8774" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="449"></a></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Looking at these trees can we say that Sabina as a <em>species</em> will never make good bonsai? Nonsense, there are a number of highly refined trees out there with their native natural foliage on, true, relative to the amount collected they don't number in their hundreds but it certainly is possible. As a <em>species</em>, sabina is not worthless, we are simply playing a numbers game, the chances of striking it lucky finding great foliage on a great trunk. A level of understanding is required here that the sabinas from Italy are different from the ones from Spain. The ones in Spain are different depending on where they were collected and even there, two trees next to each other on a mountain have different characteristics, exactly the same as Itoigawa Junipers did up on the mountains.</span></p><p>What do we do then with the trees that have poor foliage? Burn them? Give up on them? Go around saying all sabinas are rubbish because that one is? <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">All swans were white until someone saw a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability#Deductive_falsification" target="_blank" title="">black one</a>. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">What to do then? Many people will say "graft Itoigawa!" as if it is the great panacea to every single problem...it's the bonsai version of "put a bird on it". Absolutely there are situations where grafting Itoigawa onto Sabina or phoenicia is a good idea, particularly on poor foliaged small trunked trees destined to become shohin. This is following the fundamental concept of designing bonsai, making the most out of the material in front of you, even if this takes five years longer. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">A problem will occur however if we take the same approach across the board for every tree regardless of foliage type as we will end up with a homogenous bonsai world which lacks interest and variation. It will soon get boring with even less breadth of species that is possible to use for bonsai, anyone for sumac, thyme and camelia? </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">It is my suggestion that the "Itoigawa" of Sabinas is found, the "Itoigawa" of Rocky Mountains is found and this is used respectively where poor foliage is holding a fantastic trunk back. Grafting the best genetic variant of the natural foliage onto trunks of the same species. I know there are some people out there who feel the same and are actively doing this because we have discussed it.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">[I will just point out that this is in <em>no way</em> a criticism of the recent bonsai focus article featuring Enrico Savini...that was great work over a long time, part of the ongoing western bonsai experiment and I look forward to seeing it in the flesh. It is a comment of the negativity towards collected trees across parts of the western bonsai world and a complete misunderstanding of how to work them successfully]</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XBRNQVPdxVw/U1IlolbFbdI/AAAAAAAAGrk/oxDgGOisO-8/s2048/Photo%25252017%252520Sep%2525202013%25252011%25253A53.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XBRNQVPdxVw/U1IlolbFbdI/AAAAAAAAGrk/oxDgGOisO-8/s600/Photo%25252017%252520Sep%2525202013%25252011%25253A53.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011868.6477" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="376"></a></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The other thing this has implications towards is anybody who works a yamadori juniper in the same way as a container grown chinensis deserves everything that results. Excessive pruning of branches down to two per node at the initial styling on species such as Sabina and RMJ will result in a severely weakened tree, the majority of the times fataly so. This should be avoided at all costs. This is a fundamental and basic concept. If anyone has any experience to the opposite I would be glad to see it, but having seen plenty of seriously sketchy looking Sabinas and RMJ's where the crotches have been cleaned out, the multibranch nodes have been thinned down to two and the foliage plucked to an inch of the tip, I won't hold my breath, especially when compared to a considerable number of Sabinas in Spain, Poland, London and elsewhere, RMJ in Portland, Tampa and elsewhere...all which have a full head of hair and are steaming towards the goal of a manageable and solid fundamental branching structure which will improve over time. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Either we learn from the process that other bonsai cultures have been through or we invent a new style...lets say we call it the shaggy sabina style and convince ourselves that it looks awesome and how we meant it all along...I think I might patent that. The SSS, along with the sub division of the SSS, the Leggy Sabina Division or LSD...I think I'm onto something here. Again, I digress...u</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">ltimately this issue comes about from the same fundamental problem that the majority of the human race suffers from...the lack of an open mind and the ability to evaluate that which is in front of their eyes rather than fall into the trap of a preconceived or learned response. Education, experience and conscious thought allow us to consider <em>how</em> and <em>why</em> something has come to be. When you think about how much effort has gone into making a masterpiece bonsai, do you seriously think there is an easier road? Akiyama's first prime minister award winner was over twenty five years in the making from collection to show. Some collected trees will go from mountain to exhibition within five years, others will require a longer process, perhaps involving a change of wardrobe. We are atill very much in the infancy of this process and starting out on the path, there is plenty of experimenting to be done. It is a difficult challenge but bonsai is not supposed to be fun and enjoyable...we should look to do things that can't be done. Grow Rosemary bonsai in the UK? Preposterous. Get a Sabina to compact? Ridiculous. Turn a RMJ into a masterpiece...can't be done. Get over it. It can, will and has been done. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2lsj8lBIcmRrpiMrnj3aOgRXNrndZ8ZgvIllgISuw6BzUaGK8LuVcCCf-LCTOrcIIfBe2eBjvJS0gYyQhX5goMUhyabDq3FA_41VXMqOyPZvVI1M1s3zjVm7iMv3fNOUkPGx0wHyLo8/s1609/Photo%25252015%252520Oct%2525202013%25252018%25253A03.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2lsj8lBIcmRrpiMrnj3aOgRXNrndZ8ZgvIllgISuw6BzUaGK8LuVcCCf-LCTOrcIIfBe2eBjvJS0gYyQhX5goMUhyabDq3FA_41VXMqOyPZvVI1M1s3zjVm7iMv3fNOUkPGx0wHyLo8/s600/Photo%25252015%252520Oct%2525202013%25252018%25253A03.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011902.6963" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="551"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">A well styled western juniper by Michael Fedducia. Note the foliage mass and comdition of those tips that remains on the tree. In a few years time this tree will have half as many primary branches but five times the foliage density and a very similar overall appearance...go figure how that happens? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s2Pk_izoJ0k/U1IluzRPZvI/AAAAAAAAGr0/VYg75EodWp0/s1371/Photo%25252019%252520Jan%2525202014%25252008%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s2Pk_izoJ0k/U1IluzRPZvI/AAAAAAAAGr0/VYg75EodWp0/s600/Photo%25252019%252520Jan%2525202014%25252008%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011865.3323" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="545"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Juniperus Thurifera by Yannick Kiggen from this years Noelanders. Pimp ass antique kodei pot...not that many people noticed. Flowering but still compact. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-960VXLeH69g/U1IlxEsRw8I/AAAAAAAAGr8/zOVQno4mj0o/s1409/Photo%25252019%252520Jan%2525202014%25252008%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-960VXLeH69g/U1IlxEsRw8I/AAAAAAAAGr8/zOVQno4mj0o/s600/Photo%25252019%252520Jan%2525202014%25252008%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011836.82" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="766"></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Another of the boy Yannick's Junipers, this time a common Juniper. I have heard it said that Common Junipers wont make good bonsai, they all die. Apparently this tree didnt get that memo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Anyway. Point is...was there a point to this other than killing time in a wifi free hotel at two am? Oh yeah. Junipers...they might have the same name, the same overall look, but just like me and every other Yorkshireman relative to Londoners, we might all be Englishmen, but we are all very different. On that regionalist bombshell...onwards and upwards. </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LeVvVicLUUM/U1IlyHi4PWI/AAAAAAAAGsE/QStdjMT0FjM/s180/Photo%25252019%252520Apr%2525202014%25252008%25253A21.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LeVvVicLUUM/U1IlyHi4PWI/AAAAAAAAGsE/QStdjMT0FjM/s180/Photo%25252019%252520Apr%2525202014%25252008%25253A21.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011830.5408" class="alignnone" alt="" width="150" height="180"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40koh-Ud_LpSJ0zbPJ_czGGU64EXbJ2f0IFkslyFemCGG4xy2PtqqhETWvMTgAhGo4xsQVbDB8GY4s8ans_cPlYfaph9GVfnHdwlSikZubzTI3im6w9F90OJBLA_DC7fg0NGsR34mtnc/s415/Photo%25252019%252520Apr%2525202014%25252008%25253A23.jpg" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40koh-Ud_LpSJ0zbPJ_czGGU64EXbJ2f0IFkslyFemCGG4xy2PtqqhETWvMTgAhGo4xsQVbDB8GY4s8ans_cPlYfaph9GVfnHdwlSikZubzTI3im6w9F90OJBLA_DC7fg0NGsR34mtnc/s415/Photo%25252019%252520Apr%2525202014%25252008%25253A23.jpg" id="blogsy-1397893011897.7334" class="alignnone" alt="" width="274" height="181"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-23163449771704322812014-04-03T23:26:00.001+01:002014-04-03T23:39:09.237+01:00Amazon<p> If you are going to buy my book through the tax dodgers of Amazon where it is up for pre-order, the please do it through these links. I will earn about thruppence ha'ppeny per copy but I don't earn anything from the publishers on royalties. I am waiting to hear if I can buy them wholesale but knowing how Amazon can buy and then sell retail at less than average wholesale price, not pay any tax and then I get a bill from Her Majesty asking for more cash so I can't see me bothering. This is what is wrong with the world...anyway, if you are going to buy it....