Happy New Year, Orlando Bonsai friends and customers! 2012, really? Your bonsai are one year older and, hopefully, a little closer to perfection. Just like our trees change and evolve, so does Orlando Bonsai. First, we want to thank our customers and visitors for a really great 2011 for without you, we just take up cyberspace. Second, you’ll see a new name and face around Orlando Bonsai. Hint: see author of this post. We plan to keep the great traditions and customer service that Paul has provided and will add some of our own. Look for my bio and some new products in the near future. Paul plans to focus on other areas of his bonsai adventure so check out the Epcot International Flower and Garden Show this year and mixed in with all those hidden Mickeys you may find a hidden Paul Pikel helping bonsai artists display their awesome trees. We’d like to take a moment to thank our suppliers, especially Joshua Roth and Arbortech, for continuing to provide great product and support. Thanks again, Orlando Bonsai friends and customers - please visit often in 2012!
There have been some problem areas on my large trident maple for a while. There were very large cuts made on this tree and insects seem to have the situation worse. I need to clean these wounds to help the healing process. These are the main problem areas that I am talking about.
In this photo you can see to the right where the first branch was. The large scar had hindered its growth and weakened it. I am now growing a new branch so fixing this problem now is very important.
This scar is very old, and however is healing over, the dead wood is in bad shape. I want to clean this out as well so that the healing can finish up.
I have had this tree for about 3 or 4 years now, and I had never styled it. I’ve just been letting it grow out so that I had some branches to work with. Well today I decided to take a look at it and get some branch structure devloped.
Neea Buxifolia pre bonsai
This is more than a bush than a tree when I first took a look at it. It does have a nice trunk, good movement and nice nebari.
Neea Buxifolia Bonsai initial styling
As I started removing branches I found a lot of them were not useable, and much of the foliage had blocked new branches from growing on the upper trunk. However I was able to define the trunk line, and open the tree up. The first few branches are now defined so it is a matter of developing th etop of the tree. Speaking about the top of the tree, it is a bit long. As new branches start I can see what other options I have for creating a new top.
