My year around bonsai work in the Inland Empire, CA

bonhe · Jun 18, 2022

Mayank said:
Just curious. Thu Thoai means voicemail or phone call or something like that? Sorry for my ignorance, just curious.

Thanks for asking .
Thụ : tree
Thoại : talk

Thụ Thoại means taking to the tree

Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Jun 25, 2022

One of my garden’s corners is under early morning sunlight.

California juniper and twisted pomegranate

Brazilian rain tree

cork pine and JBP

JBP and twisted pomegranate

Twisted pomegranate

Mikawa pine

cork oak

pomegranate

Thụ Thoại

namnhi · Jun 25, 2022

bonhe said:
The pruning season for black pine is started in my area.
This JBP has a lot of spring shoots
View attachment 442076 View attachment 442077

Total of 220 shoots were cut down to the borders between the previous growth part and this year’s
View attachment 442067

after
View attachment 442068 View attachment 442070

Then it was fertilized with Woodace 12-3-6, organic fertilizer powder and humic acid granules
View attachment 442069
Thụ Thoại

From the photos, this one looks to be benefited from chopping the trunk after the first branch. The trunk after the first branch is straight makes the trunk look straight and not as compact. The top looks very nice by itself but doesn't seem to fit this tree. Just my observation.

bonhe · Jun 25, 2022

namnhi said:
From the photos, this one looks to be benefited from chopping the trunk after the first branch. The trunk after the first branch is straight makes the trunk look straight and not as compact. The top looks very nice by itself but doesn't seem to fit this tree. Just my observation.

Thanks . You are absolutely right. I noticed that a few years ago, but did not want to take it down yet. I am thinking of removing the lower branch by the way !

. However I like this tree, because either way is good !
Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Jul 2, 2022

bonhe said:
Mid June is starting season for black pine work in my area.

The double trunk cork pine
View attachment 309492

After pruning the Spring shoot partially and completely depending on their aimed goals for design and wiring.
View attachment 309493

View attachment 309494

I plan to transplant it into the clay pot this winter .
Thụ Thoại

This Kakuju pine was transplanted Into the current pot last year.
It got complete pruning of spring shoots a few days ago .
Before

After

Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Jul 31, 2022

This Brazilian rain tree was pruned less than 2 months ago. Now it has a lot of new shoots. This tree can be pruned 3-4 times a year!
Before

After the 2nd pruning today.

I like Brazilian rain tree for its zigzag branches naturally. I never had to wire the branches !

It has a lot of long stiff thorns! 2 thorns are emerging from the same node !

Thụ Thoại

Carol 83 · Jul 31, 2022

bonhe said:
This Brazilian rain tree was pruned less than 2 months ago. Now it has a lot of new shoots. This tree can be pruned 3-4 times a year!
Before
View attachment 449536 View attachment 449537

After the 2nd pruning today.
View attachment 449538

I like Brazilian rain tree for its zigzag branches naturally. I never had to wire the branches !
View attachment 449539

It has a lot of long stiff thorns! 2 thorns are emerging from the same node !
View attachment 449540 View attachment 449541

Thụ Thoại

That's a beauty.

bonhe · Jul 31, 2022

Carol 83 said:
That's a beauty.

Thanks Carol .
Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Aug 4, 2022

Antidesma acidum

Thụ Thoại

Carol 83 · Aug 5, 2022

bonhe said:
Antidesma acidum
View attachment 450189 View attachment 450190 View attachment 450191

Thụ Thoại

That is awesome, love it.

namnhi · Aug 5, 2022

bonhe said:
Antidesma acidum
View attachment 450189 View attachment 450190 View attachment 450191

Thụ Thoại

I have Desmodium aka Linh Sam or Vietnamese coral bell. Must be the same thing since they have the same flower.
@Carol 83 you should get one from Wigert if you don't already have one. It has been in flower for weeks for me. The flower smell like Coke.

bonhe · Aug 6, 2022

Carol 83 said:
That is awesome, love it.

Thanks Carol

namnhi said:
I have Desmodium aka Linh Sam or Vietnamese coral bell. Must be the same thing since they have the same flower.
@Carol 83 you should get one from Wigert if you don't already have one. It has been in flower for weeks for me. The flower smell like Coke.

View attachment 450305 View attachment 450306

yes. Same kind of tree.
Haha I don’t smell coke , but I just know it is fragrant!

. Thanks for sharing your beautiful tree .
Thụ Thoại

Carol 83 · Aug 6, 2022

namnhi said:
I have Desmodium aka Linh Sam or Vietnamese coral bell. Must be the same thing since they have the same flower.
@Carol 83 you should get one from Wigert if you don't already have one. It has been in flower for weeks for me. The flower smell like Coke.

View attachment 450305 View attachment 450306

Thanks, I didn't know they had them. I have behaved this year and not ordered anything from them, but that may change now!

bonhe · Aug 14, 2022

Kishu before .

After

Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Aug 20, 2022

Crepe myrtle is going to bloom soon .

Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Aug 20, 2022

I had been struggling to germinate Royal poinciana seeds for few years even though with a lot of instructions on internet. Fortunately, one of my friend showed me how to do, and now I can with success rate is 82% !!!
At 6 days

at 11 days

3 years old

hahaha I will have a lot of stock to play around for bonsai!
Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Aug 20, 2022

Have you ever seen Sakura in Inland Empire? I never saw Sakura bonsai in all the bonsai shows in Southern California!
One of my friends who lives in East coast gifted me this Sakura last winter. I transplanted it to the current pot right away . The pot is big but the tree needs it ! It already gave me a few flowers at that time; now it gives more flowers . You can see the tree is struggling with the heat in my area . If it is alive after the first summer, it will survive here

. I use the same way I acclimated my ume . Wish me luck!

Thụ Thoại

bonhe · Aug 20, 2022

Kishu had been raised by Sensei Ota from small cutting about 40 years ago. It was passed down to me 2 years ago when it was still in plastic container. I did the initial styling last November and transplanted it to current pot in winter for training.
Last week.