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  1. fredtruck

    Torvesa Flowering Quince

    Torvesa 1-10-22 v2 The Torvesa flowering quince has very coarse branching. In fact, the branches are called canes. There is some subdivision of these canes into “secondary canes,” but nothing I would term ramified branches. My approach to making a bonsai out of material like this is to just...
  2. fredtruck

    Contorted Japanese Flowering Apricot

    That's true, except the paper glasses I use myself are so cheap. This is what I use...
  3. fredtruck

    Contorted Japanese Flowering Apricot

    My Contorted White Japanese Flowering Apricot bloomed on January 1st, welcoming in the new year. The two flowers are in the upper left area of the branches, and the lower, center. This picture shows how colorful this bonsai can be without the flowers. The flower-bearing shoots are green while...
  4. fredtruck

    Chojubai White

    Chojubai White 12-9-21 In the general scheme of bonsai, the Chojubai Red is more favored than the Chojubai White. The reason generally given is that the Red has finer ramification than the White. This is true, as far as it goes, but it overlooks one of the Chojubai White’s finest...
  5. fredtruck

    From Semi to Full Cascade with a Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine

    Recently, I noticed that it was getting more and more difficult to see the corking on my Cascade Ondae. It seemed as though there were too many branches and too much foliage in the way. I have a collection of pictures and books that feature cascade cork bark Japanese black pines. I saw that...
  6. fredtruck

    Corker with Exposed Roots or Without?

    The needles on the Ondae are a little long at the end of the growing season for my taste, but there is something engaging about this tree in its very spiky foliage. And the bark is still very visible.
  7. fredtruck

    Flowers 2021

    Here's the Chojubai White, which is having a very long and floriferous autumn season.
  8. fredtruck

    Chojubai White

    The chojubai had a good growing season. Every October, before I take my trees in for the winter, I defoliate the Chojubai to avoid leaf-drop and the resulting clean-up. I also have a much better idea as to what I have to work with. The chojubai began flowering again in late August and didn't...
  9. fredtruck

    MULTI-TRUNK JAPANESE BEECH

    Truly amazing result, Serg. Quite beautiful.
  10. fredtruck

    Trumpet-Leaf Literati

    This picture is, of course, an optimized anaglyph. Use red/cyan glasses to see the 3D. This picture shows my trumpet-leaf gingko after a summer's worth of growing. Generally, I'm pleased with its progress, but I wish it had a more radiant yellow fall color.
  11. fredtruck

    Contorted Japanese Flowering Apricot

    Every fall, as the weather cools and the sun shines less and less, I defoliate my Ume, so I can see exactly what I have, and also to check how the flowering buds are developing. Earlier this week, I finished defoliating. Happily there are many flowering buds and they look good. I still have...
  12. fredtruck

    From Semi to Full Cascade with a Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine

    Here is a comparison of the original potting (shaded) with the new potting. It has come up quite a ways. The gray horizontal lines show where the top of the old pot came,
  13. fredtruck

    From Semi to Full Cascade with a Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine

    I agree with you, except the pot had become too small. I am looking for a larger pot, but at the moment, I haven't found one.
  14. fredtruck

    From Semi to Full Cascade with a Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine

    Well, because of the type of anaglyph image those pictures are, I felt you could view them either way, with or without red/cyan glasses. They are much more dynamic with the glasses, but many bonsai practitioners don't have them. Rather than harp on it, however you can view them is fine.
  15. fredtruck

    From Semi to Full Cascade with a Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine

    This tree, a cork bark Japanese black pine ‘Ondae’, was due for a repot. It had been at least 5 years since the original potting, so early one March morning, I began. This is what the Ondae looked like before the transplant: Notice the steep angle of descent the cascading arm had. I had...
  16. fredtruck

    Mi Nishiki Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine

    The Mi Nishiki Cork Bark JBP... ...has been growing steadily along. This year, I thinned the canopy to let the sun light in. There are some small branches I want to remove, to further that end. Otherwise, the cork has defined itself. I’m happy with this tree’s development.
  17. fredtruck

    Why did you start, and continue Bonsai?

    My wife's family has a long relationship with the Japanese people. In particular, they offered housing right after the war to Mr. Ofuku, a Drake University student. Mr. Ofuku gave Lorna's parents a number of things, in particular, a book on bonsai. I read the book, several times, just amazed at...
  18. fredtruck

    Corker with Exposed Roots or Without?

    Those of you who have followed my trees over a period of time know that I frequently shift my point of view when taking a bonsai picture. I’m doing it again. This tree, my Pinus thunbergii corticosa ‘Ondae’ has great cork. When viewing, the corking is frequently obscured by needles, or other...
  19. fredtruck

    Chojubai White

    It's a little farther in the growing season, the Chojubai has leafed out, and surprise! there are lots of flowers, with more on the way.
  20. fredtruck

    Trumpet-Leaf Literati

    No sooner than I posted the image above than I began changing stuff. For one thing, I'm currently afflicted with the klutzes now and then, and in repotting or in moving the tree from outside to inside I broke off the top falling branch. I decided I liked the tree better that way. Second, I...
  21. fredtruck

    Trumpet-Leaf Literati

    A literati using an unusual variety--Trumpet-Leaf Gingko. Enjoy!
  22. fredtruck

    MULTI-TRUNK JAPANESE BEECH

    Sergio, you always make bold moves (tourniquet, air layering, etc.) seem so obvious and yet necessary. You clearly have an arsenal of methods worked out that also allows you to improvise as needed.
  23. fredtruck

    Toyo Nishiki Improved Forest

    My Toyo Nishiki Improved began its life as 5 cuttings. I originally called this tree a forest, because I viewed the cutting as separate. Now I view them as joined, but instead of a forest, I call it a thicket. Brent Walston has had some difficulty with the Toyo Nishiki Improved, because...
  24. fredtruck

    Chojubai White

    @vp999. The tree is 10.5" tall. Too big to be a shohin, so it's a Kifu. My plan is to keep it in Kifu range. @Cadillactaste. Thanks! @sorce. Many people prefer a glazed pot with smaller trees like this. I have spent years looking at this tree, and the white flowers don't have the luminous...
  25. fredtruck

    Chojubai White

    Since I posted last, things have changed for my Chojubai White. About a year ago or so, I did a photographic experiment with this tree viewed from different angles to simulate different planting angles. I have a Tokoname pot by Seizan. It is square, visually weighty, and I wanted to see if I...
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