</p><p style="text-align: center;">UK </p><iframe src="http://rcm-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=saruybonsa-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=tf_til&asins=1409344088" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;">US</span></p><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&Operation=GetAdHtml&ID=OneJS&OneJS=1&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=saruybonsa-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=1465419586&asins=1465419586&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&MarketPlace=US"></iframe><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;"></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.3em;">Personally I would wait myself...and in the mean time you could listen to this tune that entertained me tonight...</span></p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S2Fu4lGLUsk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Keep on keeping on people</span></p><p> I can feel Satan clasping his hands around my soul as I sell it for a nickel and a dime...perhaps this is more appropriate...</p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4D2qcbu26gs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-18275813707045252352014-04-03T01:10:00.001+01:002014-04-03T08:22:13.803+01:00A genuine treatise on fertilising.<p> I would hope that by the end of the last post you realised that it was actually a bit of an April Fools inspired post. There is no benefit to placing your fertiliser on your trees in a clockwise fashion from the back, under a full moon with underpants on your head. Glad to see some people came up with some suitable suggestions though. In actual fact putting dead fish on your trees is a great fertiliser, but very smelly.</p><p>There is a lot of nonsense out there about fertilising trees and not a lot of application of common sense. There is no one size fits all method, scheme or single product that does everything. What is suitable for John A in his garden with his soil is not suitable for John B in his (There are a lot of Johns in bonsai if you didn't realise). Regular clients should now be used to my seemingly random instructions of fertilise this half strength after the leaves harden and then stop for the summer and then full strength in the autumn but give seaweed extract on regular intervals. Despite this seeming incredibly complex, it is actually just the application of a few basic ideas.</p><p>As you can imagine from the April fools parody, I am a firm believer in keeping it simple. All successful bonsai nurseries do and I aspire to be successful. I use only three products on a regular basis and there is no need for anything else. The comment yesterday about using only organic was a very valid point. (Biogold, maxicrop seaweed extract and another similar seaweed extract with extra iron in it if things look yellow)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ENBqxBaw_FzXocDMsTGGSRjAc-565vfm7zlHgNv2NeC9_0vg2oP71Z0ML6lg3I1mnThS8eUW8EUeR7yh_HJoInx6y4_b3YOlj0kqA706N6WTgRcX2qtCs7THdDEX419DPG8woo60DKE/s640/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ENBqxBaw_FzXocDMsTGGSRjAc-565vfm7zlHgNv2NeC9_0vg2oP71Z0ML6lg3I1mnThS8eUW8EUeR7yh_HJoInx6y4_b3YOlj0kqA706N6WTgRcX2qtCs7THdDEX419DPG8woo60DKE/s600/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1396508600559.5413" class="aligncenter" width="487" height="315" alt=""></a></div><p> The importance of micro organisms and bacteria cannot be stated enough. Without them your bonsai is growing in a sterile environment, and using some of the modern substrate mixes we do in bonsai, this is especially true. How can we encourage an eco system in the soil that creates a healthy root system and subsequently a healthy tree? Steer clear of cheap chemical fertilisers...or for that matter expensive chemical fertilisers. There is plenty of information about the benefits of organic over chemical out there and so I need not go into too much depth. </p><p>In terms of fertilising more is definitely not better, especially not if using anything chemical. Balance is key. I was reading some stuff and I came across this incredibly obvious law, but until I read it, it didnt occur to me...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebig's_law_of_the_minimum" target="_blank" title="">Leibig's Law of the minimum</a></p><blockquote><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yield is proportional to the amount of the most limiting nutrient, whichever nutrient it may be.</span></p><p> </p></blockquote><p>This means that if the soils is deficient in Magnesium, then it doesn't matter how much Iron you pump into the soil, the growth is limited to the Magnesium deficiency. </p><p>Like I said, it was so outstandingly obvious after the fact but it changed my thinking. That is why we read books I guess. <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">There is a lot of in depth science that is interesting if you like that sort of thing. But if, like 99% of the Japanese bonsai masters it doesn't matter as long as it works, the follow some simple guidelines and success is more likely.</span></p><ol> <li>Use a good quality solid organic fertiliser. Ideally solid cakes or pellets are best, powder tends to create an hard crust on the surface very quickly.</li> <li>Supplement with a good quality seaweed extract to provide micro nutrients </li> <li>Apply according to requirements and only when average air temperature is <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">between 12 and 34 degrees Celcius. </span></li></ol><p>The difficulty is in finding 1 and 2 and then figuring out 3. Even in Japan there is great difficulty in finding a good fertiliser. I spent a good hour talking with Akiyama-san recently about how modern <em>abura-kasu</em> (oil seed cakes) were useless because they squeeze all the nutrients out during the pressing and so the stuff that remains is ineffective as fertiliser. Even the gold standard of bonsai fertiliser, Bio Gold, can be patchy depending on when it was made and how much it got mixed up. One of the problems with organic fertilisers is the uneven distribution of nutrients.</p><p>Seaweed extract is used not to promote growth and increase extension, but consider it the bonsai equivalent of taking a vitamin supplement. Strength, resistance to disease and improved colour are all benefits. Everyone who uses it claims that the colour and the health of their trees improves. </p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Number 3...apply according to requirements. As long as the</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> pH of the water and soil is fairly neutral and balanced organic fertiliser is applied then nutrient deficiency will not be a problem. Only once the pH starts to move towards one end or the other then nutrient deficiency starts to happen. The uptake of nutrients depends on pH as <a href="http://www.repotme.com/orchid-fertilizer/Part1_UnderstandingPlantNutrition.pdf" target="_blank" title="">shown here.</a>..and here in technicolour...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeZ_nJOhC80l7WY3_-m7IY-BUThpwAjCsCTquAj-l07JQ3INlET1_fmAj7TRc2w1-1NPWoweFxoAEsVMVVXiM-V0Ylp4e51tOtVD_DffuGHqCT2jZfK2sZheDdSln7HMkXkVxCTYbP4E/s600/Photo%2525203%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A24.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeZ_nJOhC80l7WY3_-m7IY-BUThpwAjCsCTquAj-l07JQ3INlET1_fmAj7TRc2w1-1NPWoweFxoAEsVMVVXiM-V0Ylp4e51tOtVD_DffuGHqCT2jZfK2sZheDdSln7HMkXkVxCTYbP4E/s600/Photo%2525203%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A24.jpg" id="blogsy-1396508600631.3882" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="431" alt=""></a></div><p>Iron deficiency in plants is often not caused by an absence of iron in the soil, but a pH that inhibits uptake of iron...so it doesnt matter how much iron you add to the soil, like me at a cheese board, it won't be able to eat it. Reduce the pH and it will solve the problem. </p><p> So following on the line of thought...how does the pH of soil get out of whack? Excessive chemical fertilisers and water impurity. Some European growers have such hard water that they need to resort to using reverse osmosis to lower the pH. </p><p>So getting back to the requirements...ask yourself the question...what do I want the tree to do? Do I actually want my tree to grow? For some bonsai, the answer is "No, I don't actually want my tree to extend or thicken."...for others it is "Yes, I want the trunk thickness to triple in a year". How to achieve these objectives is not just simply down to how much fertiliser is applied as remember more is not always better. Allowing unchecked growth assisted by fertiliser is the way. For builidng delicate ramification, pinching out the terminal shoots assisted by a complete lack of fertiliser is the way forward. Pushing growth with one hand and stoping it with the other is the way round and round in circles.</p><p>Work out the balance between : W<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">hat does the tree need to stay healthy and balanced all over versus What do I want to the tree to do </span></p><p>Why is the temperature so important? Lower than 12 degrees and the bacteria that breaks down the fertiliser into easily absorbed compounds are yet to become active. Above 34 and bacterial activity will cause the soil temperature will rise to dangerous levels, killing both the roots and also the bacteria in the soil</p><p>I appear to have taken a very simple concept and made it incredibly complicated. maybe I should have just left it as an April Fool...That'll learn me. </p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-49964807057472643502014-04-01T00:46:00.001+01:002014-04-01T00:46:51.703+01:00Muck Spreading...