Chronicles of Dogwood Studios Apprentice

[Gabler]

Dogwood Chronicles #6
This is something that got brought up in a conversation with Matt W aka @Larchbud on Instagram. If you’re not following me there yet, I post more photos and random snippets there. View attachment 581277

Altruistic Yamadori, everyone’s doing it this year

I'm about to tear out a bunch of honeysuckle and winter creeper this spring. It's a shame multiflora rose isn't good for bonsai.

 

[rockm]

Dogwood Chronicles #6
This is something that got brought up in a conversation with Matt W aka @Larchbud on Instagram. If you’re not following me there yet, I post more photos and random snippets there. View attachment 581277

Altruistic Yamadori, everyone’s doing it this year

To be applauded. However. Wisteria can be problematic collected with no roots. Be aware that the resulting vine base will die back significantly over a few years after such treatment. Best to get SOME roots with it particularly if you’re working a substantial trunk. Smaller ones will survive no problem but the bigger the trunk the more it will happen. Just a note having collected a number of larger wisteria trunks over the years.

 

[WavyGaby]

To be applauded. However. Wisteria can be problematic collected with no roots. Be aware that the resulting vine base will die back significantly over a few years after such treatment. Best to get SOME roots with it particularly if you’re working a substantial trunk. Smaller ones will survive no problem but the bigger the trunk the more it will happen. Just a note having collected a number of larger wisteria trunks over the years.

I faught wisteria in the woods doing disc golf course maintenance for a few years. I have a whole lot of wisteria behind my house that I fight back every year. I want nothing to do with wisteria bonsai, haha.

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

I'm about to tear out a bunch of honeysuckle and winter creeper this spring. It's a shame multiflora rose isn't good for bonsai.

Rose Bonsai

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I've seen multiflora and banksiae bonsai in person and they are lovely.

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

To be applauded. However. Wisteria can be problematic collected with no roots. Be aware that the resulting vine base will die back significantly over a few years after such treatment. Best to get SOME roots with it particularly if you’re working a substantial trunk. Smaller ones will survive no problem but the bigger the trunk the more it will happen. Just a note having collected a number of larger wisteria trunks over the years.

I will never argue against collection with more roots! I would say this base die-back is a feature not a bug, though, no? The specimen featured in my photo has a saba miki trunk, is 125+ years old, and resides at Daitoku-ji in Kyoto.

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

I faught wisteria in the woods doing disc golf course maintenance for a few years. I have a whole lot of wisteria behind my house that I fight back every year. I want nothing to do with wisteria bonsai, haha.

Sounds like I have a new hunting ground, Gabe During Triangle Bonsai Society's annual participation in the NC Museum of Art's "Art in Bloom" my teacher in the Triangle will show his wisteria in bloom. Few bonsai have their magnetism while in bloom imho

 

[shohin_branches]

Dogwood Chronicles #6
This is something that got brought up in a conversation with Matt W aka @Larchbud on Instagram. If you’re not following me there yet, I post more photos and random snippets there. View attachment 581277

Altruistic Yamadori, everyone’s doing it this year

In Milwaukee we dig up invasives every April in the woods behind our meeting location with permission from the parks department. Mostly burning bush and buckthorn, but some of the burning bush dug up in past years have been counted at over 40 years old. It's a good chance to show beginners how to dig yamadori and it's also fairly forgiving material so a nice way for beginners to get a lot of practice material for the low low price of sweat equity.

 

[rockm]

I will never argue against collection with more roots! I would say this base die-back is a feature not a bug, though, no? The specimen featured in my photo has a saba miki trunk, is 125+ years old, and resides at Daitoku-ji in Kyoto.

A feature that can eventually devour a decent trunk fast or even slow, depending on trunk size.

 

[WavyGaby]

Sounds like I have a new hunting ground, Gabe During Triangle Bonsai Society's annual participation in the NC Museum of Art's "Art in Bloom" my teacher in the Triangle will show his wisteria in bloom. Few bonsai have their magnetism while in bloom imho

Yes, bring your shovel!

