Tsuga Mertensiana new and old

Various Mountain Hemlock from my own collection as well as that of Anton Nijhuis and Bob Derek (pictured). All of the trees pictured are between the age of 250 and 600 years old. More hemlock pics coming soon.

Refurbishing an old Juniper ( juniperus Scopulorum) 1 of 2

This tree has been in training for 10 years. It started as a collected tree from the wild in 2000. Its initial styling was inspired by the growth habit of the Junipers in the high Sierra Nevada, a habit of gnarled, blighted branches contrasted with fresh vigorous green growth. Over the years its been allowed to grow somewhat out of control, and has almost lost its original shape. The tree is around 75 yrs old, young for a Collected tree, and stands a handsome 38 inches tall. Along with an old collected Tsuga (Mountain Hemlock), it will be worked on extensively at the upcoming Marco Invernizzi workshop here in Victoria B.C. More photos coming soon.

New collected Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Latifolia)

• Pinus Latifolia, around 200 years old. Collected fall of 2009. This is its first year in a pot. Perhaps one cannot tell from the photos, but it has a rather elegant sort of movement to it, almost animistic. Its root system is excellent, with strands of mycelium everywhere, and its foliage is riddled with stong buds, both apically and in the lower branches. Overall it has good potential as a Bonsai tree, and its styling will begin as of spring/summer of 2011.
  

New Mountain Hemlock 1

This Hemlock is approx. 250 yrs old, and has enormous potential. It was collected 3 years ago. Now it will receive some pruning and wiring over the winter months, and will perhaps be planted on a stone slab in early spring.

New Mountain Hemlock 2

This tree is around 175 yrs old, and was collected in the mountains on the north of Vancouver island 3 years ago. It has excellent taper, shape, foliage health and has loads of potential. I think it will be ready for styling in spring/summer 2011.

Bonsai Dispalys pt 1

A bonsai display, like any garden, is a reflection of how one views the world as well as ones life within it. Some are chaotic and crowded, with no real angle to view any one particular tree. Others are arranged with a curious attention to balance, color, light and form, often having the largest, most spectacular tree at the back of the display, with all the other trees below and in front, so as to carry the eye towards the show stopper.....the art piece of the collection.

Bonsai & Shitakusa

Here are a few pictures of a small handful of famous Bonsai from Japan, as well as Shitakusa (Literally means "Undergrass"), the Japanese art of displaying very small plantings (Grasses, moss, bulbs, dwarf perennials, etc) to contrast with a Bonsai tree or a display of Bonsai trees. Shitakusa are often planted in unusual or special pots, on driftwood, shells, and even on rocks. Sometimes they are used to reflect or contrast with a particular season, and sometimes they are meant to reflect the dynamism of a mountain cliff, or the serenity of a coastal meadow.