Many mounts ago, my new bonsai friend ‘Rune Kyrdalen’ had invited me over to Norway to do a workshop and demo weekend for his club “THE NORSK BONSAISELKAP”. So finally last Friday, early in the morning, I boarded the SAS plain to fly to yet a other country I had never been to before, to meet up with new bonsai friends to do some serious bonsai, with a smile!
More pictures soon.
Hans.
* You can find the story of the “SWAN” right up to this point here: http://www.karamotto.org/ . Than select “BONSAI STORYS” and choose: “story of the “SWAN”.
27 July 2008
Above picture: The last major work that was don on this old Pine dates back to it’s first styling in *2004! All this time up to now, the tree was pampered to encourage back budding as close as possible to the trunk line. Well, as you can see, I got more than enough new foliage and buds to give the tree it second major styling in late fall this year! But there were some major decisions to be made right now as well!
In the first styling 2 back branches were used to build up the lower left frond section, so I could visualise and check my vision of the future bonsai. But now, because of all this incredible growth, I have so much more better placed branches and foliage to replace them with, that they have become useless. In the above picture, were I raise this frond branch, you can see how much beautiful deadwood was hidden from view!
Above left picture: Left side view of the tree, you can see how much deadwood is blocked.
Above right picture: Lifting up the heavier frond branch makes a big improvement. You can see the other branch that has to go, on the left of my finger tips.
Above left picture: Here you can see the second branch better. It is blocking out all the empty back space, that you need to see from the front side.
Above right picture: Here you can see the difference!
Above picture: This is the thick branch I need to remove first. Under need it you can see the second one that needs to go.
Above left: Judging were to cut.
Above right: Heavy cutters were used to snap off the branch in one go.
Above picture: So, the first one is removed!
Above left picture: Looks better already.
Above right picture: You can see clearly here, that when we now stand in front of the tree, there is almost a clear pathway under need the foliage, for the eye to wonder off into the distance.
Above pictures: Yes, that branch definitely has to go to!
Above picture: Right and backside view.
Above left picture: Backside view.
Above right picture: The yellow dots show how long this branch really is. Because of the constant cutting back into new growth and pinching back that I did in the seasons after it’s first styling, the 3 small branches, just above the red line, have grown enough to now be used as the new branch tips of the future first branch.
Above left picture: Close up of those 3 small branches.
Above right picture: The branch is cut leaving a small stump, so that there is enough room for it to dry back naturally, with out harming those all important small branches.
Above picture: The wounds are sealed with cut paste.
Above pictures show the removed branches.
Above pictures show, that by just removing those two branches the beautiful deadwood is more open. The open space that now is created, provides the necessary see trough, that creates dept and open space under need this future first branch.
Above left picture: With the help of 2 wooden blocks some branches were lifted, so that light and air can better reach the inner buds and smaller branches that I need for my second styling.
Above right and bellow picture: These blocks created new height in the foliage and a new image! So that triggered me, to make a quick drawing of a posible design. Having don this, I realise that the foliage is to high in this new idea and that the tree image should be more compact. So this drawing helped me to decide to stick to the original plan I made when I started to style this tree.
Now the tree is left alone until I will start the second styling in early Winter. I can hardly wait for that time to arrive!
Hans.
Accompanying text will follow tomorrow!
Hans.
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22 Juli.
Hi everybody,
although it is not much of a summer right now here in Holland, it has been raining for weeks on end, this is usually a slow period in bonsai. But still important tasks have to be don regularly, like checking all your trees, to make sure that the wire is not digging into the bark. My Larch “THE ELEPHANT” has been wired in late winter, but has grown really a lot, so the wire was starting to cut in, especially in the fast growing top section. Some off the ticker wire that was holding the top up in place, was already cut off a month ago, that’s why it looks a bit collapsed in this picture. Yesterday my student/friend Ed came over to help me lift this monster to a place were I can remove all the wire more easily! Today it is lovely weather so I don’t mind doing that at all. I shot this picture 2 days ago and I hope you like the progress of “THE ELEPHANT” so fare? I am off to cut some wires now!
Hans.
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20 Juli: Close up of the natural deadwood on my Dutch yamadori Hawthorn.
On 7 and 8 June, the annual meeting of the Danish Bonsai Association was held in Aalborg, in Northern Jutland (Denmark). I was invited to do a demonstration on the Saturday and a workshop on the Sunday. After just a short flight, I arrived early in the afternoon on the Friday before the event, in Copenhagen airport. I was picked up by my bonsai friend Klaus Buddig and together we started the 5 hour trip to the North of Denmark. Which included a 45 minute catamaran ferry crossing to Jutland. This boat trip was anticipated by me with some horror, because I get seasick even writing about it! But I have to admit it was a lot of fun to race across the water on this bed out of hell! And I have to be honest: there is not much that 2 beer cant fix!
