Czech Yamadori

An Elm yamadori.   Species?  No idea.  Perhaps U. minor? I have not collected  many trees in the 2015 due to the lack of available space in the back yard.   This elm was the biggest from the lot. The tree has grown in the pocket of soil on the rocky hillside of the river Vltava.   First spot in 2012.  Then few years of hesitation: take it or leave it?  I did like the bottom part of the tree but at the same time I was not very fond of the top section.  But at the end my natural greed has taken the upper hand (AGAIN! ) and as from the last year the tree is sitting in a pot. As the elm has responded well to the transfer ( well it is an elm so not a big surprise ) I have decided to jump in the bonsai training a bit earlier then I would normally do.  So in spring 2016  the basic structure of branches has been selected and  wired.   Based on the set up of branches the final height of the tree should be around 80-90 cm. ...

Pyrus communis_PC 4_Spring 2016 Air layer in progress_so far so good Any time I have passed this tree I have got a tingle at the tips of my fingers.  You know that kind of strange vibrations of compulsive need to do something.  Something you know that it is inevitable,  but at the same time that king of thing that could ruin all your past effort and could lead to the termination of the plant.   A plant that I have admired so much for its endurance  and character. My original plan - i.e. to leave the tree as is hoping that the week point at its tachiagari will be overcome by time - was tumbling at least a bit. Long run and uncertain outcome.   For sure - the lower part of the trunk has gained a bit more on the girth but the original disproportion was so dramatic that I could not imagine a believable story the tree could tell about the place it lives.   Well, apart from  telling the truth: This is   A Tree In The Rock. As a concept  I g...

The true origin of the art of suiseki.  A stunning revelation as a result of our long term scientific research. It is a common believe that  the development of Suiseki in Japan was influenced by the Chinese scholar's rock.   Carved in the stone.  Done and clear.  But is that really the true story of the origin of the art of collection of stones?    As a person who lives in a country where the history has been modified so many times to suit the leading minority I tend to take the bruited  facts with some level of doubts. And if necessary I made an effort to discover the true story behind.  So it was for the suiseki  and you can find the account below.      Based on my investigation, I believe that the first historically recorded collector of stones was David.  It was he who collected five stones from the broom in the  Valley of Elah.  While the primary purpose for that was to get some ammunition for his s...

   Acer ginnala_why have you collected this tree?   First of all I like ACERS as a species. Loving maple syrup and the early spring and autumn colours of their buds and leaves.  Second - I am looking for trees with "drama" .  Creatures that survive in difficult conditions that affect their body and soul.  And anyway  this is my only A. ginnala  in my collection.   Current height:  approx 15 cm  till the cut on the top primery branch Trunk  caliper (diameter ) at the ground level (DGH ):  na   Collected: Central Bohemia _ an old quary at the outskirts of  Prague Pot: training Autumn 2009 Autumn 2015 Winter 2015/2016 Styling direction:      The bottom of the tree has been raised compared to the pics above.  I plan to raise it even more in the future gradually revealing more and more of the roots.        The trunk above the gr...

Small trees in my backyard:  Prunus mahaleb Mahaleb cherry Height: 20 cm Nebari: 8 cm Pot: Training Collected in central Bohemia in 2012 There are not many mahalebs in the shohin category.  Just try to use the search engine and you will see how many results will come back to you.   I have been searching for a small mahaleb for many years.  I have crisscrossed all "my mahaleb's " sites many times.  No luck.  Explored new promissing locations with the same results.   So you can imagine my feelings  when I stumbled over this one.       July 2015 In autumn 2015 I have decided that there is time to move the tree into the prebonsai stage.  So it has been moved into the non frost over winter shelter that allows me to work on the tree in this odd period. Dec 2015 Dead wood carving in progress.   The rough part has been completed but still  more fine tun...

Prunus spinosa _ Blackthorn Current height: 42 cm Trunk caliper (diameter ) at the ground level (DGH ): 8 cm Collected: Central Bohemia Pot: training This is the first sloe I have ever collected.   I have been attracted by its size and nicely curved trunk.   The preparation for collection took me more than 2 years. During that time I have tried to get some fine roots closer to the main trunk.   The branch on the left was dry already at that time when I have found the tree.   Later on I noticed that the part of the dead wood is much bigger.   The removal of old bark revealed nicely curved lines of deadwood spiralling the trunk. Winter silhouette - early December 2015 with first sign of new growth due to the high temperature.  Pre X mas carving + new pot Back side.  The green mole hill is a cover for raised roots that can be seen in the first pic just behind the trunk.   I plan to keep them in positio...

  Yamadori hawthorn - The Drunkard - a winter silhouette  A bit of pre Xmas cleaning/pruning on this smaller hawthorn.   The surface layer of substrate has been replaced.  The root that is encircling the stone has been covered with a substrate with added chopped sphagnum moss to promote its growth.      Now having  a good rest before the next growing season in the winter shed. The introduction of this hawthorn in  here