A Bleary Outlook and a Thick Head

Here I am at first light Monday morning with a bleary outlook and a thick head whilst my ears are ringing. 9 hours after getting back from my big weekend out at Bonsai-Fest I have a very great deal to cogitate. Whilst I am doing that I thought I would let you see what I bought home.

Before I get to that I would like to say to everyone who took the trouble to ‘have a word‘ that it has always been and will continue to be an absolute privilege to serve ya’ll in whatever way I can wether that be through Kaizen Bonsai or sharing what I have learned in written word, video or face to face.

I will be eternally grateful for the support given to myself and our little family. Folk, taking the time to express your own appreciation for what we do means way more than the words alone. It spurs me on to do more than ever seeing as it is appreciated so much by so many of you.

I was infinitely amused by the notion that Kevin Willson (my good companion for the weekend) and I are being looked upon (by some) as the grandfathers of modern British bonsai. We are both grandfathers of course but, and I speak personally here, regarding bonsai, after 40 years of absolute dedication to the ‘art’ I feel i am only just getting started so buckle up young’uns!

As I was mooching around the bewildering array of trade stalls someone asked me what it was I was looking for. My response was ‘age‘. What I mean by that is the magic that age brings to bonsai. Age that is genuine, trees that have been in bonsai pots for decades have a presence that is absolutely impossible to fake and it’s very hard to find. Perhaps I can explain that in more detail another time but those of you who know, know.

First up I grabbed this hawthorn. Thorns are definitely not a favourite of mine for reasons i don’t have the energy to go into at this time but as a passionate yamadori guy I figured this would make a good project and the price was very fair. Expect to see this one in a future video.

Not my favourite species but how could I refuse ?

My other purchase was this big privet. I spotted it early on but did not recognise it until I met the vendor who I have been friendly with for over thirty years. During my very first excursions into bonsai club life the guys at our local club were poring over this photo and i got a glimpse over a shoulder and was both awe struck and jealous all at once. At that time I had no clue what I was up to and material like this was just a pipe dream.

Mid-1990’s, recently lifted from an allotment I believe and structural pruning completed.

Fast forward a few years and I had done just that and in the very early 2000s I had the privilege of being able to spend a weekend with the owner where we begun the hollowing process and completed some branch work too.

Over the intervening years I caught a glimpse of the tree from time to time but when I spotted it across a crowded Fest it had changed so much I did not recognise it. Being able to buy this for a very fair sum absolutely made my weekend. To be able to walk out with a great example of bonsai skillage and a little bit of my own history is wonderful. I would like to thank GB for allowing me to buy this tree. You will be seeing a lot more of this one in the future as I refine it’s craggy old appearance. That’s ‘age‘ and just what I was looking for! Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Graham Potter – March 2026

First day with my new bonsai 🙂

This picture was taken 20+ years ago just after first carving and some branch work.