Sunday July 25, 2010

Jacob and his friend James came over to spend the day with me.






We decided to work on this ficus, its too tall
& we also removed a large branch from the
middle of the tree.















After trimming the top and removing the
branch this is what the ficus looked like
afterward--- what do you think James?













What is it? I don't know.
What he gonna do with it?
I don't know.












Oh man I know what it is, it's a
honeysuckle he dug up last February
















Yup, that's what it is,it's doing nicely too.













After having observed how to trim a tree
James trys his hand at it plus wiring it also.














James seems pretty pleased with his effort.
















That's a nice job on his fukien tea tree.


We're heading for the bar-b -Que grill and a Bud lite
as always "wax on -wax off".
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hollywood juniper

Wednesday the 14, 2010 I was supposed to report for jury duty but when I called
they said my "presence was not needed" so I didn't have to go. Good thing too cause my
friend Se called and said he had some free time,could I use his help?
Sure I could use some help, I was planning to work on this Hollywood Juniper.














Before side one
















before side 2












In preparation to wiring and putting
some severe bends in the branches....












Se puts some raffia on the trunk &
branches to protect the bark
















Having put a severe bend in on a branch
Se starts a 2 & 1/2 hr. wiring job on the rest of
the tree.











The wiring completed it took 4 hrs.
from start to finish. All that's left is for the
tree to fill in with some growth and it's
repot in to a bonsai container next February.











Great job se !!!! Thanks for the help!
Next time you see this tree it will be repotted
in a bonsai pot in spring. If somebody doesn't
buy it in the meantime!

Till next time...wax on wax off!













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Weekends at Benttree Bonsai

Last Sunday Jason dropped by to help out with a rather large bonsai that I had been
meaning to re pot but I wasn't able to get around to it. The Brazilian rain tree was about
7 to 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide.








After much discussion we decided to chop
the tree at about 3 1/2 feet. We pruned the
root ball and transferred it to this tray,then we
trimmed the branches. Will report on its future
development later on.












This Saturday Mr. "B" /Jacob /& Luis
a new comer to the to the gang at Bent tree.
came to repot & trim a Banyan ficus tree.
The old container was a plastic tub that
had cracked & was falling apart.













The root ball was reduced & placed in
its new container.The branches were trimmed
& wired......looking good guys! I mean the tree!!!













Jacob takes a break after working on
this Japanese maple.















Mr."B" stands behind his work, also a
Japanese maple.









Luis trimmed this chinese elm !!!
good work.

Luis said "I learned about repotting,
cutting the roots /how to tie a tree into the pot/
& how to trim a tree---the best part is it was fun,
I'll be back next Saturday."

Well it's always fun to learn about your
hobby (Bonsai) with friends you make along the way....... Thanks for all the help guys.

Like Mr.Miyagi says"wax on wax off". Read more!

Fort Worth Bonsai Convention

Convention day is
finally here....& were packing the trailer and getting ready to go!!!!










The sheriff Steven Hendricks & deputy
Ladd Kelley are at the registration desk.














Later the rest of the registration posse
is present consisting of Mike Prachyl/Diane
Lowe/Steven Hendricks/&Dan Leblanc.















Headliners Peter Warren from the UK/Matt Ouwinga from Chicago,Ill./Peter Tea from Calf.
and shown here working on a juniper is Guy
Guidry from Louisiana.













Peter Tea on the left & John Kirby on the
right from Von's gardens,with a magnificent pine that Peter spent a day and a half trimming &
wiring for John.















Gregory LeBlanc from Black Bayou
Bonsai in Louisiana works on one of his trees .















Allen Roach from Pensacola Florida
speaks to a customer.












Dan & Jerry Hammack from
Sanderson Creek Bonsai in Ft.Worth -dang it
Jerry you moved just as I took the picture.















Estella Flather from Artistic Plants in
Burleson,Texas talks to Joe Andrews & customers.














Candy & Mike Hansen and their daugter
run MPB Bonsai Studio in Pflugerville,Texas.













Terry Ward makes sales to Candy Hansen
and Howard Smith.















Hurley Johnson from Timeless Trees in
Rosenburg,Texas works on one of his junipers.
















After much trimming and wiring the
finished product well worth the effort!!














My daughter Tory and Howard & his
daughter Isabella. Howard and his wife Sylvia
run the Bonsai Smiths in Dallas,Texas.















Hi there Scott, almost didn't see you
there wearing a green shirt amongst all those
trees.Scott works for Metro Maples in Ft.Worth.











Scott is a long time friend and fellow
Bonsai enthusiasts & we both enjoy maples.












That's me Ray Hernandez from Bent Tree
Bonsai in Dallas,Texas.















This is part of the gang that hangs out
at Bent Tree Bonsai. starting on the left Mr. B
& his son /Jason/Greg/me /& kneeling Jacob.
Missing are Se and Eric, thanks guys for all the
help,couldn't have done it with out you.










Mr. B & Jacob checking out the items for raffle.
Scott Rae doing last minute checks so every thing
will go smoothly.



















Good job Scott the Raffles went of smoothly
& thanks to the young ladies for all their help,
selling raffle tickets & holding up items.















Jacob seemed pleased with winning several
items from the Raffles!!!
All in all it was a great experience and a good
convention!!!!








Read more!

Fort Worth Bonsai Convention

Ft.Worth bonsai "Cowtown" Convention 2010


We're excited the Ft.Worth Bonsai convention is just around the corner !!!! It will be held
on June 11,12 & 13. at the Radisson Hotel on I35 & Meacham Blvd.
We will be vendors along with many others , we invite you to come participate in the festivities.
Come and enjoy the art of Bonsai at it's best!!! There will be many programs , the exhibit area with wonderful tress, the many raffles & last but not least the vendor area--- hope to see you
there!!!


These are some of the trees we're cutting &
trimming for the convention :


























































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Hectic time at the nursery

We have been busy the last couple of months ,what with collecting trees and getting them potted up. Then we set up the shade cloth /set up the benches /empty out the greenhouse / now we are clipping & re potting like crazy.
I couldn't have done it with out the help of good friends like "Se"/ Jason / Mr. "B"/ and Jacob !!! Thanks guys I really appreciate it!!!





These maples were dug up from my raised bed along with nine others.....by Se & myself.












We set up kind of an assembly line /bare rooting /cutting the roots /& then potting them in containers.





















These eleven trees were the result of our days effort..Thank you "Se"!




















This is a pink rhododendron straight out of the green house.














This is an old gnarled boxwood. Estimated age about 35-to- 40 yrs.

















A 25 yr old ficus with a lot of aerial roots.















Mr."B" watches Jacob pruning a trident maple.


















Mr."B" uses a power tool to hollow out a cut















Mr."B" knows how to prune a collected tree for future development.




















Jacob & Mr."B" with a collected cedar elm.












Jacob shows us his pruning technique....thanks guys for all your help !!!
Read more!