Prunus spinosa No.2

Ulmus

Prunus domestica

Usually, I show you how it ended, with nice flowers (sometimes) and polished pot (sometimes). Now let me show you how it starts. This is most probably Prunus domestica or Mirabelle plum. This particular one was collected in spring 2018 by myself. New branches grown ut to one meter long during 2019 season, cut back once. 

It is rough, there is a long way to go, usually about 5-10 years. A lot of works, a couple of repotings, rootwork, wiring every year during the next 5 years. Obviously, stumps need to be carved, and it will be done next week. 

Despite it is rough on pictures now, the pot is dirty and its future is uncertain I know what needs to be done and I have a vision of its better future. It will require a lot of work and the patience and grain of luck as well, but it could be done. It will be a much better picture in a few years from now. I promise. 

March 2019

March 2019

Tilia cordata No.2 "Josephine"

Last night I was working a little bit on this small-leaved lime tree. One dry branch, few cuts here and there. There are still a few wired branches since autumn and it stays there for a couple of weeks. Some wire will be applied later on a few branches. 

If you are right now hidden in your underground bunker and you are thinking about acquiring new hobby when everything returns back to normal maybe bonsai is for you. It is really not that hard. A plant like this could be bought for 50 cents, this one was worth 50 cents 10 years ago. You just need to water it every day, feed it 3-10 times a year, and it grows alone. When it has too many branches you remove unnecessary stuff and that's it. Go for it. 

 

After The Rain

Cornus mas "Attila"

Trying to stay sane in the crazy world, challenging isn't it? Took inside dogwood yesterday. Found out quite a lot of small branches dried out during the winter. Nothing dramatical though. Did few cuts here and there, wired couple of branches. Now it looks good and ready to push the leaves. 

Still, you can find sources of fun as well. Like I read recently ISIS is not recommending their members visiting European cities since they are not safe, you can't make this shit up. 

As much as present times are hard, there are gems of human goodness. There are actors reading stories for a good night for the kids online for example. Or pianist playing live on Twitter every day at 7 PM (Igor Levit @igorpianist). 

Humanity prevails. Stay safe. 

Larix decidua

I took the tree inside yesterday and played with it while watching Monty Don doing gardening on TV. I can tell you only by watching the guy for hour is pure therapy. Working on our bonsai is definitely one of the best ways to spend free time now. I hope you all have enough trees to style and wire to work with. 

Now, as promised tree on a couple of pictures after the minor editing. Few guy wires will hold branches in more desirable positions for quite some time. Since there was no need to make any massive shape changes guy wires seem to be more effective since they easily stay on the branches for much longer than traditional wiring. 

I broke off one of the minor branches, was looking at the situation and came to the conclusion I must accept it. I had to be more patient, but I will train my patience for sure. 
We have to be patient, do the right things and everything will be OK again.  

Stay strong and healthy, we will make it.