 

[RJG2]

Dogwood Chronicles #6
This is something that got brought up in a conversation with Matt W aka @Larchbud on Instagram. If you’re not following me there yet, I post more photos and random snippets there. View attachment 581277

Altruistic Yamadori, everyone’s doing it this year

I'm a steward for a property for the local land trust - we rip out invasives a few times a year. A couple euonymus alatus have come home with me. There's plenty of bittersweet, barberry and honeysuckle as well, but I haven't found trunks I like yet.

I might try a Norway maple - I didn't think they'd work out, but I've since seen a couple examples.

 

[rockm]

What’s around if you look (and aren’t afraid of deer ticks and Lyme disease.)

This wisteria is in a tangled thicket of boxwood on an old plantation near me. One of hundreds of wild wisteria vines that taken over (although this one is exceptional) the woods. The trunk is almost thigh thick at ground level

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

What’s around if you look (and aren’t afraid of deer ticks and Lyme disease.)

This wisteria is in a tangled thicket of boxwood on an old plantation near me. One of hundreds of wild wisteria vines that taken over (although this one is exceptional) the woods. The trunk is almost thigh thick at ground level

That’s what I’m talking about

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Heard your chat on Black Pondo Jake! That was an all frequencies wide open discussion for sure! You’ve off to a great start.

Looking forward to hearing about your progress and your work representing Tyler and Dogwood Studios over the next years.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[pandacular]

Glad to hear we share a friend and mentor in @Deep Sea Diver !

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

DSD,

You’re the man. I’ll give you a call this weekend.

V/R
DA

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

I'm about to tear out a bunch of honeysuckle and winter creeper this spring. It's a shame multiflora rose isn't good for bonsai.

@Gabler

Just spent the day up in southern Appalachia and the multiflora was everywhere. That wild invasive stuff can go straight to hell! I did manage to collect a handful of the celastrus, pictures to come

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

Dogwood Chronicles #7

Tyler's 2 week Kokufu 2025 Japan tour was his longest absence from the garden in the roughly month (at the time of his departure) since beginning apprenticeship. In a word, it was rough. A lot of shoveling rocks, a lot of cold rainy days. A lot of hoping I was doing the right thing, knowing somethings had gone wrong, and trying to take it all in stride. I leaned on my mentors with a few evening phone calls, and tried to do the best I could. Shoutout @Deep Sea Diver

Outside the garden, my housing situation has deteriorated and I need to move next month. I've been renting since 2010, moved every year since and never had to break a lease, it's been quite the drag.

Less than a week after Tyler's return from Japan, we hosted our second intensive of 2025. The energy in the garden is noticeably different on these weekends. The passion of fellow hardcore enthusiasts, the learning atmosphere Tyler curates as a teacher, it feels really good to be around. One unexpected part of apprenticeship is learning so much about the professional-client relationship. Hearing stories from him about how Mr. Suzuki impressed upon him time and time again about the importance of going the extra mile in consideration and appreciation of those that we do business with, and how he expects us to continue this. The difference is noted and appreciated by our guests and it hasn't gotten old to hear it.

Today I had an off day, so naturally I spent it relaxing by driving 2.5 hours to Ed's house to help him do large repots for 6 hours, going a few towns over to pick up some JBP for scion grafting, and then going another few towns over to my house I have renters in and loading my van up with as much of the nursery stock I could fit that I had left behind and then driving 2 hours back to WNC. For the love of the game, amiright?

March is going to be no less crazy. Tyler has another multi week trip, intensive weekend, repotting season, and I have a multi-state yamadori trip lined up. Oh and a move to pack for. If you live in VT or NH and are interested in getting together to collect, holler at me.

