I know we have all been busy taking advantage of the milder conditions … but! From Sunday 10th March and more Monday, we get strong winds and minus temperatures. Feels like -8c will be the order of the day for Monday 11th.
Any trees not tied in firmly will require some degree of protection, as will and young buds with leaf forming require some protection from these arctic like winds. Burning of young buds and fresh foliage will happen; Acers being a prime example.
Stay warm!
I’ve long been a fan of Tony’s wonderful pots. He has an ability to make some very special Bonsai pots. During the 2013 Swindon show I was delighted to spend not only some time with Tony, I spent some money which no doubt he liked.
I’ll be sharing the purchases just as soon as a couple of maples are re-potted into said pots.
Tony has gigantic hands; how he makes some of those smaller pots is quite beyond me. I mean that with much respect Tony should you happen across this blog entry 
At the end of the show I could not resist just one more pot. It is shown below next to a AA battery. Pure skill. Oh and here is a link directly to his new pot site. HERE
Well it really was a great show this year; well to be truthful it is a great show every year. I cannot really imagine just how much work Paul and his team of helpers has to do before opening the doors.
I actually exhibited myself this year. After all these years being interested in Bonsai I had a tree included in a professional event. My first! Seemed quite odd really watching people taking pictures of my exhibit, and to some extent quite humbling really. Well, the time flew by, meeting friends of old and many new ones as well. I managed to keep my hands in my pocket but could not resist a new Tony Remington pot for ‘Stumpy.’ That is the Maple I dug up a few years ago from the garden. I’ll update once I repot in a couple of weeks time.
Oh well, enough waffle; I hope you enjoy these images.
This one was my own wee accent entry. The pair of Siberian Hedgehogs were looking over my Siberian Elm
I have three pots currently for sale. I am in Swindon next weekend so can bring with me.
Pot one is a large enough cascade pot purchased from Peter Chan ten years ago for £160. It is unmarked and as good as new. Top to base is 10.75 inches or 27.5cm. Width at neck which is virtually square is: 10.5 inches 26.5cm. At the very base it is 8″ square 22cm. Beautiful pot and quite a heavy one. On sale for a stupid price of £60.
Pot two is now SOLD
Pot three is SOLD
I often wonder what gauge of wire I need when replenishing and for many other uses I decided a digital thickness tool was in order. Looking around they were ridiculously priced, until …. until I came across digitalmicrometers.co.uk and Allen Bentley.
I placed my order and within a couple of days it arrived. It is hugely accurate, comes in its own lined box and to be honest I have no idea how they do it for the price. I’ve noticed some rather nice products on their site and I for one will certainly return. I can now check wire in seconds and see exactly what I need to order. It takes the guesswork away permanently.
All metal construction with a plastic casing that houses the electronics. I note there is a lightweight version also. Less than 10cm in length x 5.5cm wide. Yes, fits in the pocket rather splendidly.
A hearty five star recommendation for Digital Micrometers .co.uk
I’ve an on-going thread on the European Bonsai forums which is in some detail. If you’d like to follow and it’s a way off yet, then follow link and join the forum or just look if yoy so wish.
Many thanks.
Link HERE
Well weather has been mild here, very little rain so I’ve been pottering along with the stand for the Swindon show. Anyway, as a follow on to the earlier post here are a couple in progress. Oh, and for the person who asked what adhesive I like for wood working I have included a shot of that too
As for tools, I work with what I have. My own personal favourite is my Makita chop-saw. I use also a Dewalt plunge rail system saw. A router, several cordless drills and impact drivers; SHARP … REALLY sharp chisels, plenty of clamps, they make second, third and fourth hands, sharp drills, a palm sander and a Metabo belt sander which I prefer to a plane. A selection of belts is really helpful. oh and a Makita power file. I’d like a table saw and definitely a pillar drill plus a scroll saw .. for now though I will make do.
I’m using Danish oil for this Oak stand, several coats in fact, and surprisingly one of the best in my humble opinion is one sold under the Wilkinson / Wilko brand name. Picture at the end . It’ll be sand oil, nip, oil, nip, oil. Increasing grit to around 1000 grit for final coat. I’ve used 2500 grit paper in the past but 1000 is fine here.
Please remember I am simply a DIY’er; not a craftsman or joiner etc. It is taking me ages as I’m fitting it in around my health and darned Hospital visits. I’m thinking of applying for a season ticket I’ll update when I make a start on the supports underneath. As it is, they should be similar to my drawing from the earlier post.
I’ve been very fortunate; and to some degree, rather privileged to have had my Siberian Elm selected to be shown at the 2013 Swindon Winter Image Show.
Having never shown this tree in public other than a local Taunton & Somerset event, I must be honest and say with knees knocking I am I think, really looking forward to it. As the tree is really much larger than people imagine, I need a good quality display stand for said exhibition. The Swindon club very kindly through Paul the Chairman, offered me the use of a stand. Yes, it would have worked well but being a tad stubborn and determined I felt I must al least make every effort I can – to make one myself!
So with money and arthritis a serious problem my attempts to secure something cheap from a second hand furniture shop failed miserably. My stock reply when I asked how much they were asking for old cack that we have thrown better away was … “Are you having a larf mate?” I mean seriously the stuff I was looking at like small drop leaved tables with gouges and stains was going for like sixty quid and more!!!! Anyway, off to B&Q and their Richard Burbridge Oak wood was partly in the sale, and well reduced. So for what should have been £98.60 I handed over a paltry £21.80 for several lengths and bits … and ‘bobs.’
Here we have then a few images of some lengths stitched together and work in progress. I’m aiming for around twenty-four inches side-to-side; and, around seventeen inches front to back. Plan is make a top and ‘square’ it off with smooth Oak mitred around the edge. Then Mount to a rectangular frame which I have made by cutting down a length of architrave and skirting. Finally I will have a support at each side with a brace running from left to right underneath for strength. This then is the plan. I have included my AWFUL sketch I made to give me a start. Then follows work this far.
I will update as I progress.
Wish me Mrs Brown LUCK
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and an happy and healthy 2013 and beyond.
Mike
With not a hint of Bonsai in sight, the week after the awful floods has been frosty cold and dare I say … DRY! With some beautiful sunrises and armed with a new pocket camera I could not resist snapping away.
The camera is a Panasonic Lumix TZ25 no frills, but does the business with a decent pixel count to boot.
Mostly on or around the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal. The last is from today looking away from the canal towards the ‘wetlands’ or some call it moors; personally I call it flood plain … which is indeed what it is. Building on these flood plains seems a really lame idea, but then who am I to challenge authority
Just a sample then. Click on any image and it enlarges.
The sun catching the trees as it rises on the canal.
I took this image because the colour kissing the sky from the sun was quite breath-taking. This is looking towards said moors and what you see is the very edge of the water. It continues for many many hectares across to the A361 which last time I looked is still flooded and closed.
This sunrise lasted only a few minutes; four at best. It was a case of get the Lumix out and try a few to see what happens. I have cloned out some plastic bales to the front right and just lightened the image by ten percent.
Again looking towards Bridgwater, the sun kisses the trees. This only lasted the briefest of moments.
The sun had not quite made it, it was a lovely image to see.
