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Berberis vulgaris_Barberry

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The pads would need to get a bit more rounded.  Another year?  Two? Nevertheless, another tree that would appretiate a bit smarter container.      

A firewood with a live vein...

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I should not admit this publicly perhaps, but I do tend to fall in love far too often.   The scenario seems to be quite repetitive:   Me on my knees,  desirous eyes and trembling dirty fingers.  Desperately waiting for the "YES!"  And as it is often the case the love outburst may fade away within a few weeks. But sometimes it may last forever...   In which category this one stays?   How the hell should I know? Prunus mahaleb Collected: 2019  Central Bohemia Dimension:  Do not get misleaded by the size of the overgrown leaves.   The tenjin is at 55 cm. Love may take many different shapes.  

Larch_Yamadori 2020

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Despite all the claims about overcrowded shelves I could not resist to take home with me this beautiful larch.   Well, I know it is not very typical tree but that is true for most of my other trees anyway... Bunjin-gi.  And kind of a special one.  A tree that has been trying to reach as far as possible to get more light from the sun.  Sunrays finder. And very old one. With very natural movement of the trunk ( the side view ). Just have a look. Current lenght: sligtly over 100 cm

Too many plants fighting for the space....

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Every single year I would stay in front of the benches with a tree in my hands thinking: where I can place this one.  And for sure, this is not about thinking which place will suit this specific tree the best.  It is realy just about squeezing it somewhere.   And with new growth this space problem    is just mounting up.   " I need to cut the number down" - a thought  that has never came materialised  - well, with just a few exceptions.   What about this year? All that means  that every single year I am there thinking how to inflate the available space... A project for this spring:  Miniature bonsai stand Just to get some feeling about dimension: top deck 20 x 20 cm, total height 40 cm approx.  If you wonder what is at the bottom - a vice that keep the stand in position.  Thanks to that - I can move the stand  to another location ( within this long bench at least ). This stand was just a ...

Twisting branches_What would happen with leaves?

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When I have twisted a branch for the first time I was quite supriced checking the status after a week or so.   Most of the leaves have turned back  the "right" side up.  This time I have taken some pics.  The first one is just one day after twisting the branch 180° and the second the forth day after  it...    17th May - starting to get back with the right side up... 20th May  - nearly finished and back to work.

Additional thoughts on Layering

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I  tried another air layer last year and this time it was on a spindle tree ( Euonymus europaeus ).  The idea was to get rid of a thick raised root.   Started in May 2019, the same technique I am using on my other layered trees.   First check in early July - hardly any new roots! Raised eyebrow.   What's going on?  I have not expected the spindle tree to be in any way hard to air layer.   Another check in  second half of August.  The same results.  Gosh.  Hardly any new roots just steps ahead of  an autumn. Not to mention the winter.   Some time spent on pondering about options.  Then I have decided to carry on and make the best of the few remaining weeks of the growing season. The air layer has been left  untouched. I have just  added a layer of  dark pebbles on the top of the air layer and the whole pot has been wrapped in a black plastic bag.   Witht the idea behind to...

Pyrus communis_Shohin starter

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This small pear is a result of a successful air layer completed in 2019. The vitality of the plant was excellent so I have decided to speed up a little bit and to select structural branches and to carve a section of the trunk to get there some taper.   From now on it is again on the tree to do its part... Current front.  Due to the size restriction there is no chance to aim at natural looking pear tree. I mean a tall tree with relatively narrow crown.  At least that is the way pears look like in this country. The taper of the trunk seems to be OK.  Well,  on the cost of removal of a bit of flesh to be fair... Carved section ( current back ).   I hate to say that as my attempt is always to make 360° trees. AGE! Natural jin The height at the moment is just about 10 cm - up to the cut on the main trunk.  So there is still enough space to fill...