Category Archives: Bonsai News

Heavy Bending in Bonsai Intensive

Here is a tree that belongs to Boon. In the intensive classes you get to do more advanced work on Boon’s trees, if he thinks you are ready. This  is going to be one of those courage-bends. Below you see a nice-enough tree, but Boon wanted a severe bend to bring the foliage a lot lower.

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Rory and John C are two experienced intensive students, so they got the prep-job on the tree before they all cooperated in the bending. bonsai 5,6-09 007

Below, when the sawdust must fly, give the job to a student. Sawdust is a good look for John.

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The bending was done with tools that Boon had brought back from Japan. The Japanese call the tools below “Jackie”.

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Below is the finished bend. It will take about 2-3 years for the tree to add enough wood for the bend to hold. In the fall, an intensive student will get the job of wiring this tree.

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Western Juniper Bonsai

bonsai 5,6-09 036The intensive students just flew in from points across North America. Henry flew in from Florida. Here he has finished the first wiring on a Western Juniper. ..and it looks like he is eyeing the needed jin-work on the apex. Like the first styling of many trees, it looks a bit bare. But one great quality of a Western Juniper is that it will fill out and become full in a relatively short time.

(Henry was also the owner of the button wood in an earlier post.)

Bonsai Display Winner

Congratulations to Jim Gremel! I am proud to have such a talent as a B.I.B. Member. Jim won the Display Competion in Hanford, California just a few weeks ago. More prize money for Jim! Since he took home the prize money from the National Bonsai Exhibit also (with a different tree), may be there will be valet parking at Dear Meadow Bonsai the next time we go shopping at Jim’s nursery.  http://www.jimgremel.com/bonsaihomepage.html

Jim Gremel Cedar 09

I liked the display very much. It is simple and elegant. The moon scroll with other blues and grays make the display feel quiet and cool. It is very restful. The flow of the cascade flows nicely into the accent. I like the positionof the scroll. I also like the balance and strength of the stand. In the US, I see a lot of cascade stands that are too strong or too week. Good balance Jim.

What other comments do the rest of you have for Jim. …congratulations of course.

Photo credit to Mary M.