A cool, wet Sunday morning in the UK, but the garden is already showing great colour!
Welcome to the Bonsai4me May 2024 Newsletter.
Despite a very wet winter and mild early first quarter of the year, without much in the way of truly warm days, Spring has come early and even the candles on my pines have been moving since mid-April (as compared to being as late as early June in some years). If there’s one year that it might be possible to get a second flush on more vigorous pines in the UK, it’s this year.
Thanks to the early Spring and some strong growth, I’ve been able to update many trees for sale on the Bonsai4me shop already, and there’s are now many more maples to come from the collection I purchased from an old collection in South Wales at the end of 2022.
It’ll be worth keeping an eye on the Bonsai4me.com/store over the course of May for new bonsai. |
Larch video follow-up and an argument!
Work on new videos for release in the Autumn has continued in the studio throughout April, with an emphasis on styling and maintaining Juniper bonsai, including a full styling video.
Meanwhile a Larch styling carried out and video’d in January was updated in a YouTube video.....and that drew a slightly crazy reaction from one viewer!
See here for the video, and make sure you subscribe for new updates through the season! |
| While copies of Bonsai Inspirations 2 should last for most of this year, I am down to the very last box of Foundations of Bonsai. If you’d like to get your copy now before they totally sell out, it would be worth doing now from the Bonsai4me.com/store! |
A visit to the Bee Gees house!
In April I visited the huge house and grounds of former Bee Gees legend Robin Gibbs, whose wife was given a rather nice Japanese White Pine bonsai by one of the Dooley Brothers over 10 years ago.
Amazingly, despite having 2 gardeners at the property, the bonsai had received no care, and hadn’t even been watered for over a decade…..
Here it is in a courtyard at the estate, a former monastery that is now an open air courtyard. As can be seen, the tree was on the decline but had managed to survive!
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The japanese white pine bonsai back in my garden after a tidy up, very gentle repot, fish emulsion, seaweed and Oceana.
Back home in my garden, the soil of the JWP has been very carefully improved by excavating the congealed soil (see this video on YouTube) and then well fed and watered.
It is now in my polytunnel, mainly for the slightly warmer temperatures but also so I can closely monitor how much moisture it receives and I’m very pleased to say that it is now extending what appears to be to be quite healthy candles.
Hopefully a full styling will follow in the future. |
ExpoBonsai Show
The ExpoBonsai Show in Crawley on 14th April was a huge success with a 100 bonsai displays and around 30 different traders. The crowds at the show were simply amazing and the first 2-3 hours of the Show were particularly busy.
Images
There were a number of innovative displays to be seen as well as some very good quality trees.
With the assistance of organisers Steve Hale, I have already shared a full new article with many images to Farrand Bloch the editor of Bonsai Focus magazine. The Show will be featured in the July/August edition of the magazine and hopefully we’ll get plenty of space to allow as many trees as possible to be featured in there.
To see more of the show, I’ve posted a 5 minute YouTube video to my channel here |
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Evenly distributed candles on a Scots Pine bonsai. The benefits of Danu
Here’s some images of the extending candles on 2 of my pine bonsai yesterday. As anyone who grows Pine for bonsai will know, getting even distribution of strength throughout the tree is paramount importance. Not just for the sakes of appearance but also to make sure that the lower branches don’t slowly weaken and die off.
I’ve achieved this even distribution very easily, not by pruning the candles (they haven’t been touched), I applied the Danu bacteria from Ireland and the bacteria has altered the growth habit of the tree itself! To me, this is a perfect example of why you should be getting involved in this new ‘technology’ in bonsai.
It’s a bit of a no-brainer to be honest. Much better natural results without the additional pruning work.
Danu is still available through the Bonsai4me.com/store and can be introduced into the soil at any point of the year. |
Croatia
I will be heading to Ludbreg in Croatia at the beginning of May for a full weekend of demonstrating at a bonsai show held within the courtyard of a Baroque castle, something I did 5 years ago, pre-Covid.
Look out for updates on my social media channels! |
UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for the coming month:
04&05May24 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Accrington & District Bonsai Society Display
At Barton Grange Garden Centre,
Garstang Road, Brock,
Preston. PR3 0BT.
Adm: Free. Times: 0900-1730.hrs & 1000-1630.hrs.
