Thick Trunk

So you want a quick way to thicken up the base of your tree?

A few weeks ago we went to visit our friend and bonsai teacher, Jack Lin.  Jack owns a small bonsai stall at the famous Flower Market here in Taipei City.  He is always very willing to share his over 40 years of bonsai knowledge with me.

Below are pictures of how he uses a number of thin orange saplings to create a single bonsai.

Seven or so small orange saplings growing separately.  

The next step is to take them all out and twist them together and at the same time you can wind tape around them.  You can either use electric tape and then bonsai wire or just use bonsai wire.  After 6 or so months the small saplings will have grafted together and over more time you will not be able to tell that this procedure was used at all, as ONE thick trunk, will be the result.

A close up of the orange saplings.

These trees grow small oranges.

The graft is still taking place but you can see how well these guys are growing together to ultimately form one trunk.  This method is a short cut to thickening up the trunk of your trees.

                                                   Another picture with more foliage.  

Give this method a try to quicken up the growth of your bonsai trunk.  Growing a thick base of a bonsai always takes a long time but with this technique you can limit the time.  

House or Home

Or Farm Yard Barn...

I have recently bought some land in Australia and plan to build something on it in the future.  After living in Taiwan for the past 13 years in an apartment, I really miss the house lifestyle. 

Whenever I see models of houses I always stop and have a closer look.  Because I can't afford to make a real one at this stage I decided the next best thing would be to make one out of clay.  

I wanted to build a wonky one.

I wanted it to look old.

Height - 23 cm.  Width - 9 cm.  Weight - 993 grams.

Set the mood.