Updated Literati Ponderosa

Here is an update on a nice ponderosa that I collected a few years back. It responded well to the initial styling and threw many, many buds that I had to thin quite a bit. I am very confident that in 2 years this will be a very full and killer tree. They bark and trunk line are very nice and elegant while the crown is starting to come along. It too will change quite a bit over the coming years as it fills in and extends. I see the foliage getting tighter and a smaller crown......in time though! Here is is last year http://jasonsbonsai.blogspot.com/2008/04/literati-ponderosa-pine.html

Instead of tearing it up like the wildman I once was on New Years eve I stayed in and cranked out some trees!! No better way to ring in the new year than sap on your hands and copper wire rolls everywhere~!

Before

Old Front

After some thinning and now ready for wire

Done for the time being. The fronts angle change quite a bit to enhance the subtle movement and the abrupt change of direction at the top. While some of the foliage does go away from teh viewer it looks really good in person. This coming Feb. I will be putting it into its new pot and that will take the tree to the next level for sure.

Happy New Years!

I wish everyone a Happy New Year! I know 2010 will be a great one for me on many fronts. I know my bonsai world will be exploding with many new and exciting things. You will just have to watch this blog to see what I am talking about in the coming months. On a personal front, our almost 2 year old daughter is a pure joy! It is amazing that not even 2 yet, the things she can do, comprehend and say. Its amazing and I am still in awe of her everyday.

Here is to a happy, healthy and wonderful 2010!

Update on Scotts Pine

Here is an update on this pine. The original post can be seen here... http://jasonsbonsai.blogspot.com/2008/03/scots-pine.html

Just this past Sunday I had my friends Tony and Randy over  to work on trees in the garage. This happened to be one of the trees that I grabbed to work on. Glad I did, it really turned out pretty good for a second styling from a huge bush in 2 years time. It can only get better in the near future. I changed the front a bit this time around and will work on getting it into another pot this spring possibly.

After needle and bud reduction. Started to wire the lower limbs.

Old front

New Front! I am very pleased with the progress of this tree in such a short period of time. In person it is much larger and much better. 2d pictures just don't really do justice to most trees.

And one for the Haters!!!! On some of the forums there are some post's regarding the Ichiban tool. I would say that 99.9% of the people talk smack about it and those same people are the same folks who have never seen one in person and if they have then for sure haven't tried it. I applaud Marco for thinking outside the box and making a tool that actually works. I will admit though that I did trade for mine so I didn't have to fork out the cash ($350) to buy it. But I will say that it is a great tool and will help to improve your game. I am glad to have one and once I get use to it and figure it all out it will be excellent. To learn more go here http://www.marcoinvernizzi.com/ichiban/en/index.html

Engleman Spruce

Here is an Engleman Spruce that I collected a few years ago. It has grown very well and was ready for some abuse :) Pictures don't seem to do this tree any justice at all! In person it is much better.
Pictures are as follows.....
Before
After
Back
Front

Walter Pall Workshops

 Not too long ago we were lucky to have Walter back in town for a few days. Besides a good bonsai artist he is a great guy and fun to be around. We had a 1 day workshop that was quite a good time and many brought some pretty good trees. Here is a glimpse into the day. I didn't get many pictures, I was busy working on my tree!

You can also view Walter pictures on his blog. http://walter-pall-travelogues.blogspot.com/2009/12/bonsai-in-oregon-2009-1-workshop.html

Happy Holidays!

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May all your Bonsai wishes and dreams come true in 2010!!

Walter Pall workshops

Walter Pall will be here in early December. I am organizing workshops with him for Saturday the 5th and possibly Sunday the 6th. Cost is $90 for full day or $50 for 1/2 day and will be a bring your own tree event. This is a great chance to work with Walter as he only comes around once a year now.

If interested please send me an email, jgamby713 AT yahoo DOT com (replace AT with @ and DOT with . )

Thank you!

Pine Update

Here is a pine that I have been working on for 3 years now. It has come a very long way in a short period of time. Many of the "Big Names" in bonsai that have seen this in person have all really loved this tree, a few even bowed, lol!!

Here it is in the middle of August 2009. I needle pruned the bottom 1/2 of the tree at the end of that day.
Front before any work

Right Side before any work

After needle prunning and no wire. This is the beg. of Sept now. It sat on the bench for a few weeks before I got back to it.

Partially wired and I changed the front by a few degrees.

Partially wired, back

Partially wired left

Back finished!

Front finished with the sun shining

Front finished

From the patio. I will move this to a taller pole in the garden soon.

Trunk detail

New Koi

Check out some new fishies on my sub blog...
Link to the right.

July Updates

Well it has been a while since I have updated the blog. So here are some random shots from some trees that are in development and all at various stages. The pictures were all taken over the past few months.


Here is a big field grown crab apple with a lower hollow trunk. Has potential to be a great tree and has come a long ways in a short period of time.


Linden coming along well.

Fat little field grown trident in the making.

Shohin Japanese Maple. This was dug out of a drainage ditch by a friend and given to me about 7 years ago. It has been forgoten about for a long time.... has some potential. It has sentimental value to me. This is the first season I have given it any attention.

Below is a monster collected Hawthorn out of Idaho where they grow wild. When I got this tree it was a big tree, very tall, multiple trunk lines, and in very heavy native black soil. Last year I made some large cuts and started to put together a plan. Now the plan is coming around and about 2 months ago I wired, thinned and gave it a very rough styling. Next year this tree will change quite a bit again. Right now it looks funny.

Some Photos from this morning

In between rain storms I took a couple pics...

Ponderosa Pine

Monster Ponderosa in raw form. This will be a stunning tree soon.

European Hornbeam looking good.

Little Lead Linden just leafing out.

Monster RMJ waking up from winter. Root work soon on this one.

Vine Maple waking up from winter....these maples have wonder flowers....

Koi

Check out our koi in my sub blog, Jasons cool stuff

http://jasonsbonsai-coolstuff.blogspot.com/

Spring photos and yard photos will be added soon.

Updates

Super fat Japanese Maple, seen in last years post on the blog. I have cut it back very hard to induce more back budding as I rebuild the tree.

Crab is flowered out! Smells very nice! What a show.

Linden is coming along nicely. A few more years will give us some good ramification.. I am happy with this tree.

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