Projects from TJ’s Backyard

[Shogun610]

I have been itching to do some bonsai work here in the dead of winter. Decided to make a little accent piece from some material I had around the house. I have a bunch of cacti that I’ve been growing for 5 or 6 years.

This one is mamillaria elongata. It has profuse, small white flowers when it decides to bloom. It has bloomed for me a couple times.

@sorce container!

View attachment 420833

Looks like cheese curls .. now I want cheese curls

 

[Colorado]

Looks like cheese curls .. now I want cheese curls

Would not recommend snacking on this one - very sharp

 

[Colorado]

Japanese Maple ‘Katsura’

Young material, repot and a couple wires. Buds are just starting to swell.



Acquired a couple months ago from @WSJIII , thanks bro!

 

[Colorado]

With the nice weather, it was a busy weekend! Did some spring cleaning on this Mountain Harebell kusamono. Removed dead debris, now set up for spring growth.

 

[Colorado]

Next up, light pruning on this big Texas Scarlet Quince. It just started to break bud.

 

[Colorado]

Japanese quince flowers soaking up the last evening rays.

 

[Colorado]

Pinion Pine, nursery stock.

 

[chicago1980]

Nice backyard and projects

 

[Colorado]

Nice backyard and projects

Thanks a ton - that means a lot coming from you because I have seen that you have some very nice trees yourself!

 

[Colorado]

Ponderosa
Yamaaki container



This tree is still extremely raw. The needles are huge but will only get better with time. Full wiring this fall!

 

[Colorado]

Chinese Elm

Inspired by @bonhe thread “Literati Training”!

 

[Colorado]

Artemisia Tridentata - Sage Brush



I just acquired this tree a few weeks ago. Repotted into this terra cotta trainer. It seems to be settling into the garden nicely.

I think in time I will reduce that right sub trunk and make this a single trunk line tree.

 

[Colorado]

Shohin Mugo Pine Cascade - buds extending!

 

[Colorado]

Colorado Blue Spruce - Initial Repot


This tree was collected in 2018 by Todd Schlafer. If I am not mistaken, it was collected from an area that has since been devastated by wildfire. In all likelihood, this tree would have been burned and killed in the fire, had it not been collected.

I acquired it in 2020. Since then, I have fertilized heavily and watered carefully, providing the spruce with mostly full sun.

It has never been wired - which I am looking forward to doing this fall or next spring!

 

[Colorado]

Quaking Aspen

I have been growing this tree out in a large box for the past 2 years. Into a smaller training pot this spring.

 

[bonhe]

Chinese Elm

Inspired by @bonhe thread “Literati Training”!

View attachment 432093

Very nice movement! I love it
Thụ Thoại

 

[bonhe]

Quaking Aspen

I have been growing this tree out in a large box for the past 2 years. Into a smaller training pot this spring.

View attachment 433416

I like this. Will be very nice literati!
Thụ Thoại

 

[Colorado]

Earlier this week, Bjorn Bjornholm presented a demonstration to the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society. The topic of the presentation was pyracantha.

Bjorn discussed complete defoliation, followed by structural pruning and wiring.

I was very inspired by Bjorn’s demo. So the next day I took off early from work, and it was off to the nursery for me, in search of pyracantha. They had just a couple ‘Yukon Belle’ pyracantha left. Very humble material, but something to work with for my little project.

After a couple hours of pruning and wiring my hands looked like…well…next time I will wear gloves for those thorns! however, I really enjoyed working with the species for its flexible branches, short internodes, small leaves…and the prospect of beautiful flowers and berries.

Before:


After:

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Brave move not cutting those nasty thorns.. nice project

 

[Colorado]

Brave move not cutting those nasty thorns.. nice project

Brave…or ignorant!