The Kaizen Bonsai Blog by Graham Potter
Whether you are looking to master the basics of tree health or perform advanced structural styling, use the sections below to navigate our decades of experience in the art of bonsai.
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Graham's Bonsai Trees
It’s Like The Whole World Has Gone Gardening
I was speaking to one of the countries largest manufacturers of commercial compost products just last week who told me they were busy, busy, busy, he had never known anything like it. "It's like the whole world has gone gardening!". I would concur, since January 1st we have processed nearly 2500 orders and unusually they are big orders too, especially considering we are coming to the end of selling trees. Saying that, I sound like a broken record I know but the logistics of shipping a hundred parcels and three quarters of a ton of product daily with only two folk packing boxes, hauling...
Magical Winter Appearance.
I don't get out much, I just work. These days it's even hard to get out into the garden during daylight hours. Once you know bonsai well winter is largely THE best time of year. All is quiet with the trees resting and displaying their magical winter appearance. One of my favourite trees this time of year is Chinese elm that usually finish dropping their leaves in February. The biting east wind of last week certainly did it for this lovely old elm. I featured this tree on my blog previously - 44,000 Hours Well Spent – Growing Bonsai Trees So now without leaves it's easy to appreciate the time...
Top Posts
Recent Posts
Noelanders Trophy 2016
Just got back from our annual gruelling, but ultimately rewarding, trip to Belgium for the Noelanders Trophy. Too many years have passed by with us visiting this event but it never ceases to surprise in one way or another. This year the buzz around the trade was a...
Trust Your Instincts
If you stick at bonsai long enough and do enough work there comes a time when the doubt and uncertainty disappears. In relation to styling trees a lot of folk seem to struggle when it comes to dealing with the initial basics. A few years back I was regularly running...
Now That’s a Good Start
I understand it's customary to wish ones friends and family a happy new year today. Seeing as I do not have any friends I thought I should make up my quota of good wishes by doing it here. Along with Catherine I would like to sincerely wish all of our family,...
A Big Fight on the Big Day
Anyone who knows me will know what an unsociable old grouch I can be. If those folk happen to do bonsai they also know I like to take the gently gently approach to creating bonsai. I like to take my time and use as light a touch as possible. Seeing as everyone was in...
Our Christmas Tree
I took half a day off, now it's back to work! Just finished off this sweet little juniper that Ramon got wired a few days ago. It's been for sale on the web site for a while now without a single murmur of interest. We cut a large branch away and the deadwood was...
That’s All Folks! An End of Year Ramble
The old saying goes 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. Which, I guess, makes me the dullest of all. Early next year my daughter turns 23 and the last time I went on holiday was two or three years before she was born. I have a few reasons for that, firstly...