New to Bonsai from NJ

Orion_metalhead · Mar 13, 2022

Rebuilt my workbench and expanded... also picked up a really chunky Picea Abies "Midiformis" Birds Nest Spruce and hacked it back in a fury.

Built the bech from scrap wood. Only thing i needed to buy was the plywood. Also, as you can see, it was a six-beer project haha.

Abies: no before shot... it looked like a tufty clump... use your imagination!

Orion_metalhead · Apr 1, 2022

Got through the freeze ok ot seems. Will be putting everything out on benches again tomorrow. Some tips got frozen on my malus but not a big deal.

Jade forest is very happy in my office.

Orion_metalhead · May 28, 2022

Pictures from odds and ends today.

A before and after pruning photo of my mixed forest:

Some pin oak seedlings

Built two strawberry pyramids from free pallets.

That previous birds nest sprucd flushed out.

Some osage orange pre-bonsai

Orion_metalhead · Jul 10, 2022

Random shit from today:

Mowed the lawn after fertilizing the trees. Used miracle gro organic water soluble. Been using that this year as my weekly fert combined with osmocote. Anyway. Heres the lawn when I was done. It gets burned up this time of the year since I dont water or do anything to it. Needs a dethatch this fall and i plan on overseeding at that time as well.

Compost is under way: i have the following three bins. Middle one is full.

I want to make a fourth bin for finished compost on this spot to the right of the others so I can always have the newest cook on the far left and turn the bins to the right. I have the pallets but need to clear out space.

Some pictures of the bonsai areas:

A root over rock pitch pine forest that might get its first wiring this fall:

A bug on the roses ive never seen before.

Orion_metalhead · Jul 10, 2022

The shady table. Mostly deciduous and seedlings over here:

Hornet nest under a chair. I flipped the chair over using rope and then went at em with the spray.

Weekly fertilization: i use a backpack sprayer to hit every tree. I try to fertilize minimum two weeks a month. Every weekend if possible, especially now that the first flushes are all done. Build up strength and vigor for the winter and for spring now.

This is the spot for the tsuga. It gets morning sun and afternoon sun until about 2pm, then gets shaded out by the house.

Vance Wood · Jul 11, 2022

You have some nice things going on that are worth the effort.

Orion_metalhead · Jul 11, 2022

Thanks Vance! Over the next couple years I want to kind of pare down to about 15 - 20 main collection trees. I also want to ground grow some of the little seedlings for a few years and start some new cuttings and such.

plant_dr · Jul 11, 2022

Orion_metalhead said:
Random shit from today:

Mowed the lawn after fertilizing the trees. Used miracle gro organic water soluble. Been using that this year as my weekly fert combined with osmocote. Anyway. Heres the lawn when I was done. It gets burned up this time of the year since I dont water or do anything to it. Needs a dethatch this fall and i plan on overseeding at that time as well.
View attachment 446462

Compost is under way: i have the following three bins. Middle one is full.
View attachment 446461
View attachment 446455

I want to make a fourth bin for finished compost on this spot to the right of the others so I can always have the newest cook on the far left and turn the bins to the right. I have the pallets but need to clear out space.
View attachment 446454

Some pictures of the bonsai areas:
View attachment 446456
View attachment 446457
View attachment 446459

A root over rock pitch pine forest that might get its first wiring this fall:
View attachment 446458
View attachment 446463

A bug on the roses ive never seen before.
View attachment 446460

I think that bug picture is a ladybug pupa about to become an adult. Soon it will be feasting on any aphids that are hanging out on your rose bush.

Orion_metalhead · Jul 11, 2022

Awesome! Ill have to look into that.

Orion_metalhead · Jan 21, 2023

A quick picture of the mixed forest. Has become a catch all for random growth. Im inclined to just prune it a little and see what happens. It is a microcosm of its own volition. Some trees may come out but from now on, im not adding anything unless it grows naturally. It seems like every year some new red and japanese maples sprout. Hoping for a liriodendron one of these days.

Orion_metalhead · Jun 3, 2023

Viburnum and cuttings pruned:

Orion_metalhead · Jul 29, 2023

In process of setting up shade bench, had to dig up some random stuff. One very interesting cherry which Im not sure will survive a midsummer collection, but also this forsythia - one of several in the area. It is interesting, more interesting than I thought it would be originally. Planning on a raft or something like that.

Orion_metalhead · Sep 2, 2023

Posting for historical on this collected viburnum. Hope it survives collection.

Also collected some root sprouted crepe myrtle and some other bush which I dont know what it is. The crepe myrtles got potted up. Not many roots on them. Hope they do ok. The other bush is not potted. Its in a bin full of mulch to keep it moist. Plan on putting tomorrow.

Orion_metalhead · Sep 10, 2023

More fall collections.

This was actually dug about a week ago. It was covered with mulch in a bin and was sprouting new buds so figured Id box it.

Orion_metalhead · Sep 11, 2023

Was on a job site walk today and hidden behind a piece of equipment on a roof was this patch of little liriodendrons growing in a pile of leaf mould. So naturally i knew the roots had to be completely flat. I didn't have anything to put them but my brand new work beanie which I havent even worn yet. So I plopped the mess in the hat and tossed in in my bag. Once in my car i wrapped in plastic. There it stayed the rest of the day.