<p> One of the things that spring requires us to consider is the fertilising of our trees. One of the most important jobs for us to do in terms of both styling and the health of the tree. We must consider many things when doing so, not only the species, but the age, stage of development and objectives for the year. </p><p>On my travels around the bonsai-sphere I hear so many tales of this super wonder fertiiser that works amazingly and all these complicated feeding regimes with a little bit of foliar feed on tuesday and then low nitrogen in any month ending in -ber... Most of this is just simply a load of nonsense to make us feel like we are in control when actually the one size scatter gun approach is completely out of control. So as this is the season, here are a few tips to help with spreading the proverbial...</p><p>Use only organic fertilisers. Healthy trees need a healthy soil biology that will be promoted by organic fertilisers and destroyed by aggressive chemical feeding.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RA-FjwyERFY/Uzn-XgePNSI/AAAAAAAAGmY/WlL1xGeblsw/s640/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RA-FjwyERFY/Uzn-XgePNSI/AAAAAAAAGmY/WlL1xGeblsw/s600/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1396309612219.5383" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="388"></a></div><p> Consider the stage of development for your trees, not all maples need fertilising early on in the season. Ramified trees will soon get out of shape if you push them with your super grow formula. That is just common sense...</p><p>Always place your fertiliser cakes on the pot starting at the back, working in a clockwise manner. This is absolutely essential unless you are left handed when it is permitted, but not advised, to go anti clockwise. </p><p>Flowering trees will often be very tired after the blossoms have finished. I always find that giving them a cup of compost tea and some cakes afterwards tends to help get over the shock.</p><p>Liquid fertiliser is best applied in the morning, unless it was applied the night before in which case either will be suitable. As long as it was done on the correct day.</p><p>Junipers and azaleas prefer their fertiliser cut up into smaller pieces for easier digestion as they have fine roots. It is also better to give them solids only after weaning them off a liquid diet early in their development. </p><p>Unfortunately I missed the best opportunity to fertilise my trees earlier in the month and must now wait for April 15th and the next full moon for maximum efficiency of fertiiser uptake. If the correct cycle is observed, then there will be an estimated efficiency improvement of approximately 43.2%*</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEQBBQ0K_OViwJGyJWK8E6AqK_JGIvZu48iPXAgVV_khKSd3JtMFO0zlAcdrUSmkjViy6arEquWujJXByCIi0C2kxJDJ-qFxMWAGnUm7so-7mqqY-dPOXn_M6rVUCAgN6BktCzecSifE/s1084/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEQBBQ0K_OViwJGyJWK8E6AqK_JGIvZu48iPXAgVV_khKSd3JtMFO0zlAcdrUSmkjViy6arEquWujJXByCIi0C2kxJDJ-qFxMWAGnUm7so-7mqqY-dPOXn_M6rVUCAgN6BktCzecSifE/s600/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1396309612207.9275" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="360" height="348"></a></div><p> For maximum spreading efficiency however...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR28NFz3iofDDY2EGI-TvdowYw2Ch5bu9w_0IxO8H65L-ir3OSSFQBVSgzpBXXO6Nu5F2pta7lsh4WsRT04kOtNHj5OZ3mYdCrawYOg1emRix3h1z0SU2guwQFlfJwXqDhpXLoncdcDg/s334/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A41.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR28NFz3iofDDY2EGI-TvdowYw2Ch5bu9w_0IxO8H65L-ir3OSSFQBVSgzpBXXO6Nu5F2pta7lsh4WsRT04kOtNHj5OZ3mYdCrawYOg1emRix3h1z0SU2guwQFlfJwXqDhpXLoncdcDg/s334/Photo%2525201%252520Apr%2525202014%25252000%25253A41.jpg" id="blogsy-1396309612204.2778" class="aligncenter" width="334" height="239" alt=""></a></div><p> *Actual results may vary, no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the information provided here.</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-13054990279841262862014-03-26T00:45:00.001+00:002014-03-26T01:01:56.114+00:00A few dramatic changes...<p> The last two days have seen some dramatic changes to a few trees in Derbyshire, including a couple of trees that several years ago I suggested were a little lacking in drama have finally got to the stage where they reached the limit of their styling and something new was needed.</p><p>I do not think that everytime a tree gets worked on it needs to be restyled. I am quite the opposite really...figure out a plan and work towards a definite goal rather than geting impatient and slowly reducing the number of branches each time you flip the front around. One of the problems with bonsai however is that trees grow and you can't stop them. They get out of shape so much that a restyling is necessary...or they fall off the bench and a branch or two dies.</p><p>This is an example of one such tree. A root over rock Itoigawa juniper imported from Japan belonging to a client. I have been doing just basic maintenance work on it for the last five years, very little apart from a minor restyle in the autumn of 2012. This is the tree back when it was imported in 2008</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk6XwJig3bs_TqSHiq_qJalzW5Lu6A0j7FNvrBJmLbIehqP3rVfoJx3LnNh4kULXusEZQNZnmdwB84hDsoZ-D8tew4ppr0Mr_8o_7JIDHQGHObJ-zNQcmroowd6jCV38mr9bNodsERGY/s640/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252023%25253A20.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk6XwJig3bs_TqSHiq_qJalzW5Lu6A0j7FNvrBJmLbIehqP3rVfoJx3LnNh4kULXusEZQNZnmdwB84hDsoZ-D8tew4ppr0Mr_8o_7JIDHQGHObJ-zNQcmroowd6jCV38mr9bNodsERGY/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252023%25253A20.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795685973.7756" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><p> Its the one on the right in case you were wondering. The next photo shows it a couple of years later, recovering from an initial styling by another artist...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vx5WJWSyQnA/UzIi_cDZ1-I/AAAAAAAAGlQ/t1st-rwmeWg/s640/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252023%25253A21.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vx5WJWSyQnA/UzIi_cDZ1-I/AAAAAAAAGlQ/t1st-rwmeWg/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252023%25253A21.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795686002.054" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="480" height="640"></a></div><p> After it recovered, my first major work was to thin it out and just tweak the branches around a little as you can see below. The owner was thinking at the time that something just was not right. I suggested a lack of drama and a touch too much green for such a heavy and jagged rock. "There is a better tree hiding inside". Making big decisions however can be difficult and I am always in favour of the owner coming to their own conclusions. I opened up the front a little and tried to achieve a better balance with the rock.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bjdDD6ubfEY/UzIjAgPVx3I/AAAAAAAAGlY/-eKaLfwcmpI/s1600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252023%25253A21.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bjdDD6ubfEY/UzIjAgPVx3I/AAAAAAAAGlY/-eKaLfwcmpI/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252023%25253A21.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795686038.0232" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="800"></a></div><p> Soon after it became more and more bushy, swallowing up the rock, in need of a new approach. When I arrived this morning, I was told that some drastic changes had been made and could I finish it off? It certainly was a dramatic change.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yRhpZ2k8I0E/UzIjCmEsiuI/AAAAAAAAGlg/de6wJ34YMls/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252014%25253A02.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yRhpZ2k8I0E/UzIjCmEsiuI/AAAAAAAAGlg/de6wJ34YMls/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252014%25253A02.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795685975.0234" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="715"></a></div><p> Bish, bash, bosh... it now has more jins than I did before the auction at the last BSA show. </p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">The balance between the rock is now much better and it feels as though the tree and it have more than just a man made relationship which is how the first couple of pictures felt. After looking at the tree and rock from 360 degrees, considering the branches and their live veins as well as the newly created jins, a new front was decided upon and a few more branches would be destined for the scrap heap.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUrRoIvjhD7BfZvwYyuUTrZ0_hpdXlo9cmzvO5agoOO5cHjzftUWRaeO2ixd9v4PUEJo6fMXcb8DcKOyVqT8XLH3zdop0KtOee_M4-1-IrjsIeVUPgwPo9Zs78VQGd8R-Rw9zyTTVrBM/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252014%25253A02.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUrRoIvjhD7BfZvwYyuUTrZ0_hpdXlo9cmzvO5agoOO5cHjzftUWRaeO2ixd9v4PUEJo6fMXcb8DcKOyVqT8XLH3zdop0KtOee_M4-1-IrjsIeVUPgwPo9Zs78VQGd8R-Rw9zyTTVrBM/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252014%25253A02.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795686002.6882" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="738"></a></div><p> This front makes the tree even more compact and the rock even more dramatic. Note the increased interest, movement and negative space in the lower right err...quadrant. If only we could see the trunk and the rock a bit more...so a bit more bish, bash, bosh and two and a half hours later...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ieBKZUH-MKk/UzIjGgmIQxI/AAAAAAAAGlw/biTas1avWiY/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A09.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ieBKZUH-MKk/UzIjGgmIQxI/AAAAAAAAGlw/biTas1avWiY/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A09.