Ctc: Diane Kennedy 07799.567692
Email: dianestardis@icloud.com
www.accringtonbonsai.co.uk
04-05May24 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Sutton Bonsai Society Show
Wisley Gardens, Wisley Lane,
Wisley, Surrey. GU23 6QB
Adm: £ tba Times: 1000-1630.hrs.
Contact: Andy Jordan 07958.372101
Email: antique.netsuke@gmail.com
www.suttonbonsai.co.uk
11-12May24 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Greenwood Spring Bonsai Bash
Greenwood Bonsai Studio,
Ollerton Road, Arnold, Nottingham. NG5 8PR.
Adm: Free. Times: 1000-1700.hrs
Contact: Corin Tomlinson 0115.9205757
Email: office@bonsai.co.uk
www.bonsai.co.uk
12May24 Sat (Confirmed)
Ayrshire Bonsai Club Open Exhibition
Troon Concert Hall,
South Beach, Troon.
Ayrshire. KA10 6EF.
Adm: £2.50. Times:1100-1600.hrs
Contact: Jeff Banning 07799.477895
Email: jeffbanning@btinternet.com
19May24 Sun (Confirmed)
Leicestershire Bonsai Club
Display and Club Competition.
At Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council's
Burbage Common Open Day
Burbage Common & Woods Country Park,
Leicester Road, Hinckley,
Leicestershire LE10 3DD.
Adm: Free. Times: 1030-1630.hrs.
Contact: Carol Smith Taylor 07870.117882
Email: casmithtaylor@gmail.com
21-25May24 Tue-Sat (Confirmed)
Chelsea Flower Show
Royal Hospital Chelsea, London. SW3 4SR.
Adm: tbc. Times: 0800-Late.
25May24 Sat (Confirmed)
North London Bonsai Group Show
Capel Manor, Bullsmoor Lane,
Enfield, Middlesex. EN1 4RQ.
Adm: £10. 1000-1600.hrs.
Contact: : Bob McGregor 07903.710509
Email: dismcg@hotmail.co.uk
26May24 Sun (Confirmed)
Scottish Bonsai Association National Exhibition
Strathbrock Centre, Broxburn,
West Lothian. EH52 5LH.
Adm: £3 or 2 for £5.
Kids and Concessions Free.
Times: 1100-1600.hrs
Email: president@scottishbonsai.org
27May24 Mon (Confirmed)
Accrington & District Bonsai Society Display
At Great Harwood Show,
The New Showground,
Harwood Lane, Great Harwood,
Lancashire. BB6 7UL.
Adm: £10 Adults. Times: 0900-1700.hrs.
Ctc: Diane Kennedy 07799.567692
Email: dianestardis@icloud.com
www.accringtonbonsai.co.uk
01Jun24 Sat (Confirmed)
Milton Keynes Bonsai Society Show
Milton KeynesCentral Library,
555 Silbury Blvd, Milton Keynes. MK9 3HL.
Adm: Free. Times: 1000-1530.hrs
Contact: Simon Roberts
Email: simon.roberts26@btopenworld.com
www.mkbonsaisociety.co.uk
Supporting Clubs:
Bedfordshire Bonsai Society
Mid-Herts Bonsai Society
Middlesex Bonsai Society
Milton Keynes Bonsai Society
Northampton Bonsai Society
Local Ikebana Club
Supporting Traders:
Greenwood Bonsai Nursery
02Jun24 Sun (Confirmed)
Chiltern Bonsai Show &
Satsuki Azalea Bonsai Show
Liston Hall, Chapel Street, Marlow,
Buckinghamshire, SL7 1DD
Adm: £2 -16s Free. Times: 1000-1600.hrs.
Contact: Michael Pegg & Adrian Garnett
Email: mikew.pegg@btinternet.com
Email: adrian.garnett@virginmedia.com
www.chilternbonsai.org.uk
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STOP PRESS! Harry Harrington/Bonsai4me Team Workshops
The ever popular bonsai workshops here in Aylesbury will resume in the late Summer, and throughout the dormant season into next Spring.
I added a string of 8 dates to the Bonsai4me.com/store please visit to book your place. |
Please forward the Newsletter to fellow enthusiasts and club members. They can also subscribe for themselves via the Form on the Bonsai4me.com homepage.
Enjoy!
Harry |
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