Czech Yamadori

 The birch stayed too long in a much smaller pot than it was safe for its healthy development.   Add some necessary changes in design - as the tree got too wide I have pulled branches closer to the trunk -  the tree has lost its natural vigour and one of the main branches has gone.   I have sensed  the pot is too small  but stupidly was hoping the tree would be OK.     It wasn't,  and looking on the dead branch and some dry branchlets my first thoughts were that the all the work I have done on this tree since 2009 has been lost.    Despair.    But giving it the second thought I have realised that the tree still has some potential.   It will differ from my dreamed original design a bit  but it should make a nice tree anyway.     I have reshuffled pots between some of my trees and moved the birch into this Martin Asenbrenner's mokko pot.   40 x 35x 8 cm.   The ...

Two of my blackthorns.    First one in early stages of blossoms development and the other one in full bloom.

 Nice few hours walking at Protected Landscape Area Czech Karst  near village Svatý Jan pod Skalou.    We go there throughout the year many times.  Early spring visits have a special charm.    Nice sunny day with brisk early morning start flavors the day with a special charm.   It enhances colours of blossoming cornuses that are quite abundant there  accompanied with Pasque flowers ( Pulsatilla pratensis ),   Spring cinquefoil (  Potentill verna )  and many other less noticeable alpines that favour south facing sunny slopes. Cornus mas Potentilla verna Pulsatilla pratensis How about having a cornus as a bonsai.    Maros Belan has a GREAT one called Vesna (Spring )... This one is from my collection in a form of  informal tree.  A form that is not very typical for this species that has more bushy growth.  

  It is quite unusual  to see a blackthorn in such nice fall dress   (at least for me... )

 There are a lot of species that change their dress into something more fancy to celebrate the fall fiesta. Sugar maples are first to come to my mind ( even though it is based solely on the pics presented on different media ).   Pseudocydonia sinensis was another tree that falls into this group I thought.   Well, until I bought one  and eagerly waited for the fall full of expectation  to see how its dark green foliage turns in vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red.  Bad luck.  Clearly it may happen but it depends on the right cocktail of  sun, temperatures and sugar contents.   Anything else?  Well yes, reasonable water/nutrients  supply helping tree to be in a good shape to start with.   No pests for sure. In the region I live there are trees that produce great autumn colours too.   Burning-bush ( Euonymus ), some species of Pyrus or Sorbus, Ginkgo, Cornus and for sure some more if only I can r...