Phones take a pretty good picture nowadays. We see things that inspire us all the time, you pull over and take the picture. Do we always go back and look at it? Some beautiful trees are all around us. Looking through a kokofu-ten show book to get inspired. Taking a walk through the woods and seeing a impressive tree. We all have those moments!
My first bonsai intensive class was the first week of December 2021. I was nervous with excitement! Also nervous on who was also in the class. I have read about bonsai since I was 19. I tried maintaining the health of a tree just a couple of times. I truly had no experience. As a mechanic I am used to knowing almost all or at least knowing how to find the right answer. Not in over my head. I am confident I can learn a new skill. It's why I am taking the class in the first place. I want to own a bonsai store. Run it similar to a bike shop. Create a fun atmosphere around growing trees. I like to talk and have fun while working.
I have had in my mind that I want to learn all with Japanese maples. I want to be that dude! Well I still do want that but throw in Japanese black pine and some flowering trees, haha. Bjorn had a idea that I was focusing on JM ( Japanese Maple ). We will just consider when you see JM, it's about Japanese maples.
So from the beginning of class I was working on deciduous JM, while everyone was working conifers. I was so excited to be learning on a cool JM. I love multi trunks! Look at the bark.
Being new, it was cool to see different techniques applied to this tree. I was wiring and some placement of branches.
Bjorn did the most in styling.
So he would come around to the 6 students and evaluate the tree. Give you some advice on what to do. So while he is goes off to the next student. I would do what he asked. My personal trees are all in the development stage. So it was nice to work on trees closer to the refinement stages.
After this tree I moved onto a trident that came from Japan. I wired some of the branches. Next I was able to use a chisel and hammer. Years ago this tree had cement inside to help with sealing up big cuts. They were not sealing up. So we decided to use the big holes.
I even got to use a torch to help with everything looking more natural. So much fun had on that trident.
Here is a shot after all work was done. It looked really cool!
After each tree. Bjorn asked me what would I like to do next. I wanted a break from deciduous. So we went out to the garden to look for something that I wanted to work on.
He asked about a few trees and my eyes focused on one. We looked at 2 or 3 to find something real interesting. We settled on one and carried into the class. A wells select hinoki. He had a bunch and most of them were for sale. The price was fine but I wasn't sure I was ready to buy a big tall tree?
My first task was to clean up any brown foliage. Hinoki are not known for back budding, so keep all live branches. Hinoki drop foliage when it becomes shaded out. Fall can be the time that they decide to brown or kill some foliage. Also slightly wipe away at the base to find a front. Looking for something unique in the trunk. I wasn't meant to dig down, just wipe away to find a change in the trunk.
After finding what we think would make up the front. I was tasked to wire some of the branches. Goal was to keep all foliage. Wire the major branches to set a shape. It was my first time using copper wire. All other wiring I had done was aluminum. Copper is a smidge harder to bend, why we use it on conifers. Another reason why we use aluminum on deciduous is it's not as harsh on the bark. You want to keep scaring to a minimum, none at all if can be done. While wiring I would notice little cuts on my hands. Copper much more sharper. Bjorn set the structure.
So we found what might be the front. Put the tree on a forward angle. Wired to set branches. Wanted to leave the apex alone to give the tree a break. Baby steps for greatness! See what and how the tree responds to the work? As I stared at this tree, I didn't like it. I couldn't see past the repetitive branching. It looked so 2-4-6 to me. But I wanted it! The hinoki was field grown about 10 years, I could be wrong? Next class I will ask. I questioned can I fit it in my car for the drive home? What will the family say if I buy it? Can I keep such a tree alive?
Class ended on Sunday. Most students were gone. I wanted more. So I and another student named Kyle stuck around to apply some lime sulfur to that tree up above. Another task that is used often but so new to me. I drove home the next morning. Thinking about the hinoki! I wanted it! When I got home the family was happy that I was home. Excited for me because I love talking trees. I chatted with them about the hinoki and we decided it would be a Xmas gift. I sent a email to Bjorn asking if the tree was still around? I asked if I could purchase it, I have big plans for it! Next class was June 2022. The only pictures I had of the hinoki were from December, I wanted more. I loved the tree but all I saw was 2-4-6!
Thanks
Ted
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