Orlando Bonsai » Collection Highlights

My First Review…

Paul Pikel — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:00:32 +0000

A few months ago I recieved an e-mail from Joan Berkwitz of the Golden State Bonsai Federation asking if she could use a few pictures from my site for an article she wanted to write about my site. What? Are you kidding me!!!??? I was blown away. As most of you know, this site is just about the life of my small bonsai collection, and this was something really big to me. Of course I agreed and felt so humbled.

I hadn’t heard from her for a while, so I decided to check out their website, and there it was on page 13 (lucky number for me), the review.

May/June2009 Golden State Bonsai Federation

For the full article you can see it at http://tinyurl.com/pral9g

This publication is so much more than just the normal club newsletter. The articles are well written and cover a wide variety of topics. Thanks Joanie

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2009 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

Paul Pikel — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:34:52 +0000

Well the trees are now on display at Epcot for the next 10 weeks. The show set up went very well and we had a blast doing it. There are plenty of pictures, but I wanted to post one of my all time favorties taken of my tree by Greg Matthews.

Paul Pikel Bouganvillea at Epcot 2009

If you get the chance be sure to see the display. You won’t be disappointed!!

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Say hello to my little friend

Paul Pikel — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:27:20 +0000

Well for a person that doesn’t do small trees, I sure have been doing a lot of small trees lately. However I couldn’t pass this one up. Great price and absolutely perfect. I’m not sure how I actual got it out without a struggle. So many people we looking at this tree and once it was styled there were jaws dropping left and right.

Inital styling

Examining the roots

These roots were in perfect condition and loaded with mychorrhizae. It is just the most healthy tree I think I have ever worked with.

mychorrhizae

As I slowly raked the roots I noticed even more mychorrhizae. The roots had great drainage and were very condensed, feeder roots. I just can’t get over how amazing these roots were.

Repotted

Well here it is in its bonsai pot, all 5 inches of it! Amazing how much power a little tree like this can project. I’ll keep you posted as its begins to fill in.

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Peanut butter and Jelly

Paul Pikel — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:45:40 +0000

There are times when things just come together perfectly, and I can officially state that I actually had the right pot for the tree for the first time. I spent much of the morning re-wiring and redefining my Crepe Myrtle. I can’t believe the pictures from last January and how far this tree has come.

Crape Myrtle Thread Grafted

Just look how nicely the pot compliments the bark of the tree. When this tree is leafed out and flowering it will really be something special. When I repotted the tree I found that the roots had been holding a lot of water. so with the new soil it should produce a lot of new growth and be much healthier.

Crape Myrtle Close up

Here is a close up of the tree. This tree is not the easiest tree to wire. I’m using 1mm wire on branches that are about 1mm thick. However if I don’t the branches tend to curl up. I need the branches mid way up the trunk to fill in over the scar. I should be able to achieve that this year. I have a feeling the next time I post this tree it will be a finished Bonsai.

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Leafed out and ready

Paul Pikel — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:50:13 +0000

After the tree leafed out it really showed a nearly finished bonsai. Only thing missing now is flowers. Hopefully we’ll see some this fall. Aug 08

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