VR
DA

 

[Piedmont Bonsai]

Dogwood Chronicles #7

Tyler's 2 week Kokufu 2025 Japan tour was his longest absence from the garden in the roughly month (at the time of his departure) since beginning apprenticeship. In a word, it was rough. A lot of shoveling rocks, a lot of cold rainy days. A lot of hoping I was doing the right thing, knowing somethings had gone wrong, and trying to take it all in stride. I leaned on my mentors with a few evening phone calls, and tried to do the best I could. Shoutout @Deep Sea Diver

Outside the garden, my housing situation has deteriorated and I need to move next month. I've been renting since 2010, moved every year since and never had to break a lease, it's been quite the drag.

Less than a week after Tyler's return from Japan, we hosted our second intensive of 2025. The energy in the garden is noticeably different on these weekends. The passion of fellow hardcore enthusiasts, the learning atmosphere Tyler curates as a teacher, it feels really good to be around. One unexpected part of apprenticeship is learning so much about the professional-client relationship. Hearing stories from him about how Mr. Suzuki impressed upon him time and time again about the importance of going the extra mile in consideration and appreciation of those that we do business with, and how he expects us to continue this. The difference is noted and appreciated by our guests and it hasn't gotten old to hear it.

Today I had an off day, so naturally I spent it relaxing by driving 2.5 hours to Ed's house to help him do large repots for 6 hours, going a few towns over to pick up some JBP for scion grafting, and then going another few towns over to my house I have renters in and loading my van up with as much of the nursery stock I could fit that I had left behind and then driving 2 hours back to WNC. For the love of the game, amiright?

March is going to be no less crazy. Tyler has another multi week trip, intensive weekend, repotting season, and I have a multi-state yamadori trip lined up. Oh and a move to pack for. If you live in VT or NH and are interested in getting together to collect, holler at me.

VR
DA

It was great meeting you the other day at Tyler’s garden. Your desire to take on apprenticeship is admirable and you have a bright future ahead of you in bonsai!

-Adam

 

[stewarjm192]

Dogwood Chronicles #7

Tyler's 2 week Kokufu 2025 Japan tour was his longest absence from the garden in the roughly month (at the time of his departure) since beginning apprenticeship. In a word, it was rough. A lot of shoveling rocks, a lot of cold rainy days. A lot of hoping I was doing the right thing, knowing somethings had gone wrong, and trying to take it all in stride. I leaned on my mentors with a few evening phone calls, and tried to do the best I could. Shoutout @Deep Sea Diver

Outside the garden, my housing situation has deteriorated and I need to move next month. I've been renting since 2010, moved every year since and never had to break a lease, it's been quite the drag.

Less than a week after Tyler's return from Japan, we hosted our second intensive of 2025. The energy in the garden is noticeably different on these weekends. The passion of fellow hardcore enthusiasts, the learning atmosphere Tyler curates as a teacher, it feels really good to be around. One unexpected part of apprenticeship is learning so much about the professional-client relationship. Hearing stories from him about how Mr. Suzuki impressed upon him time and time again about the importance of going the extra mile in consideration and appreciation of those that we do business with, and how he expects us to continue this. The difference is noted and appreciated by our guests and it hasn't gotten old to hear it.

Today I had an off day, so naturally I spent it relaxing by driving 2.5 hours to Ed's house to help him do large repots for 6 hours, going a few towns over to pick up some JBP for scion grafting, and then going another few towns over to my house I have renters in and loading my van up with as much of the nursery stock I could fit that I had left behind and then driving 2 hours back to WNC. For the love of the game, amiright?

March is going to be no less crazy. Tyler has another multi week trip, intensive weekend, repotting season, and I have a multi-state yamadori trip lined up. Oh and a move to pack for. If you live in VT or NH and are interested in getting together to collect, holler at me.

VR
DA

What are you collecting? ill tell ya, red spruce is HOT these days!

 

[DogwoodApprentice]

It was great meeting you the other day at Tyler’s garden. Your desire to take on apprenticeship is admirable and you have a bright future ahead of you in bonsai!

-Adam

A pleasure to meet you, Adam. The future of talent in the Triangle is alive and well in your capable hands. TBS needs trees for their shows this month!