Saturday 15 March 2014

A few items that "tickled my fancy" at the BSA show.

Here a some pictures of bonsai, pots, accents etc that took my eye at the recent BSA show up at Willowbog Bonsai nursery.
Whilst the trees are great to see, some of the associated trinkets are also pretty funky.

My apologies for some of the poor picture quality, and if I quote the owners incorrectly.

Les Storeys Fuji Cherry
Ian Stewardson's Itoigawa juniper
Les Storey's Chojubai, whilst the pot looks a little on the large side at this current stage of the bonsai's evolution if you look closely you'll see the stone just about touching each end of the pot.
With a few years growth and fine ramification, oooh mother this will. be a beauty.
I look forward to seeing this one develop over the years.
Lovely deep red colouring to the flowers, full on U.V. spectrum.....none of this wishy washy through the greenhouse glass stuff !
Check out the patina developing on the pot.......fetch a tissue
My little e bay good luck charm from a Japanese dealer, allegedly a good luck charm.....
Moss ball accent with mongo grass and other plantings.
Ian Young's Trident on Rock
Fiona's funky mossing on her lovely white pine, nice pot as well.
One of Mark & Ritta's accents
Mark & Ritta's Pyracantha
Andy Hardman's Fuji chery
Mark & Ritta's Trident in a great painted pot
Mark & Ritta's crab apple
Courting birds on a scroll
Mad March Hare's......seasonal....and as it belongs to one of the Wirral boys...topical !

Tuesday 11 March 2014

My trees displayed at the BSA show

I had taken 6 trees along to the BSA show this year, 3 were used in collaborative displays with John Pitt and Peter Tombs from Ashfield Bonsai Club, 2 were used for my own 3 point display and the final tree was shown in the work in progress section.


Birds eye view of my Chojubai
My own 3 point display, Black pine with Chojubai and moss accent.
Black pine
Chojubai in Bunzan pot
Elaeagnus with ripening fruits
Lovely Koyo pot,
My collaborative display with Peter Tombs.
Peter's Itoigawa Juniper and flowering accent.
My Zelkova and Elaeagnus.

Winner of best small display
My Zelkova in broom style, in a sexy sea cucumber (namako) glaze pot (please note that no sea cucumbers were harmed in the making of this pot)
My collaborative display with John Pitt

John's powerful Chinese Elm, received a nomination.

My Oriental Bittersweet, received a nomination for tree & pot combination.


Oriental Bittersweet
Aaaah Bisto
My Cotoneaster its orgasmatronic new Koyo pot, unfortunately new equals shiny ! Pots always look better after they have aged for a while and gained some patina.
Oooooh mother, check out the glaze !

Monday 10 March 2014

British Shohin Association show 2014

This last weekend saw the BSA show at Willowbog Bonsai nursery.
Lots of excellent displays, critiques, workshops and demonstrations by Valentin Brose who apprenticed at Shunka en in Japan.
Anyhoo a cracking weekend was had and lots of Bespoke Bonsai stands in use.
These first few pictures are of Bespoke Bonsai Stands in displays.

Ian Stewardson's Chojubai on Rosewood shohin table
Mark & Ritta Cooper's Juniper on Maple ji ita
Edge detail of Maple ji ita
Simon Richardson's black pine on Rosewood cascade stand and Japanese Maple on Rosewood shohin table
Andy Hardman's Juniper on Cherry ne taku (root stand)
John Armitage's red pine on Blackwood ne taku
Fiona Wallace's white pine sits on a Rosewood cascade stand itself sitting on a Maple ji ita
My Elaeagnus on English Oak ne taku

My Chojubai on Maple ji ita board
Ian Stewardsons Chojubai accent plant sits on a Blackwood ne taku
Peter Warren's Rose on Burr Elm ne taku
John Armitage's Juniper on Burr Oak ji ita board