Above picture: me on the back of this large speed boat (the things I have to go trough for this hobby).
Left picture: Klaus Buddig relaxing on the back of the boat.
Right picture: Those mighty twin turbines, created a water spray over 30 meters long, leaving a foam trail that can be seen from a airplane!
After a long but pleasant drive, during which, many bonsai talk was spoken, we arrived in Aalborg, one of the main city’s in Northern Jutland. The TOMTOM brought use safe to the “Huset” (which means ”The House” ) were this event would take place. My dear friend Morten Albek showed use were to park behind the large old building and after we sad our Halloo’s, he let use trough a big old gate into a big courtyard like square, that was completely surrounded by this beautiful ocker colored square shaped building. We arrived right around diner time and the smell of the barbecue that was going on made my mouth water, but first a beer! There was a large stage were musicians were setting up there instruments for the show that would start in a few hours and in frond of that stage, scattered arround the square, local people were having a nice diner, sitting under old Linden trees, that were planted in a circle (like a donut). These stunning trees provided some picturesque shades in the setting sun light and having your diner under need them observing the atmosphere of the place wile listening to some light Jazz and Blues was a real tread for me! It proved to be a great start to a great weekend.
The “Huset” picturesque inner courtyard seen from above. I shoot this picture from a second floor window were the Shohin exhibition was staged.
Left picture: The local folks enjoying a lovely diner, wile waiting for the band to start playing.
Right picture: How nice it that on a warm summers night?!
Both pictures above were shoot by me from the Aalborg camping were we stayed, not a bad place either!
After the diner and some light refreshments, we only had to drive a couple of minutes to reach the ”Aalborg Camping” were we all would stay during this weekend. After we enjoyed some more refreshments while sitting outside in the still setting sun, we all went to bed very tired. Next day, it was early out of bed to enjoy a lovely breakfast and then it was of to the “Huset” to start the show!
*Picture right: Just before the doors for the public were opened, Ljunberg a very lovely and talented new potter preparing here first ever display aria.
Picture left: A equally lovely friend that helped here during the weekend.
Above picture: This is the tent were the new talent competition was held. It was next to the tent were I was giving my demonstrating, so every now and than I could catch a glimpse of all those eager, enthusiastic and nervous bonsai lovers at work. This made me smile and it worked very inspiring for me.
The new talent contest winner was a very new talent, Julie Isager from Keyaki Bonsai Club in Copenhagen. Julie is 26 years old, and started to practice bonsai only six months ago. She is a student of my friend Klaus Buddig. The second place was taken by Finn Christensen from the bonsai club Kita in Aalborg. (No third places was chosen, only first and second).
* Above picture: Here I am posing with Klaus Buddig in frond of his Yamadori Pinus Sylvestris he so kindly entrusted to me to demonstrate on. In the middle you can see the design I made for this future Bonsai.
*Left picture: The design I made for this old pine.
*Right picture: Explaining my plans for this tree to the audience.
*Picture above: I like demonstrations, like this one, were the audience can walk right up to me and ask me questions and see hands on what I am doing. You can see here than the cascading branch is all ready brought down the trunk. The future top section is here still reaching for the sky.
*Above picture: Concentrated and hot at work.
*Above picture: It is always nice to have a extra pair off hands! Erling Klysner did a great job helping me wiring the top and bending it into place. So we could all go to diner in time!
*Left picture: Working on the future top.
*Right picture: The finished pre bonsai for now. The cascading branch, needs a sharper bend to the right, just were it appears from behind the main trunk! But because this is it first styling and the branch had come such a long way from were it was originally before all the works started, that this will be don in the future, when the tree is fully recovered from all this stress! The trees health should always come first, even in demonstrations!
* Above picture: And than there was Coffey!
On the Saturday I had the hard task of judging the bonsai on display in the show. And during the diner I was invited on stage to present the award and give some comments to all the winners. I myself was honored with some lovely words and a bottle of some of the best Cognac I ever sipped (half empty already)! They all sure made me feel very much at home here, really special people indeed!
Above picture: During a break in the gala diner on the Saturday night, a proud Morten Albek received the first price award for the best Shohin composition in show.
Winner of the best bonsai in show was won by Martin Nielsen with a beautiful Juniperus chinensis.
I had a couple of hours to kill, Before the Sunday workshops would begin. So Lona Rasmussen asked me, if I would style one off here Yamadori Pinus Sylvestris, she brought along for here own first demo, she would give that afternoon. So wile everybody was busy for a few hours at the annual club meeting on the other side of the venue, I had some nice quiet bonsai time on my own, wile working on here tree in the morning sun with some coffee.
*Picture above: The tent were the Sunday workshop was held.
*Left picture: Aase Wiberg working on here big garden Juniper.
