Bonsai Art

Here’s a new style I’ve invented called root over coal…

OK so Adam’s lost it, perhaps he’s just been working too hard or maybe he is actually going mad.

Well actually I think it’s pretty cool looking. I am developing a root over coal tree which is a crab apple. My soil at the back of the garden is stacked with coal because it used to be next to an old train track which transported it. It normally shows up in small quantities in my pots when I make fresh potting mix. So I thought why not use some of this stuff while styling a tree?

At the moment you will not be able to see the coal which I am growing the roots over as it is just underneath the soil to keep the roots growing. I feel the crab apple is beginning to show signs of being an impressive bonsai in itself already but thought it needed something extra.
It is potted in a 12″ ceramic pot.

Crab Apple ‘root over coal’

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Yesterday I used my dremel for the first time on my Yamadori Ash. Today I pruned the roots a bit and uprooted it from it’s training pot and repotted it into it’s final ceramic pot. I am pleased with the results but it definitely needs a bit of time to grow new branches as it’s a bit bare at the moment.

I kept the carving at the top quite simple. Partly because this is my first effort at carving and secondly I think it looks better simple. The photo makes it look quite small but I assure you this is a big tree!

Part 1

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I’ve just stumbled upon a funny site called Bonsai Potato… Some of the ‘bonsai’ actually look quite good.

Bonsai Potato

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I received a dremel for christmas which I was very pleased about. I gave it a go today and carved the top of my yamadori ash which I have spoken about previously. I carved a jin in the top of the trunk and also attempted to give it more of a taper towards. I was not able to take a photo i’m afraid because as soon as I finished it the sky went black and the rain started hammering down.

It was harder than I thought it would be but I think I may need a few extra specialist tools for the job. It was quite slow going with the tools I had. I need a tool which can rip a lot of wood off at the start before I refine it afterwards. I’ll be having a look on ebay and maplin very soon to find some!

I am very pleased with the result and will be taking some photos of it tomorrow to post here. I also still need to paint on the lime sulphur to create the jin at the top of the trunk.

In a way I’m glad it rained afterwards so that the moisture could be replenished in the tree.

Here is the ash tree before carving back in the summer

Part 2

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Everybody knows that the Japanese have the best bonsai. The rest of the countries in the world seem to lack the same refinement that the Japanese do. The Shunkaen Bonsai Museum in Tokyo is one of the best places to see the amazing specimens that they come up with. Unfortunately many of us live too far away from Japan for a quick visit!

This is where the internet comes in handy. There’s a few videos on youtube I’ve found which give you a good look around the museum at the bonsai that they have there. Obviously it’s not as good as being there in person but it’s better than not seeing them at all. Here is a good video for you to have a look at. I’m sure you will find it as fascinating as I did.

Kunio Kobayashi - Shunkaen Bonsai Museum

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