r/Bonsai

Posted a pic of my RoR Premna here yesterday and people seems to like it, so here's my other big bonsai.

Dimensions: L: 35.4" W: 31.5" H: 27.6"

You might have seen my last post about the Ambassador Bonsai, this post features a piece by Susumu Nakamura and some of my favorites from the collection from what I saw in the courtyard.

I think this showcase brings joy to the people who just want to appreciate the art, and novices / intermediates like me that can absorb the knowledge from, like a sponge.

I love spending time in the nature and picking up Bonsai was one of the best decisions I've taken and I'll continue to grow. Hope I'll do good.

There will be one more post coming up that deserves it's own, and it is mesmerizing, to me at least, the amount of artistry in that piece.

Chicago Botanic Gardens, IL, USA

Is this bad for the tree?

Found some time to wire up this spruce that I picked up for $7 last month.

I’ve been itching to work on larger material here after winter now that I’m getting more comfortable and starting to grasp and understand everything I’ve failed to within the last few months.

So I figured given the nightmarish experiences I’ve heard regarding dwarf albertas, that this was a nice middle ground for me. The price tag was more than enough reason for me to atleast attempt this styling.

Very humbling experience to say the least. I initially styled with the second photo in mind for the front, but after taking photos I decided on the first picture.

Open to constructive criticism / advice for improvement. Appreciate anyone who takes the time to read.

(Tree does not live indoors)

Picked up this mature dwarf jade (Portulacaria afra) today and went straight in with a big cutback. This is my first time working with a tree this established, so I’m a little nervous. Hoping it bounces back!

Pics are in order: before, after, and the design I’m working toward.

How did I do? Any tips for aftercare? Also open to feedback on the structure/design going forward.

Thanks!

Kiyohime 35$
Acer palmatum 75$
Acer palmatum 35$

I obviously have a type 😂

Love the tree but not a fan of the very organic soil and loads packing peanuts🤣. I scraped off a layer of soil and added some calcined clay to deter gnats, planning on repotting next summer.

In development since 1995, originally purchased from UC Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton (1995).

I acquired it today from an old timer today, Oscar, who is out of West Covina.

Super pumped to steward this tree (succulent?) for a few more decades!

In the gardens and squares of Palermo there are many large specimens of ficus macrophylla f. columnaris, and the largest of them is this one at the botanical gardens; the canopy is around 75m wide in its broadest direction and supported by the vigorous aerial roots acting as pillars, sometimes fused with the trunk and other times independent of it.
The tall ‘wall-like’ roots are also an interesting detail.

Despite its size this tree is estimated to be less than 200 years old.

As a final bonus ishizuki inspiration the last picture is from a different specimen of the same species that is engulfing a small stone pedestal that was placed a little too close to it.

I don’t understand why is ficus is suddenly popular with the pigeons my mother has been feeding. The pigeons have been throwing away some of the chunky soil, so I’m wondering if they’re still hungry or need play stimulation. All the leaves are fine, they just seem to be focusing on the soil.

Would moss be good to counter act this, or will pigeons rip into it? I’m planning on taking the ficus inside soon anyways, but I thought this was funny. They look like they’ve been having group meetings around my bonsai 😭