Not just lawn ornaments

We made some asian food for dinner tonight. So i though I'd bring one of the trees in to make things look nice inside. We usually make a Japanese meal when the cherry blossoms are out - but I though that the fresh maples leaves needed to attention too - they aren't just good in autumn.

I hadn't trimmed this Deshojo or fiddled with it for display - its just as it is. Vibrant and Vigorous - and somewhat unruly. The colour is still lovely.

I do try to bring them into the home when I can. The average British home doesn't have any display space so I just stand them where I can. This is really the reward for the many years of careful cultivation.

Gordons Alive!!

Been watching my roots. The reduced root ball is starting to work now - although it has yet to fill its new pot - the active region can clearly be seen. Once of the nice things about Akadama is this ability to see the moisture level of the soil. The spring foliage is starting to transpire and draw up water.

The spring foliage is lovely on Deshojo's - I'm glad that I'm home this year so that I can appreciate it as it changes every day. Rather have a job though.

Deshojo - Its all about the colour.

 
The big Palmatum is well under way now and I've started to pinch buds already. I have a few decisions to make later on which branches will make the cut - nice to have a good selection to choose from. Last years work on increasing ramification was a success. This bonsai is very early in its development and is really only 1 node from the main structure. I hope to have it out to 3 nodes this year with more defined lateral branches and maybe some pads.

The Palmatum is pretty enough in its own right.


PS. With the maples now is a good time for Very Gentle wiring. I prefer to use lengths of lead soldering wire as weights to train branches. Its important to be doing this early before the new growth lignifies. Careful as the new growth is terribly delicate at this point.

Lignin.

Deshojo maple in spring

This is a Deshojo I've been growing for a few years - I bought it as a tiny little twig because I felt sorry for it. This is its second year in the new pot with almost pure Akadama. The roots have filled the pot entirely and it is now extremely vigorous. Sadly I've had to travel and missed the lovely spring foliage.

Its now growing riotously and Im not sure how Im going to slow it down now. Its 70cm from the base of the pot to the average height of the crown - trunk 3cm in diameter a little off the ground. Ive taken a lot of the long shoots back to the first node and will continue to develop ramification. It needs to fatten up a little more but is starting to look quite respectable ( after a good haircut ).

Oh - heres a picture of it that my wife emailed to me while i was away. Lovely colours.