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795685958.6929" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="679"></a></div><p> Not quite finished, there are some pads that need to fill out and the back of the apex is a bit sketchy, but the main branching structure is set. As per usual we didnt want to spaghettify the branches too much to create an instant image and so there is some growing to be done. I am particular pleased with the tiny little foliage pad that has made it round the back on the right hand side. The presence of this creates much more of a three dimensional image which of course you can see throught the screen, as well as bringing more attention towards the rock. Always remember that the eye tends towards the green..the green...<a href="http://youtu.be/HQ-c8a0Y3ZI" target="_blank" title="">the brilliant green</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUih3TgQC4p6yme9dKmqQMBTkz_vkek-EG7j1yxPjdoXmDcrsEp61LHi0YjkPzMh-MxyEEotUQyyq3buaXeY0V42sgq5_uyoTu7-J357WIGgSvJVBs1PmMJuNxfkQPxSrtQ6cfC4XurBc/s603/Photo%25252026%252520Mar%2525202014%25252000%25253A30.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUih3TgQC4p6yme9dKmqQMBTkz_vkek-EG7j1yxPjdoXmDcrsEp61LHi0YjkPzMh-MxyEEotUQyyq3buaXeY0V42sgq5_uyoTu7-J357WIGgSvJVBs1PmMJuNxfkQPxSrtQ6cfC4XurBc/s600/Photo%25252026%252520Mar%2525202014%25252000%25253A30.jpg" id="blogsy-1395795685962.6824" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="360" height="179"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you figure out the tenuous link?</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Moving back to the tree...Neither of us are overly happy with the central dead wood section and the heavy lump of live vein underneath it. The time period while the freshly created shari dries out will give some time to reflect on what will be the next step on the project. A few suggestions have been made and we shall see where the next evolutionary step takes us. </p><p>Working with clients to create the tree they want is a fundamental concept of what I try to achieve. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to just do what I want to do and get to a result that I want sooner or just see where the tree evolves. One thing I learnt from experience in Japan is that if the enthusiast doesnt enjoy or understand the process, then you can end up with some unhappy people. Some clients very begrudgingly accepted the Chief's rash and bold moves, even though they were the correct thing to do and ultimately would have made a much better tree. As obliging apprentices who couldn't argue, we had to listen to them bitch about it and try to promote the Chief's ideas and techniques as correct (which they were) whilst simultaneuously trying to see their point of view. Perhaps this has made me much less of a daring risk taker? Sometimes a slow evolution is a good thing, other times it can be very disturbing. (Skip to 3.20 for evidence)</p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j-CJJyjlMqQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p> Apologies for the random J pop tangents. It just gets stuck in your head...</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-23249967371559449022014-03-24T01:06:00.001+00:002014-03-24T01:06:44.513+00:00The unloved...<p>I have just finished another great weekend of workshops up at Willowbog. I'm sure Mr. Snart will oblige with lots of pictures. Despite purchasing a new camera and smart phone, I still didnt take many pics, although I did take some of a new addition to the Saruyama stable. </p><p>I am a regular visitor to Willowbog and have come across a number of very good pieces of material up there. One big japanese larch in particular took my eye and I suggested to a number of clients that they should purchase it because with just a few hours work, it could be transformed into something with a good future. A tree with great ramification, <em>mochi-komi</em> a plenty and has been established in a pot for a long time. I thought it relatively cheap and after considering it at the BSA show, I acquired the tree in a very convoluted deal. As it is too big for me, it will reside up in the wilderness where it seems to be happy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_AF8qfMf4-Z9APVroch6x7gEknM7FCbA5oLCjHU9t5PuwPmjJvN9bf5UFr63oiv5p8ZqQXF1dvVYwZPh_wjVIfkxWRz0akdvprNg2AbY-SpLPeaQ2G6cBWYx39SVm2trfOeMTT7G7cM/s2048/Photo%25252022%252520Mar%2525202014%25252002%25253A23.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_AF8qfMf4-Z9APVroch6x7gEknM7FCbA5oLCjHU9t5PuwPmjJvN9bf5UFr63oiv5p8ZqQXF1dvVYwZPh_wjVIfkxWRz0akdvprNg2AbY-SpLPeaQ2G6cBWYx39SVm2trfOeMTT7G7cM/s600/Photo%25252022%252520Mar%2525202014%25252002%25253A23.jpg" id="blogsy-1395623202964.5833" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><p> This is the tree before...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u42T-jwbHrA/Uy-FC5dWpaI/AAAAAAAAGjw/E7lrJt-fc_c/s2048/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u42T-jwbHrA/Uy-FC5dWpaI/AAAAAAAAGjw/E7lrJt-fc_c/s600/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1395623202953.4216" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><p> And after three hours of work in the morning before the traditional lovely fried breakfast. All that was done was pull the apex up, branch removal, pull some branches around and around five wires on the entire tree. It is just budding out so it is possible the most inappropriate time to work on it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11XGHnkx7R-WrN7oqNm3b5nm589xUBXh4AJ9vXFAmvMS2tzhFtYYs1vyEqpntXPvmQxXfLq9v0E3LkJ6Rc2HP0wkKeF70Yzz_k8GILXk8t_3tnNxFjEpCheATBFdy2KJIMOsB2KDoyMo/s2048/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11XGHnkx7R-WrN7oqNm3b5nm589xUBXh4AJ9vXFAmvMS2tzhFtYYs1vyEqpntXPvmQxXfLq9v0E3LkJ6Rc2HP0wkKeF70Yzz_k8GILXk8t_3tnNxFjEpCheATBFdy2KJIMOsB2KDoyMo/s600/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1395623202912.054" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><p> Belt and braces...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-frEdqH9Imb4/Uy-FGalPr5I/AAAAAAAAGkA/Vq3dUGSxdlA/s2048/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-frEdqH9Imb4/Uy-FGalPr5I/AAAAAAAAGkA/Vq3dUGSxdlA/s600/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1395623202957.7822" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><p> Rotted stump, just cleaned out at the moment, yet to be worked.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ni29K9Mwv7s/Uy-FIE6F3-I/AAAAAAAAGkI/u6l0Pgcr_yo/s2048/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ni29K9Mwv7s/Uy-FIE6F3-I/AAAAAAAAGkI/u6l0Pgcr_yo/s600/Photo%25252023%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1395623202918.7087" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="450" alt=""></a></div><p> The bark just begiing to tear on the apex bend. Scar tissue will help it to stay in place.</p><p>I have also picked up a superb beech tree that will give a great tree in a couple of years. Both trees were kicking around unloved and unwanted for far too long. Will get the tree finished up in the autumn and maybe a new pt in the new year.</p><p>Anyway, an erly start tomorrow..</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-12232996935284601672014-03-17T02:06:00.001+00:002014-03-17T02:06:30.552+00:00Back to the day job...<p> After all the bluff and bluster of the sale, it has been back to the day job of working on trees. Yesterday and today saw a lot of repotting and also some creative stuff from both Akiyama and Suthin who were also doing their stuff. Suthinf is renowned for his creative skills and impressive bonsai growing and he made a number of rock plantings, one after the other. All very good. I failed to take pictures of them all but here are a couple he did today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tiEAPN5ApzI/UyZXr293wiI/AAAAAAAAGis/nZZjtuSacqY/s2048/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A03.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tiEAPN5ApzI/UyZXr293wiI/AAAAAAAAGis/nZZjtuSacqY/s600/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A03.jpg" id="blogsy-1395021988167.2715" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kziUlNXMFW0/UyZX5oxMWXI/AAAAAAAAGi0/N9bw5V6r-2I/s2048/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A26.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kziUlNXMFW0/UyZX5oxMWXI/AAAAAAAAGi0/N9bw5V6r-2I/s600/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A26.jpg" id="blogsy-1395021988171.8335" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> Akiyama got bitten by the bug and after wiring out and tidying up a clump white pine, he put it on a rock...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hhsDrD41zmk/UyZYJM1IWwI/AAAAAAAAGi8/djI-M6ON1K4/s2048/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252008%25253A26.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hhsDrD41zmk/UyZYJM1IWwI/AAAAAAAAGi8/djI-M6ON1K4/s600/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252008%25253A26.jpg" id="blogsy-1395021988221.9277" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> Some nice sunlight just casting shadows on the surface. Not satisified with that he went one step further with a clump juniper...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMLjM0Msn8VyiWfXfpG6z2kOXGQ1sbJTzp2J8PP1jXglj-ndzWzuuWpbNiM-Y6cMF7D8mW7zr8SahyUKElobug0g8CTrGYND9ODLZgrNErf259EUvlTDPRy_WUinoOXiHD_v00_Yd7Ns/s2048/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A03.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMLjM0Msn8VyiWfXfpG6z2kOXGQ1sbJTzp2J8PP1jXglj-ndzWzuuWpbNiM-Y6cMF7D8mW7zr8SahyUKElobug0g8CTrGYND9ODLZgrNErf259EUvlTDPRy_WUinoOXiHD_v00_Yd7Ns/s600/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A03.jpg" id="blogsy-1395021988201.297" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> I spent a third of the day working on this tree which was a truly international collaboration and proof that bonsai is not just the work of one person. A styled Japanese tree, imported into America, restyled and wired by an Italian (Marco Invernizzi), then potted in to a Czech container (Erik Krizovensky) by an Englishman who was more than assisted by a Japanese and a Thai/American. Can it get any more international than that?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ls8SUAbdZU/UyZYoNQ8S-I/AAAAAAAAGjM/ncOWLVKVz8k/s2048/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A00.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ls8SUAbdZU/UyZYoNQ8S-I/AAAAAAAAGjM/ncOWLVKVz8k/s600/Photo%25252016%252520Mar%2525202014%25252017%25253A00.jpg" id="blogsy-1395021988188.008" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="448" alt=""></a></div><p> Not exactly the best picture, but it works.