This is Rick’s tree in Boon’s work shop getting ready for the East Bay Bonsai Show. It is a medium size tree. Rick has done some good work here.
But there is also something else that makes this a desired tree. It has curves. It is hard to find a small Sierra Juniper with curves and good shari. If you can collect or buy one, hold onto it!
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Posted in American Bonsai, bonsai, Uncategorized
Here is Peter T. with is his prize winning tree (Midori Bonsai Club Show two posts down). It was hight time for repotting, because a tree well taken care of puts out lots of roots.
The picture below shows a good job of placing branches. When you go to bonsai shows, you can learn a lot about the skill of the artist by looking that the branch placements from below. 
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Bonsai before lunch: Below, same bonsai after lunch. What do you like better, all the flowers or a bonsai on its way to refinement?
Well, Sue has gone through Boon’s Bonsai Intensive Training Program. She sat for the written test on her final visit this last time (By the way, the lowest passing score required is 90%. A great testament to the training and bonsai theory class is that Boon has yet to have anyone re-take the test.)
On the hands-on-part of the test, you are given a tree – that might be a little over-grown, that you must totally refine and wire. It was also time to de-foliate this Japanese maple on a rock.
Below, the tree is done. Boon was pleased with Sue’s work – and she looks pleased too. The Maple is was placed under the 30% shade-cloth and will stay there until the new leaves harden off – then it will be re-introduced to full sun again.
Click on picture for a closer look.
Below you have an example of a tree being re-potted into Boon’s soil and growing for four weeks. The roots are going wild! But don’t expect these results unless you live in Florida or similar climes.
You can see roots growing over the right side of the pot after only four weeks. Click on picture to get a better look at surface roots
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.
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. 
Below, when the sawdust must fly, give the job to a student. Sawdust is a good look for John.
The bending was done with tools that Boon had brought back from Japan. The Japanese call the tools below “Jackie”.
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.
The 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.)
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Posted in Bonsai News
Tagged Bonsai Pictures, Bonsai Work Shops
