Czech Yamadori

Life is about a change.   And that is a constant. And this is very true in case of this little tree.  After a detailed examination of it and with a respect to natural movement of its trunk and the development of its nebari I have decided that this is it.  So after a period of a slanting tree (  2017  )  I have returned back to a semicascade  ( 2015  ).   Now I need to get a properly shaped pot.  Something between a scoop and a traditional round one.  Less dramatic side.    More "dramatic" one.  Dead wood, rock and roots over it ( now well covered under the layers of moss ) I will never tire of this...

Crazy. Would you believe there are guys who are taking care of similar plants to enjoy their beauty that lasts just few days? Just another few branches, improved surface roots ( I guess an airlayer should fix it ) and more fancy pot. The shape of this one is OK. Just different color.

Or, perhaps? Back pain from the heavy loads of water. Busy for most of the growth season with scissors and wires. Bloodthirsty any time I spot a blackbird tearing off the well pampered moss from the pot. WHY I do sustain all this? That's why...

Some time ago I wrote about visitors to our pond - a pair of wild ducks.     Our koi liked them quite a lot.  Apparently fascinated by the ducks red legs they chased them around the pod.   And the ducks behaved  nicely.  Very different from this year visit.   Just have a look what has happened this time... Such a nice place. Lets have .. a sex here Yuppee The drake ready to take a nap.  Tired.

We need more chocolate, courage and ramification.  The ranking of the first two items is not that much important. A good chocolate is always good.  It helps to be patient. Courage is a must at the time of important decisions: Cut or leave? Ramification is the result of your courage and patience. Obviously, it will take a lot of chocolate to get there with this blackthorn.   As you may see the thread grafted branch is still fully connected to the feeder.   I believe the connection is ready for the separation nevertheless there is no hurry to do it.  Maybe later this  summer or maybe next spring... See below.   Branch dressed up with blossoms. The colour of freshly developed blossoms is brilliant white.  As the time goes, it will get a yellowish tint

Just kidding.  Showing lack of respect for a famous bonsai amateur.   A shame on my old bald head... The true fact is that looking at the weather fcast for this week I have made a quick conclusion: "The spring is just behind the corner - lets start with the first items from  my project list for this season.  Banzai." Root pruning Trying to reduce the size of a root ball with the main focus on reduction of the taproot and other main nowadays useless structural roots to get more space for hard working fine roots... Projects for this year 1.  Still need to work on a better transition between the "old and new" section.  I think I will let the current leader to have another full season of an unrestricted growth.  Once I am happy with the transition I will replace the current leader with the small side branch ( labeled NEW LEADER ) 2. Need to produce some additional branches on the  left and back side of the tree.   The first thread grafted branch

Malus evereste_Thread grafting A failure of an approach graft from last year = a chance to make it better this time but with a thread graft.  Or better to say an improved method of it.  Tubing. I do like this method more and more.  Less stressful for swelled buds. Not to mention me... The branch inserted into the tube Threaded Please note the position of buds.  Better for healing and good for the lenght of the internodes.   The first bud could be a start of a new branch if necessary The tree has been kept outside till the end of Jan.  Surprisingly nice and mild month with lowest temp just minus 2-3°C.   With the arrival of frost in Feb it has been moved to the frost free storage.  Now its a start of March and it seems that the daily temps will go nicely above freezing point.  So, I guess  the tree will be on the move.   Out for days and In for cold nights.