</p><p>Suthin leaves tomorrow which is a shame as we have been sharing secrets as well as a few laughs. Maybe tomorrow I will take a few more pictures.</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-85123557415207983692014-03-16T11:56:00.001+00:002014-03-16T11:56:22.706+00:00A hammerfist in a velvet glove<p> I was recently described as a young Josef Stalin leading his troops into battle. I wonder how that impression could have come about?</p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HFKdv4pbe-I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p> Thanks to Franky C for the propaganda.</p><p> Onwards and upwards comrades :)</p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-13216448328076171622014-03-15T03:18:00.001+00:002014-03-15T03:19:43.946+00:00An experience like no other...<p> Today was an interesting and unrepeatable experience. As I am sure you are all aware, there was something going down near Kennett Square. Around 400 trees from the collection were up for sale, some perfect Kokufu class specimens, others trees that were injured in the rather severe importation process. All were for sale at wholesale or less prices...and that is in Japan prices. There were trees for sale up at $150 that were in $300 pots. It was a strange experience watching such things pass before my eyes, but congratulations and thank you to all the participants who turned up in the freezing cold and behaved themselves perfectly. </p><p>My job was to be the out of town bully and keep everyone in line. If such an event was held in Europe, there would have been chaos, so I was going through all the possible weaknesses of the incredibly fair system the night before with Mr. Paul, the absurdly generous owner of the collection and some of the guys, including Akiyama-san who was here helping as well. He said something along the lines of "I have faith in human nature so I don't think people will cheat". I think it must say something about me that I could come up with a hundred and one ways to cheat. I wasn't the only one because I had several emails asking me how much it would cost to pull tags in advance. Words fails me at times. </p><p>Many weeks of discussion went into the organisation and the system trying to make it fair and even, so that it was not a first come first served system of whoever has the most money wins. Even so people were complaining. Before , during and after the event a few people complained. To anyone who thought it was unfair, go get another hobby or go yourself to Japan and try and get trees back. See how you like them apples. What I will say however is that for every one complaint there was, we had over a hundred compliments so clearly the majority rules. Democracy baby, ain't it a bitch.</p><p>One thing that struck me about the system and the way in which it was very honourably adhered to by everyone, was how American it was. No English person would come up with such an egalitarian way of doing things. We would have been too caught up in personal politics and not wanting to upset the status quo and some big pockets would just in and buy their way to the top. </p><p>Not wishing to stray too far into politics here but it made me realise how skewed the meaning of the word liberal has become in the modern world. I often teased Ryan about this calling his ideas for creating a bonsai community and society dangerously close to the theory, but not the practice of communism, which in many ways they were; to which he got all upset. It was to me, an outstanding piece of letting everyone have their roll of the dice. For any fans of "The Wire", it was the embodiment of the opening scene of the first season</p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LYgKmOJT_gM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>McNulty: I got to ask you. If every time Snotboogie would grab the money and run away, why'd you even let him in the game?</p><p>Snot Boogie's Friend: What?</p><p>McNulty: If Snotboogie always stole the money, why'd you let him play?</p><p>Snot Boogie's Friend: Got to. It's America, man.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span>Anyways I digress. Some pictures from the event taken by Akiyama, it was said that I had a bit of an Eminem vibe going on and that i should have busted out a few rhymes...dont know where they got that idea from...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p47XYoo6UWc/UyPERAKcLiI/AAAAAAAAGhs/PLkNeGO21l0/s2048/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252022%25253A52.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p47XYoo6UWc/UyPERAKcLiI/AAAAAAAAGhs/PLkNeGO21l0/s600/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252022%25253A52.jpg" id="blogsy-1394853561858.65" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8-7rUKaVxorM8IyWbPsSerVLDyWhlKDBBzWXbvkjLMPfnlJGf45FPkrsdvhvJN37e8KQG16qq2bg64mICFhtA_Ze2pbgOhyNZyICfL3S8Xd-ama-yqPEPNO6ZJNhMDA5mEXfk8KD8Ds/s2048/Photo%25252015%252520Mar%2525202014%25252000%25253A46.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8-7rUKaVxorM8IyWbPsSerVLDyWhlKDBBzWXbvkjLMPfnlJGf45FPkrsdvhvJN37e8KQG16qq2bg64mICFhtA_Ze2pbgOhyNZyICfL3S8Xd-ama-yqPEPNO6ZJNhMDA5mEXfk8KD8Ds/s600/Photo%25252015%252520Mar%2525202014%25252000%25253A46.jpg" id="blogsy-1394853561846.8992" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp3UvV5Hkkx1ndCKzETbMiz8yLmlKoNhK7BBSSHQViiGzq-ABA-4OxpNTIxOmhMxmeQXDz6O08K5VfjU-rn9LQMp6zRjO6PEwMO8imVl87Rzx6togTuczJXB-031sUSbSoeE3AjClQCs/s2048/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252021%25253A57.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp3UvV5Hkkx1ndCKzETbMiz8yLmlKoNhK7BBSSHQViiGzq-ABA-4OxpNTIxOmhMxmeQXDz6O08K5VfjU-rn9LQMp6zRjO6PEwMO8imVl87Rzx6togTuczJXB-031sUSbSoeE3AjClQCs/s600/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252021%25253A57.jpg" id="blogsy-1394853561854.8079" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cZNcF83eqYo/UyPFWyS22AI/AAAAAAAAGiE/-Hxf_zPpTtM/s2048/Photo%25252015%252520Mar%2525202014%25252002%25253A34.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cZNcF83eqYo/UyPFWyS22AI/AAAAAAAAGiE/-Hxf_zPpTtM/s600/Photo%25252015%252520Mar%2525202014%25252002%25253A34.jpg" id="blogsy-1394853561869.5215" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="450"></a></div><p> Trying to make a few last minute long distance sales. My ipad is my life I am sad to say. </p><p> Suthin and I are debating whether or not to buy this tree for $3200. We both see a much better tree in there, in fact there is an easy option and a longer term risky option. However spending that money on a tree I can't take home and was over looked at a bargain sale means that as much as I would like to make the tree, i may have to wait. Unless my heart rules my head when I wake up, </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwklEOfI8AT-a-jCE4gKDSY_Fz0Kf4FbOvAno9hGMLneupq56tLMJ4l_eLGh7MJeBpjjV8Hg0AEsmfb-OIOmNynDGUsufm1mhLJYTabMpDBtTN6tiKGTZG_sSWmicfj58yEvFCHO2-Oc/s2048/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A06.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwklEOfI8AT-a-jCE4gKDSY_Fz0Kf4FbOvAno9hGMLneupq56tLMJ4l_eLGh7MJeBpjjV8Hg0AEsmfb-OIOmNynDGUsufm1mhLJYTabMpDBtTN6tiKGTZG_sSWmicfj58yEvFCHO2-Oc/s600/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252013%25253A06.jpg" id="blogsy-1394853561880.516" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> Even Akiyama agrees there is a great tree hiding in there. But me having great trees in America does not equal saving for a deposit on a house. Anyone fancy a literati juniper? </p><p>One image that I will leave you with is a throw back to the 1960's...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-saC91HOIIq0/UyPGCLxy58I/AAAAAAAAGiY/kcxngrtJixQ/s640/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252022%25253A54.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-saC91HOIIq0/UyPGCLxy58I/AAAAAAAAGiY/kcxngrtJixQ/s600/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202014%25252022%25253A54.jpg" id="blogsy-1394853561853.7815" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="600"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Power to the people...</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sleep is calling me...until next time.</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-62376485093507035892014-02-27T09:29:00.001+00:002014-02-27T09:29:18.219+00:00Name in print...<p> A courier just brought me a pre-printing copy of the forthcoming book. A few final changes are possible but this is pretty much it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CUNp7Oy4XJg/Uw8FVMOtCUI/AAAAAAAAGf8/w7y538gUTus/s2048/Photo%25252027%252520Feb%2525202014%25252009%25253A00.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CUNp7Oy4XJg/Uw8FVMOtCUI/AAAAAAAAGf8/w7y538gUTus/s600/Photo%25252027%252520Feb%2525202014%25252009%25253A00.jpg" id="blogsy-1393493360247.7993" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> I fought to get the cheesy scissors motif removed but apparently my diva like hissy fit didnt carry any weight..."But I am the author I tell you...the author! Does that mean nothing?"</p><p>There is still some Americanising to be done, which means messing up the spelling...seriously, you need more vowels and obscure spelling people. I asked if the American version will also have laminated, cheeseburger proof pages but the budget wouldn't stretch that far.*</p><p>I will be reading it on the Eurostar over to Paris this afternoon. Hope there aren't too many hideous errors.</p><p>* My American friends and readers should realise that this is probably a joke **</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUstKeSte10Omc_dgMoIvD95VSHG9IbH4iL_kDxzY8wDjTuvaWMC5lJigSlCu1kXGP99z6sf1nMQEE5v-IWuCsbUiFr91PKKt0AyIOwZSgl7xde0xAx1zXT3kuFQxN3qnxftLMuFNHwc/s2048/Photo%25252027%252520Feb%2525202014%25252009%25253A10.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUstKeSte10Omc_dgMoIvD95VSHG9IbH4iL_kDxzY8wDjTuvaWMC5lJigSlCu1kXGP99z6sf1nMQEE5v-IWuCsbUiFr91PKKt0AyIOwZSgl7xde0xAx1zXT3kuFQxN3qnxftLMuFNHwc/s600/Photo%25252027%252520Feb%2525202014%25252009%25253A10.jpg" id="blogsy-1393493360228.2976" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> There are some good trees in there. None of them mine obviously. Many thanks to the Mirai master.