Life Under a Bridge

Build it and They Will Come?

Last week Annie and I were lucky enough to be given an opportunity to sell some bonsai and ceramics.  I have always wanted to try and sell some of my bonsai that I have developed over the past 3 years.  It was an interesting experience being on the other side of the table.  It was a nice feeling when someone would stop by and look at something.  I have to say my bonsai were surrounded by far better trees and paled into a lower level.  This was not all that bad because I was still attached to some of these trees.  However, we did manage to give some of the pottery I made to a new home.  All in all we made about $100 AUD dollars over two days sitting under a bridge in 30 degree heat.  The Flower Market in Taipei is the hub for plant and tree buyers.  During the week day the area is a car park under a busy bridge, and during the weekend it transforms into a thriving tree lovers paradise.  You can buy bonsai trees, pots, fish, gardening tools and ceramics just to name a few things.  It's a great place if you like this kind of stuff.  

Friends David and Cassy came by to check in.  It was noted that neither of them didn't buy anything.  Perhaps they were saving the 'good stuff' for others.  David is an All in One Bonsai follower who has supported for many years.

A few trees that needed to be misted every hour or so.  I found myself misting every 15 minutes though - I needed to do something!

The guys next to us were wiring all day long.  They were in their own world - a good world.

Our small bonsai and some wood fired pottery.

Cheers!

Making some adjustments on day 2.

A homemade pot down below and a Chinese imported pot above.  The Chinese characters say 'drunk'. 

The trees next to us had us for dinner.  Too good!

Opposite our table 50 or so locals were taking part in their first bonsai lesson.  They were given a tree, pot, wire, and soil.  Everyone was into it.  No doubt this experience will convert at least some of these locals to the bonsai world for life.

Little demonstrations were given at each table.  

Time to pack up after 2 full on days.  

Not mine but a nice pine waiting patiently.

Some other trees that weren't sold.

These were the last things we threw in the taxi to go home.  Life under the bridge on the weekend is not easy!  In the end we didn't make much money but we did meet some interesting people and experienced what these people that have a regular store at the market every week go through.   The feeling of having someone want what you have created is satisfying.  It's not all about the money right?

Take care out there!

Bonsai Nurseries in Taiwan

An old Favourite 

It's nearing the end of Summer here in Taiwan but the temperatures remain hot.  My summer vacation is also coming to a close so I jumped at the chance to visit one of my favourite bonsai nurseries in Taiwan.  The simple fact that it is so large, neat and full of cheap bonsai stock are the reasons I like it so much.  The people working there are also friendly and willing to discuss growing techniques provided you drink their tea!  The owners grow all their trees in a huge area of land and develop each and every tree.  I always buy some to add to my collection.  Please enjoy some photos.  

You can buy trees in different stages of development.

The majority of trees for sale are Junipers, Pine, Ficus, Boxwood, and Cherry.

Take your pick!

Some larger trees are also scattered throughout the yard.

A small forest.

Cascading junipers trees - planted with a small rock in each pot.

A few of the older, more developed trees.

Our next stop was an hour away at a small nursery that import Japanese trees and sell them to wealthy Taiwanese customers.  

Great shari!

Rows of shohin juniper bonsai.

A gnarly old trunk!

The trunk has been developed - now let the foliage grow!

Tree art.

I really liked this literati style pine.  The bark was great!

The next five pictures are of shohin bonsai - all Japanese Junipers.

A nice forest planting.

This particular tree was purchased from Kimura's nursery - the famous Japanese bonsai artist.

I love the trunk.

A nice maple tree.

My artistic shot of moss growing on the wooden benches.

A solid fellow.

This particular tree has never been wired.  It has been shaped only by pruning branches over many years.

Stable.

Another nice maple.

An old azalea tree.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures.  Whenever I visit other bonsai nurseries around Taiwan I will post pictures for all bonsai enthusiasts out there around the world.

Please visit my online pottery shop at Etsy - AllinOneCeramicsTW for handmade ceramic pieces.

New Leaders

Go Up to Go Down

One of the major goals when developing a bonsai tree is to create taper.  Taper is the key to a bonsai looking older than its years.  If we allowed the tree to grow freely and unrestrained the tree would become too tall, the top branch which receives the majority of the sunlight will continue to grow straight up.  This kind of tree growth is not conducive to bonsai development.  *However, if you still want to thicken up your trunk, let the top branch grow wild!

To create taper, you must remove the leading branch so the tree becomes more compact.  A new leader, a thinner branch, will grow, thus creating the taper that you need.  You can also cut just above a thinner side branch which can then become the new leader, or apex.  You may need to wire this 'side' branch upwards.

  In the picture below you see the leading branch growing up towards the sunlight.  This branch is allowed to grow for a certain time and then it is cut at its base.  The smaller branches below it, will then become the new top of the bonsai.  The reason this branch is still on this pine tree is because the smaller branches below it are not thick enough just yet.  By letting the top branch grow strongly, the thinner branches, which will become the new top, are allowed to become thicker.  On this tree, the base of the trunk is quite thick and at this stage those smaller top branches are a little too thin.  If you cut the top branch now, yes you will have taper but it will look too drastic.  Timing when you cut the leader will ultimately be up to you and what you believe looks aesthetically pleasing.  

Black Pine in development

Below are more examples of cutting the leading branches to develop a more compact tree.  

In this example the leader is cut above a side branch.  This side branch then became the new top.  More interesting movement was also achieved by this trunk chop.

The same tree.  It will take some time for the wound to heal and callous over.  Apply cut paste to speed up the healing process.

When you first cut, leave a stub.  This is the safer way and over time you can gradually cut more wood away creating a more natural tapered look.

The cambium layers will eventually cover the whole cut area.

A new leader chosen.  Because of this cut the tree becomes a lot more compact and tapered.

You can also try this technique with side branches as well.  

Again, the idea is to develop thinner branches in the upper part of your tree - thicker at the base, thinner at the top - TAPER.   But before you can do that, allow some branches to grow freely and then cut!  Before you cut, look closely and find the new branch.

I hope this pruning technique will help you develop a more compacted bonsai tree that will look as if it was 100 years old.  

Home Made

Upgrade

Recently I was able to find the time and repot two trees into some bonsai pots that I made last year.  It was satisfying being able to put them to good use.  I hope the trees are happy in their new upgraded abode.  

A Taiwanese Juniper settling in.  I tried making the pot look as old as possible.

The pot is quite deep for such a thin trunk but it still kind of works for the time being.  In the future I may have to find a tree with a thicker trunk to be placed in this pot.

A Taiwanese ginger tree.

Hope you enjoyed these new pots.  Go on, try and make some yourself.  It will give you a buzz.