*Right picture: Here I am working together with Julie Isager on here Yew, she is the winner of the new talent competition. I am sure she has a bright bonsai future ahead of her!
*Left picture: Helping with some final wiring.
Right picture: Peter Landerloos working concentrated on his Yamadori Pine.
*Above pictures: During this Sunday workshop, Klaus Buddig enjoyed himself very much working on the deadwood of his Pine, that I worked on during my Saturday demo! And I liked to ad: he did a beautiful job!
Than before we all knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes already! I had a great time and made a lot of new friends and was trilled to spent this long weekend with some old friends! I am sure that this was not the last time I visit beautiful Denmark to do bonsai! Infect: I have already been asked by Morten to do a show he is staging next year!
After the 5 hour long trip to Klaus his great house, I had a good night rest in his famous bonsai guest room, were many well know artist have spent the night before me! On the Monday we had a wonderful relaxed day in his garden, enjoying the Sun and each others company, just a brilliant day to finish my wonderful visit to Denmark!
Left picture: For our diner, Klaus took my to a posh and very exclusive sailboat club in Copenhagen. The view there, over looking the Sea was really stunning, and the food and cold beer were not to bad ether!
Right picture: A beautiful Acer buergerianum raft in Klaus his garden.
Above picture: In Klaus his large garden, I had a great time playing with young “Sheva” a rare Bergen pichard lady dog….YO SHEVA!! I said LADY DOG!
Above picture: That’s much better! Isn’t she pretty!
Than it was of to the airport to fly home, a other wonderful bonsai memory came to a end, up to the next one!
Here are the links to the site of the Danish Bonsai association were you can see more pictures of this event, my demo and workshop.
http://www.bonsai-danmark.dk/BILLEDERDBS-2008-demo.htm
http://www.bonsai-danmark.dk/BILLEDERDBS-2008.htm
*Pictures with star by: Morten Albek.
Hans van Meer.
This Larch lost a lot of it’s branches during a unusual long period of extremely hot weather in early Summer 2 seasons ago. So last year I repotted it in a (to) large pot, so it could regain its strength and it did. I left the dead branches on the tree, because they actually tell the story that I was meaning to show in this creation from the start. A image of a old tree high on the mountain, bettered by strong winds, snow and dry head during the short summers. Almost falling in to the debts below it, but still clinging on to the rock’s, not willing to give in!
I hope you like it,
Hans.
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Here are some pic’s of the guy’s (Eric Sanders and Ed van der Reek) at work on the trees they brought along.
ED (in front) and Eric hard at work. Before any real styling can be don the trees need to be cleaned out, so Ed is removing the old needles from his Pinus Sylvestris and Eric is thinning out and is removing unwanted foliage and small branches from his Chamaecyparis.
After carefully checking out the right lower branch, Eric had decided it has to go and with out hesitation he cuts it of!
Ed wiring the hole tree, were the the main trunk had to be bended severely, to give it more movement and to make it more compact. He protected the trunk, with in water soaked raffia rapped tightly around it. In picture 2: The lowest (right) section of this tree is already more or less in the desired place, now Ed can start styling the top section.
Double chin, MOI? No! Picture 2: Looking better and better!
Pinus Sylvestris and Juniperus Sargantii by Ed van der Reek. The Juniperus had it’s second (touch up) styling.
I’ll be back,
Hans van meer.
Saturday May 10.
Day 1:
Left picture: Tom’s “SHADY SIDE BONSAI” is so big that he and Rich had to load Rich his large Yew on the back of a small tractor to bring it up the hill, to his outdoor working aria.
Right picture: Here I am discussing the possibilities of the lovely two trunk Yew Tom provided me with for my morning demo.
Left picture: Looking were to start.
Right picture: Although the weather was letting us a bid down, people were waiting with anticipation.
Left picture: First the tree was cleaned of all unwanted branches to get a better view of the frame of the tree.
Right picture: Because the base of the left trunk was to thick in comparison with the right trunk, the to large pies of deadwood on the left trunk was reduced, to open up the empty space between the two trunks.
Left picture: After most of that excess wood was reduced and the trunks looked better in balance with its other i was able to make my design for this mother and child Yew.
Right picture: This is the drawing of the design I came up with. I almost always make these sketches of my designs. It helps me to remember my first thought, like a blue print, before I start to think to much about thinks! Because of the lake of time and the health of the tree that should be protected at all times, most first styling during these demo’s are a bid ruff and unfinished and don’t always show clearly what the end result of the future bonsai will be in a few years. These drawings are also pretty handy to show people what your future plans are with your tree! It makes explaining why I am using certain techniques to get to a curtain point a lot easier, if those people have a clear view of were I am working towards!
Sunday May 11.
Day 2.
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THE STORY OF THE “H.O.G” (or, how Rich saw the light! Used it’s force and fell asleep).