</p><p> Onwards and upwards people....</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>** Seriously, if there is any confusion or misunderstanding of irony/my sense of humour/humor<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">. It was a joke. I did not ask for cheeseburger proof pages...if anything, they would need to withstand a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich wit extra cheese from </span><a href="http://www.tonylukes.com" target="_blank" title="" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Tony Lukes</a><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> at 39 Oregon St. Philadelphia. Those were the days...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-baPo_5pyx8s/Uw8FauDb5jI/AAAAAAAAGgM/cB1LAVQHdxU/s817/Photo%25252027%252520Feb%2525202014%25252009%25253A14.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-baPo_5pyx8s/Uw8FauDb5jI/AAAAAAAAGgM/cB1LAVQHdxU/s600/Photo%25252027%252520Feb%2525202014%25252009%25253A14.jpg" id="blogsy-1393493360220.8916" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="721" alt=""></a></div><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-69930211709041869502014-02-25T23:32:00.001+00:002014-02-25T23:33:14.559+00:00Repotting season is upon us...<p> Buds are moving, trees are waking up and the clocking ticking on some species. Today I finally got to repot some of my own trees. It has been a while...but this year I have booked more time at home and now with the book all but finished, I managed to work on a few trees that were in need of it.</p><p>One tree in particularly I had been looking forward to repotting was a maple I had picked up a year or two ago from David Prescott. Grown from seed and most importantly, it had been given a start by someone who knows bonsai very well. I thought I may have to do a bit of root work because it had been in the plastic tray for at least three years...which is about the limit for young deciduous trees. Needless to say i didnt take any before pics, but what really impressed me with this tree was the sheer quality of the root system and the near flawless nebari that had been home grown. Who says you need to import trees to get quality. If you are prepared to wait for twenty years, you can get an incredible nebari from home made trees. Just look at the deciduous trees over in Northern Ireland.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dEps8XTeEvI/Uw0n0oQRX5I/AAAAAAAAGfI/ge44cXnX_L8/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dEps8XTeEvI/Uw0n0oQRX5I/AAAAAAAAGfI/ge44cXnX_L8/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1393371165942.649" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> Trying it out in a few pots...should I. Give it space to grow and thicken up? Naaah...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xbK_BGIg6y0/Uw0n4zWIMQI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/p-MkrJj1zqc/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xbK_BGIg6y0/Uw0n4zWIMQI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/p-MkrJj1zqc/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1393371165916.7927" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> The only flaw in the nebari was round the back. Two strong roots had started to dominate and squeezed out the central section. Both strong bits have been pruned back hard, the weaker section has been teased out and I will remember this ever time I fertilise (honest I will) and place a piece where those weaker roots are.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gja14rJ6SLE/Uw0n8xEjG5I/AAAAAAAAGfY/52duyB7m63E/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A56.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gja14rJ6SLE/Uw0n8xEjG5I/AAAAAAAAGfY/52duyB7m63E/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A56.jpg" id="blogsy-1393371165937.8142" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><p> The bottom, a bit of chopping done, hence the grey streak of wound sealant, otherwise as flat as a pancake, which is less flat than Kansas. (A fact we confirmed when on our now mythical truck jouney)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmPM6iNe8J5QqNI-EPoliebaZUYmLC8a9F7fEfM9XgZevhT7OhJF2tf_yHscjO6qLqjh4JBHZYuoVNIWF52CKQYHC_-3tRtQRUAIops2jLPKXTftWCtKgTFhz0ELEvxtxRKIdJtY4OOs/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A56.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmPM6iNe8J5QqNI-EPoliebaZUYmLC8a9F7fEfM9XgZevhT7OhJF2tf_yHscjO6qLqjh4JBHZYuoVNIWF52CKQYHC_-3tRtQRUAIops2jLPKXTftWCtKgTFhz0ELEvxtxRKIdJtY4OOs/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252016%25253A56.jpg" id="blogsy-1393371165901.163" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="448"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd1Y4gY5-OoX0BqBPRSifhLD5XOwTBpNeMk1QGHLonAC4-aG3T7Q8DvuwuveEjo76AaojhjK323aa1Ftk7RY1T5DqEnfdqKUfm1sF4x8PukZX7xpI5RZLupC8PEZZ-zHDEo_NKBfvmrI/s2048/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252017%25253A32.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd1Y4gY5-OoX0BqBPRSifhLD5XOwTBpNeMk1QGHLonAC4-aG3T7Q8DvuwuveEjo76AaojhjK323aa1Ftk7RY1T5DqEnfdqKUfm1sF4x8PukZX7xpI5RZLupC8PEZZ-zHDEo_NKBfvmrI/s600/Photo%25252025%252520Feb%2525202014%25252017%25253A32.jpg" id="blogsy-1393371165947.2732" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="803"></a></div><p> Potted up in a pot I got up at Willowbog. It had a zelkova in it, but it is a lovely narrow semi glazed pot. The lower most branch is a sacrificial branch and the apex needs a little work, otherwise, the natural movement and branch placements are pretty good. It is not the most impressive tree yet, but it is definitely one that wont be leaving my garden unless I get a ridiculous offer. Trees like this don't come along everyday.</p><p>I thought for the first time the other day that maybe having an apprentice would be a good idea. During my time at the Chief's when we bought soil, we bought a van load. One time I went with one of the young lads and we bought what we calculated to be roughly 2 metric tonnes of soil which we put in a van that should only legal carry 1. The soil merchants even told us that we shouldnt but hell, we were foolish. The Hiace van, which has just the other week given up the ghost and died (R.I.P), groaned and struggled its way home and I dared not drive quickly. Unloading the van took very little time because there were four apprentices at the time and so heavy work was quickly finished.</p><p>Kind of in the same vein, but much less damaging to my own van, I went to stock up on soil the other day and got a little bit enthusiastic. I have enough Pumice to repot all of my trees and <a href="http://crataegus.com/2013/11/24/life-without-turface/" target="_blank" title="">Mike Hagedorns...</a> Add to that Akadama, Ezo Grit, Lava rock and a bit of Molaar and I had what is commonly know in the trade as a kangoofull of soil. Shifting it from van to garden, huffing and puffing I thought to myself, "I wish I had a bitch to do this for me....I mean apprentice..."</p><p>Needless to say that thought didnt last long.</p><p>More dirty fun tomorrow and then Paris this weekend...</p><p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-19206971325448256312014-02-20T18:41:00.001+00:002014-02-20T18:41:40.193+00:00Suiseki show...<p> Since the Chief became the unofficial and then the official Chairman of the Nippon Suiseki Association, plans were put in place to put together a massive exhibition at the same time and place as the Kokufu, to get more interest in it. Morimae was a driving force behind it along with the Chief and I heard both of them beating the drum in november saying how good it would be. They are both renowned for "big talk" and so I was a little sceptical, I was however, very pleasantly surprised when after a day in the snow, I helped put the finishing touches to the show. In the words of Alan Partridge, I got a plate with my words and a knife and fork...what I'm trying to say is I ate my words.</p>
<p> Before the judging there was some concern as to if enough people would be part of it, however the response was incredible with over 50 stones rejected at the judging process. A number of masterpiece stones were requested from temples, aristocratic families and museums. How they managed this is testament to the powers of persuasion from two very enthusiastic and exuberant professionals.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I only got to the show for about an hour during set up and then turing the rapid and accident free break down, so I only got a chance to snap a few pics, but they were mostly of the foreign entrants, all of whom are good friends of mine and fellow pebble gazers.</p>
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<p> One of my favourites. The texture made a welcome change from the smooth textures I usually purr over</p>
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<p> A seigaku ishi from the American Suiseki King and master daiza carver, craftsman and father to one of my besties, Sean Smith</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I think this belonged to Martin Pauli...the swiss watchmaker, suiseki enthusiast from an era ago and all round nice guy. My apologies if I'm wrong...</div>
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<p> A Sajigawa ishi from Larry and Nina Ragle..two ridiculously enthusiastic pebblers from California. Always a massive pleasure to see them. They publish and run the Aiseki Kai</p>
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<p> A Chikuzen Maguro ishi from Wil. The biggest and worst influence on me since 2002 :) He has forgotten more about stones than most so called self appointed experts claim to know.</p>
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<p> The only entrant from Blighty with an ancient Kamogawa stone that once belong to Yoanken...the suiseki dealer, ex bonsai enthusiast and good bloke, Mr. David J. Sampson</p>
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<p> My adopted Rochester father, fudge giver and enthusiastic stone lover, Ronald C. Maggio.</p>
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<p> And the irrepresible Bill Valavanis with this mizu-tamari ishi from the Tamagawa.</p>
