My year around bonsai work in the Inland Empire, CA

[bonhe]

The boxwoods dug about 2 months ago are having lot of new shoots at this time.
They are ready to be move out of the recovering room to make room for new transplant bonsai in few weeks.

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

The double trunk California juniper was at sunset. The jin was focal point!


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I did not finish working on this shimpaku yet. When it was under the direct sunlight, it reminded me the time I visited the redwood forest of Muir Woods in San Francisco few months ago.

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I just want to show you how beautiful the wing elm is in the autumn. Those wing elms are belonged to my teacher.

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

Those pomegranates are preparing for sleeping!

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I had to work on this Califnornia juniper today instead of shimpaku. The reason is that I want to transplant this California juniper to bonsai pot in 1 - 2 months. It is better to prune and wire it prior to the transplant.
Before.


After few hours of pruning, wiring and pulling! Like I said before, it is very difficult to get the Califfornia juniper with medium size! It has a lot of shari and jin.

Front.


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

The left.


The back.


Multiple termite holes


Shari with cavity


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

The right.


Apex with jin. I did not use lime sulfur at all for this jin


New jin done today! I will not use lime sulfur for it. I let the nature take care!


I am planning to use a rectangle unglazed pot for it.

Bonhe

 

[JoeR]

It looks great, I like the 'sparse' look.


But you removed a TON of foliage, on top of repotting it in the spring? Please do explain; I've been told that you either do one or the other... Something about energy stored in the foliage?

 

[bonhe]

It looks great, I like the 'sparse' look.

But you removed a TON of foliage, on top of repotting it in the spring? Please do explain; I've been told that you either do one or the other... Something about energy stored in the foliage?

Thank you JoeR.
Your questions are very interesting! Nutrition will be stored in the root system when autumn starts. You are correct if you do major work on the tree (talking about pruning, splitting, wiring and major bending which is usually done on California juniper and transplanting from the original pot - growing pot - to bonsai pot at the same day! I saw a lot of bonsai demonstrators had this kind of practice. I think they want to have their final products look nice so that the clubs could get the large amount of money through auction later on. I think it should be OK when we do heavy work and transplant at the same time, but the after care is very important. We have to know how to care for the tree, otherwise we will be faced to the big failure! I know one of famous bonsai artists in Southern California demonstrated a beautiful California juniper. More than a month later, the new owner of the tree reported to the artist that the tree died!
California juniper is growing very strong in my area, however, you have to know its limit. It does not like to have moderate to heavy root pruning. With above tree, I could transplant at the same day like my other California junipers but because the weather is still not stable in my area with hot and dry. Santa Ana wind is still here off and on. I decided to delay transplant pine and juniper until the end of this month.
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

This is a bird's- eye view of the above California juniper.


The top branches .


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I moved these two boxwoods out of the "recovering room" this morning to make room for new coming transplants.


Didn't forget bringing the water bottle sprayer to give them some moisture.


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I had to move around some pots. This is big pomegranate.


Another pomegranate.


Look at this tiny plants!


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

All of pomegranate large cuttings are still alive so far!
They are still in the bags

bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I transplanted 2 tamarix this afternoon.
The small tamarix.
Before


After


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

It is a good time for JBP here.
This JBP was transplanted this afternoon.


It is in rectangle pot now.


Soil mix includes pumice: pine bark: ground fir with ratio 6:3:1. I also used some active charcoal.
I used twine string to hold the tree in place instead of aluminum wire.


Small pine bark.

Bonhe

 

[JudyB]

Your winged elm and pomegranates are nice fall color for you. Thanks for sharing these. You have soooooo many trees!

 

[bonhe]

Your winged elm and pomegranates are nice fall color for you. Thanks for sharing these. You have soooooo many trees!

No, those winged elm are not mine! I took the pictures when I came to my teacher's home.
You are right. I have so many trees! They keep me busy all year!
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

Finally I finished working on this shimpaku this morning! Actually it still has lot of things to do, but I leave it be for now.

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I also pruned back 6 cork oak 4 yo seedlings and other oaks. This one is aimed for shohin.


Bonhe