Advanced Open Workshops are now beginning at the International Bonsai Arboretum, Rochester, New York, conducted by William N. Valavanis. The Introductory Bonsai Course will soon begin on the four Monday evenings in April.
Today we were busy and used a Sawzall, miniature chain saw, drill and chisels, That’s in addition to the traditional bonsai tools. I would like to share some interesting photos with you from today. Unfortunately, time does not allow me time to fully explain in detail what we were doing now, must prepare for another session in 12 hours.
After designing and setting up the main bonsai alcove (using a spring theme,) to welcome the students with a spring theme I made coffee to help them awaken to our world of bonsai in my studio.
Oto Hime Japanese maple display and thinning out extra buds. This bonsai, like many of my creations can be enjoyed from two sides, Fortunately the surface root display is great on both. I find this two-sided bonsai comes in very handy when setting up a bonsai display.
One student brought in a Trident maple forest, in addition to extra trees. Last year he got lucky and was able to obtain a very shallow container for a forest. It is dangerously shallow, and the trees need to be carefully selected. Several years ago, I got a similar container, even more shallow and have been lucky, with Diane and dedicated assistants to keep it still alive. The new Trident maple forest is not finished and needs quite a few adjustments to refine the composition.
For the past month or so, from early February my assistants got quite a few bonsai transplanted. Broken containers were repaired. A large Hawthorne was transplanted. It had a large, thick straight surface root we wanted to split in half. After considerable time, we decided to just remove the entire root to better balance the surface roots.
A maple was transplanted, and it was difficult to remove from the container because of the incurving side walls. After using a bonsai cycle, we got out my German miniature chain saw and the entire root mass was released.
Of course, this is the season for our annual “dancing with the bonsai.” Young opening buds on deciduous trees must be in the full sun to maintain the small leaves and delicate twigs which have developed over 30 to 40 years ago.
So, the bonsai are taken out of the garage during the day and brought back in when the temperature is forecast to become cold. We had lots of bonsai sunning and the weather forecast was for below 30F on Sunday. My assistants come on Saturday so it would not take much effort for one person to move them. Outside on the driveway was a beautiful, colorful bonsai display. However, Diane heard an updated forecast, and the low temperature was to be around 30F. No help was around so Diane moved everything back into the garage for protection. I assisted and directed. It really hurts when you spend decades refining a tree, then let it be damaged during a cold spell. It was getting dark, and light rain was falling, but she did it, mostly alone, I’m very blessed to have a loving wife who supports my efforts to improve and refine the bonsai community. They don’t teach this in the books, you must experience it yourself. By the way, the low temperature last night at 4 am was 28F. The tender new buds and opening leaves would have severely damaged, not necessarily killed. But definitely not be up to my standards to display this year.
Other techniques were also used to air layer the top off a Cork-bark Chinese elm to improve the main trunk line.
We also thread grafted a new shoot which was allowed to lengthen to be inserted through the trunk to add a needed branch in the ideal location. Rough bark Japanese maples do not bud back on old plated bark.
We all had fun, enjoyed each other’s company, learned a few techniques while improving and refining our bonsai. AND, we get to do this again tomorrow and every Friday and Saturday through the spring season.
We shrunk the dogs!