<p>There were a number of other foreign exhibitors whose pictures I didnt take in the three minutes I had to do so. So my apologies to Hideko Metaxas (althought Japan is her motherland), Dato Chu from Malaysia and Tom Elias from the US. I think that was it. Why no foreign stones I hear all you covertly anti-Japanese pebble freaks say? For the first big show it was decided that the focus would be on Japanese stones and show the public that the appreciation of Japanese rocks had a world wide audience (so the locals had better buck up their ideas). For the next show, as with the other major show in the calendar, the Meihinten, foreign stones will be encouraged if they are to a high enough standard.</p>
<p>A few more overall and select stone pictures...</p>
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<p> There is Jin trying to look busy without knowing what to do...like most of us. Too many hands and not enough jobs.</p>
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<p> Akiyama blurring out of view. The stone in the back ground is "Haku-un", White clouds...possibly the most famous Setagawa Tora ishi. The Chief had it at Shunkaen for a number of years so I know it well. Previously one of Katayama's most prized possessions. The stone to the right is displayed on a piece of kimono fabric in the way that was done in the Edo period. </p>
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<p> Some of the tokonoma type displays. The design is to be revamped next year to remove the white poles if possible.</p>
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<p> Some of the smaller stones were displayed on pedestals so they don't get lost in the crowd. Valentin too is wondering what more can be done...</p>
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<p> Some famous tools where on show as well...</p>
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<p> An elegant stand by Kozan...</p>
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<p> And from the Chief, this Junzan work of supreme craftsmanship.</p>
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<p> What made the show was seeing in flesh stones that you had only heard about or seen in old books...like Dōten. It was shut away in a glass case because...well, you would be tempted to slip in in your pocket. </p>
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<p> The case in the foreground held the scroll and the case lid for the centrepiece stone from Kenin-ji temple...Kurokamiyama </p>
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<p> Strange that a bunch of men could get so excited about some rocks, but hey, we all have our weaknesses. </p>
<p>Next year will be hard to beat, but I'm sure they will try. A number of foreign visitors have asked if they can exhibit there next year, so there should be even more non japanese exhibitors and also more than likely non japanese stones. For information then email me or the Association directly before September.</p>
<p>Apart from a thousand and one pictures that are not fit for human consumption, that is it for the kokufu now...back to work and trying to get my garden sorted out...assuming it is still there when I get back.</p>
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<p> So it is goodbye from him, and goodbye from me...</p>
<p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-38685988119728600742014-02-19T14:48:00.001+00:002014-02-20T18:54:23.011+00:00All done and dusted...<p> This year has been termed the kokufu from hell. It started with bad weather, was affected by bad weather and ended with it. On the day of the changeover, also the set up for the suiseki show, it was the heaviest snow fall for 45 years. A few days later, after the suiseki show had been pulled down, it snowed over night breaking that record. I joked to the huddled masses, frozen and wet through at 3 am after our third round of brushing snow off the trees, that the gods must have something against rock gazers. </p>
<p>Despite this, we managed to do it without breaking anything, which bearing in mind the idiocy of some of the younger apprentices is an impressive feat. I hate to be a bully but I told him I would put it on the internet to make him consider his absolute inability to do anything properly but mess up...here is Jin's attempt at creating a display. </p>
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<p> He looks suitably embarrassed which he should do as I had to shout at him for the obligatory minute and a half telling him he is worthless and should think about his future, before then spending three minutes explaining what to do and why. This is the role of the senior apprentices, beat them down and then build them up again. It is a strange culture, but it works and does sort the wheat from the chaff. Only after serving the full time and then coming back do you appreciate the merits of the system. When you are on the recieving end then the only merits seem to be that the agressor looks like he is enjoying it. I have some fond and some not so fond memories of kokufu time with regards to my senpai, especially the late Kawakami-san whose visits I anticipated with fear and the prospect of learning some valuable nugget of information that he drip fed if he thought you were worth it. The best/worse day came in my second year when I spent the whole morning outside carefully cleaning a satsuki trunk with the water pistol and a tooth brush. When I asked him if it was ok (for he was the king of satsukis), he looked over my work with a grunt. Broken hearted I continued with a black cloud over my head for the rest of the day. It wasn't until dinner when he announced (after a fair few shandies) that everyone sat around should be ashamed because I had done the best work that day. He said "I'm not being rude, but a foreigner, is putting more effort in than you lot...a foreigner". He then poured me a shandy and said, "I wouldn't have sat out there all day freezing my ass off. You must be mental". It is difficult to describe the elation you feel when the hand that beats you then strokes you on the head. Anyway, I digress...I have many Kawakami-san stories that I could share, but that is for another time.</p>
<p>(Edit) In response to a comment below, this is how best to make use of the three items used in that tokonoma. Even this display is poor, with an autumnal moon displayed in february and the accent figure too small and relatively unrelated to the scene, still it is better than before.</p>
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<p> If you think I was being nasty or bullying then you have to understand that a massive part of the senior apprentices' responsibility is the education of the younger apprentices. If they make mistakes, the responsibility lies with management. The education comes in many forms and at times, being hard on them is one of them, especially as I had told them the day before that the displays they set up were appaling and needed to be fixed. I told them how and why but they didn't do it. These are people who want to become professionals and should be looking to uphold a certain standard of excellence, striving to excel by themslves rather than simply following orders, or in this case not even doing that. When this is not done, the hammer falls. This is how it has been done since time eternal, this is how it was done to me and this is what I must do. If they don't like it, they can quit. If they want to work at the top of their profession, then you suck it up.</p>
<p>So in between exhibitions, parties, snow and all the carry on, we did some business. It is <em>the </em>time of year to do so and we had some big European, American and of course Chinese customers to look after. We had a (what is the collective noun? Herd? Swarm? Phalanx?, I jest of course) of Chinese to look after who were actually not bad at all. The biggest pot dealer (as in ceramic not...) in China and also one of the biggest collectors plus about ten others and a couple of translators were ferried around, fed and entertained by us. A mammoth task and it caused a few problems, but generally it went smoothly until the return trip.</p>
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<p> Shin-san is on the bottom left. His eye is so sharp and well trained he can read the label on your underpants from 50 yards and tell when it was made, if they are fake and if there is any repaired damage. He is also a pretty funny guy. Thankfully this year i didnt have to dance for him.</p>
<p> The snow disrupted things the night before they all left and there was some concern as to if they could be taken to the airport. Two vans left, one, the beat up old Shunkaen van (10 years old but looks like a war relic) was carrying half a hundred weight of luggage back for them. It broke down about 15 miles from the airport. A few panic phone calls and The Chief borrowed a large trunk from a local flower nursery. Now, the Chief driving an automatic car is scary enough, but a manual 5 ton truck...that is downright lethal. Thankfully disaster was averted and the luggage was transfered and they made their flight. Afterwards we felt a massive weight lift from our shoulders and I told the Chief, " If something like that didn't happen, I would be surprised". </p>
<p>With the Chinese finally gone, the snow melting and nothing left to do but catch our breath, the last few days have been peaceful except for a mountain of packaging pots up and the discovery of these rather strange things. I'm still not sure how to take them. Is the pictured pig happy that somebody is wearing him? </p>
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<p> Either way, Balecchi and I had a good giggle at the possible joyous pork related ways they could be used. </p>
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<p> Im on my way home now, left to count the damage physically and financially (I bought some weird pots) and think about what to do next. (Stop wasting timblogging and Get the book finished!).</p>
<p>For those of you that made it through the pig nonsense. Here is some bonsai porn...enjoy.</p>
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<p> One for the ladies...</p>