You might ask: why is this story in a section of its own? Well because this is a story about courage, stubbornness, hesitation, overcoming to be rewarded! In short: creating a bonsai!
Everybody else walked past this enormous Yew, simply because it was to big! But no, not Richy! Even when everybody said, don’t Rich! it is to big, to heavy and to hard to collect, leave it! This only fired him up to do it any way. Rich is a bit stubborn some times and what he lakes in height, he easily makes up with courage! So he went for it! All alone and for many hours! If you look at the next picture and compare the height of the tree to that of the shovel, you can fully understand the enormous task he had to preform to get this monster Yew out!
GGGRRUZZ! #*#FRRUCKLESS! #*## GGODDSSF!
The above picture is titled: Yew in front of its new home. Or: How Richy scared the neighbors!
Richy, (with the help of a water jet stream) managed to clean off all of the hardened old soil of the massive roots! But, by doing this, he created a bid of a mud stream, that because of the sloping street, quickly grew into a all engulfing mudslide! Twiggels, the cat from Misses Brown, from down the street, is still missing! And even furter downtown, many a toilet got clocked up for weeks!
Saturday, day one. THE PRELUDE.
Left picture: All geared up for the task ahead! MMMMM!
Right picture: Richy concentrated at work on the massive deadwood sections.
Every now and than I jumped in to do a bid!
THE “H.O.G” SQUAT
More pictures cant be found on this next link to “SHADY SIDE BONSAI” .
http://www.shadysidebonsai.com/id122.html
This magnificent statue stood in the entrance of Donna’s studio to greet us.
Above left picture: The original molt of the famous John Naka bust she made.
Right picture: And a large poster of a stunning Murial, also from here talented hands.
Above left picture: One of the several live size bronze cattle, Donna made for the “Red Bird” range.
Right picture: Discussing the possibility of this large yamadori Boxwood that Trent brought along.
Above picture: Working on the deadwood of Donna’s Kidney wood.
Above left picture: Donna and Terry listening to me babbling! The great thing about these workshops is, that all people can join in, to hear a explanation!
Right picture: Irene’s “Hubby” Terry brought a Juniperus chinensis along to work on.
Above left picture: We had a great lunch in the famous “PIG STAND” restaurant. This place serves good food since 1921. Their onion rings were as big as tiara’s! MMMMM!!!!
Right picture: Trend’s “Buxwood”.
Above right picture: I took this picture, right after I collapsed, tired and warm, on the steps leading into Irene’s house. The only place around with some shadow! I was so glad to take a load off and get a breather and some cold water in to me! But immediately after the first small refreshing drink I took I looked down, alarmed as I was, by that small warning bell in my head, that got stuck for ever in the back of our mind, since some guy with thick eyebrows, saw his confused grandfather trying to path a innocent looking “Sabre tooth on the head”! Suddenly, there in front of me, out of nowhere, sat ”BRUN” (short for “BRUNO”), the over sized alpha male of the “Irene’s cat clan” who is well known to tackle deer and wrestling moose! Which, he than often leaves on Irene’s and Terry’s front porch as a token off his affection for them! ”BRUN” is contemplating here, with out blinking, if he would eat me, or just play with me a bit…before eating me any way!
But to be honest, after I told “BRUN” in a soft voice and avoiding any sudden movements, that I was good people, and to tired to move anyway! He gave me some gentle pussy cat head buds on my knees, that rattled the teeth in my mouth! So I thought it would be safe to give him a nice scratch behind his battered ears. Not to long though! I found out that disturbing pictures of Sigfried and Roy, do seem to pop up into once mind, during these pressure moments! Than “BRUN” curled up beside me on the foot board and started to wash himself. I thanked him for the use of his afternoon shadow spot and took a other drink. “BRUN” was right, this was a cool spot to hang out! And there was more than enough room for the both of use!
Hans van Meer.
Donna L. Dobberfuhl, MFA, NSS
Sculptural Designs Atelier
1514 Broadway
San Antonio TX 78215
(210) 224-0220
(210) 326-0862
www.sculpturaldesigns.com
One of the many beautiful views at the Tsugawas Nursery!
Very early in the morning, Jason loading up the Pick up with some nice local yamadori material! Than it is of for the 1 hour drive to the workshop in Woodland Washington.
Beautiful Baby KOI.
Ed Imholte working hard on his Ponderosa Pine.
Here I am posing along with the “Hemlock” that Tony discovered between the abundance of material here at the “Tsugawas” nursery. Tony and I searched hard and than found a lovely little tree hiding some were in all those branches.
There it is! Top of the world MOM!
Joyce’s Ponderosa Pine before and after.
Jason did good on his Pine, so I rewarded him in the proper way!
Tsugawas Nursery http://www.tsugawanursery.com/