<p>I also have a stash of pot and stone pictures for the fetishist...more when they turn up. I have stopped saying tomorrow because it puts pressure on me to do it. The book is all but finished as far as I am concerned. The final push was today and I'm spent... </p>
<p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-80314551597336646752014-02-11T13:06:00.001+00:002014-02-11T13:08:38.059+00:00What a difference a day makes...<p> After the snowy travails of the other day, the next day brought 12 degrees C and sunshine. Its enough to make you sick. Thankfully my cocktail of multi vitamins, royal jelly, airborne and ahem..healthy living means that so far, apart from being hungover, I have yet to be sick. </p>
<p>Although the snow stopped falling, it is yet to melt and the sales area is an obstacle course of piles of snow. Tomorrow, the clear up day it will be a pain. Various idea have been thought of to get rid of it, covering it in dirty soil, putting it down a manhole and Akiyama's idea of getting some syrup and making snow cones for us to eat. Some of the professionals spend time playing king of the castle with the snow. When i say some I mean one. Taiga.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> What can be done with the unwanted?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Sales have been up and down, but as with most years, Akiyama and I have done ok due to the fact we both put an awful lot of effort in and have been tought by the Chief how to do business. I found some bargains to buy around the stalls under neath benches and with a branch or two removed, they turn into desirable trees. It is not massively profitable, but it pays the 50,000 for my one table. </p>
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<p> This is a little beauty of a prunus I dug out of a box full of them.</p>
<p>The one thing that is different on our stand this year are stones. With the suiseki show going. On at the same time...more pics later...Akiyama, a suiseki association board member, has a few suiseki for sale, I also bought a couple too.</p>
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<p> Here he is trying to convince a client that he should display in next years show. The suiseki show has been a roaring success with over three thousand visitors so far. The displays are of the highest quality and some famous stones are making an appearance. For stone lovers it is a once in a lifetime chance to see them all together in one room. I will put some pictures up tomorrow...but for now. I have to get writing my book.</p>
<p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-58635483060854272212014-02-08T03:00:00.001+00:002014-02-08T05:57:15.723+00:00Sales area fun...<p>It has been a busy week so far hence the lack of blog posts...but today we reach a new low.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Snow is falling, all around me. Its not merry and its not christmas and there is no one.</p>
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<p> Some brave souls make it out, hunting for a bargain, but there are very few sellers here to deal with...</p>
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<p> My best friend is the kerosene stove but it doesnt help</p>
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<p> My feet are wet through...</p>
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<p> This was not in the brochure...</p>
<p> It gets worse throughout the day...</p>
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<p> Still its fun...i have been chatting with all sorts of people. </p>
<p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-42547728290326936482014-02-03T23:09:00.001+00:002014-02-03T23:12:22.319+00:00In praise of light and shadows...<p> Tanizaki Junichiro would be proud of me.</p>
<blockquote><p>"And yet, when we gaze into the darkness that gathers behind the crossbeam, around the flower vase, beneath the shelves, though we know perfectly well it is mere shadow, we are overcome with the feeling that in this small corner of the atmosphere there reigns complete and utter silence; that here in the darkness immutable tranquility holds sway.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz-HJjpOM6YI75iZlFTj3kCtaOsY0Ws-6yWDT4L8OpR4nkX8sFlSPbB1a-1vWthE3w8UQrt_syR4fp7iUirZlV647rSa7dEha64IFiPlsa9dJPVSARa3uQtd-38fnoQbWxZOy-Av4KWw/s1843/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252012%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz-HJjpOM6YI75iZlFTj3kCtaOsY0Ws-6yWDT4L8OpR4nkX8sFlSPbB1a-1vWthE3w8UQrt_syR4fp7iUirZlV647rSa7dEha64IFiPlsa9dJPVSARa3uQtd-38fnoQbWxZOy-Av4KWw/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252012%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1391469140292.3987" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="605"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XfG_sIvF3cI/UvAh6iZxUhI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/JSdk8hlniaI/s2048/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252013%25253A01.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XfG_sIvF3cI/UvAh6iZxUhI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/JSdk8hlniaI/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252013%25253A01.jpg" id="blogsy-1391469140331.1003" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="457"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UEncvLzTZFo/UvAiCjXbOTI/AAAAAAAAGVY/N_YsEa7-j-s/s1790/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252012%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UEncvLzTZFo/UvAiCjXbOTI/AAAAAAAAGVY/N_YsEa7-j-s/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252012%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1391469140327" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="557"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbHynuxd1Dm_1leay_VMx05xbytUiXN-To3TstrnBXwz3c2E3IWyk0flhdPZMu_w84sr6b3Q_N9OUA2Y9llAkEJBclGGZB-mcmsO6rLy_lCr-Q7shMJnjmxrF5sb7_MDv1tO__5dDSbs/s2048/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252012%25253A54.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbHynuxd1Dm_1leay_VMx05xbytUiXN-To3TstrnBXwz3c2E3IWyk0flhdPZMu_w84sr6b3Q_N9OUA2Y9llAkEJBclGGZB-mcmsO6rLy_lCr-Q7shMJnjmxrF5sb7_MDv1tO__5dDSbs/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252012%25253A54.jpg" id="blogsy-1391469140339.3315" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="355"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the beautiful things about getting in early is that the lighting is not properly set up. This means that the conditions for photography are poor, but you get some interesting moments of calm and shadow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVbv8uXB95uo1TMrkaR6tU9HdoShwgM5aTTK75zzbmdkEfHXDKnqHB_TdkAAvMSy46ztGO6TgtfbzJXh_ZOEPAWp2F5xmHYJwvVDpLgxobthKyn42-zXCX-e-jeEO5lX-rmrn8jxq2vw/s1529/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252010%25253A29.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVbv8uXB95uo1TMrkaR6tU9HdoShwgM5aTTK75zzbmdkEfHXDKnqHB_TdkAAvMSy46ztGO6TgtfbzJXh_ZOEPAWp2F5xmHYJwvVDpLgxobthKyn42-zXCX-e-jeEO5lX-rmrn8jxq2vw/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252010%25253A29.jpg" id="blogsy-1391469140255.526" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="600" height="452"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-htkGsfneMhU/UvAiU9w-LbI/AAAAAAAAGVw/TVU0U5pg-DQ/s2048/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252010%25253A42.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-htkGsfneMhU/UvAiU9w-LbI/AAAAAAAAGVw/TVU0U5pg-DQ/s600/Photo%2525202%252520Feb%2525202014%25252010%25253A42.jpg" id="blogsy-1391469140331.206" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="485" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p> </p><p> </p></blockquote>
<p>From attractive young ladies to pretentious pictures in less than a week. Rock on. </p>
<p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1947832988749594918.post-71950689825125110182014-02-03T08:34:00.001+00:002014-02-03T08:34:48.866+00:00A day of hanging around...<p> After the excitement and high of yesterday comes the grim reality that we will be standing around for the next 10 days hoping to sell some stuff and that it doesn't rain or snow. Setting up the sales area takes about four hours, then we walk around, looking at everyone elses stands trying to find stuff that might sell. Looking for things that appeal to Chinese buyers basically. It is fun to be surrounded by so many trees and possibilities, but even we get bored. </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> When will it end?</p>
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<p> All set up by 10am. Still it gave me time to shop around for pots and bits and bobs for clients. If anyone has any requests, then please let me know. No guarantees though...</p>
<p>I still didnt post all the trees from the show, so here is a run down of more...</p>
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<p> As I mentioned in the last post, the show expansion has allowed more interesting trees in...</p>
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<p> And some very elegant displays...love the stands and the corner on use of the square tables here. Well done to Mr. Hamano (Mi-Chan) for these.</p>
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<p> There are three foreign entries in this years show, here is the display from Bruno Beltrane</p>
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<p> With a kicho bonsai as the main...</p>
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<p> And Chinese Quince as the accent. Love the rabbit riding the pony on the pot.</p>
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<p> I was immediately taken by this tree, but after a few moments, realised it was more the pot than anything. The tree, although very good, is not very juniperesque.</p>
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<p> Akiyama liked this saying it reminded him of an army of ghosts.</p>
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<p> And thats about all I took at the show, except some interesting lighting effects. More of which later..</p>
<p>Akmost finished the car ride home so I will post this...do you know how difficult it is to blog and drive at the same time?</p>
<p> </p>Peter Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09714861781858473416noreply@blogger.com1