Keats? What a Numpty

Oct 16, 2013 | General

Keats was an English romantic poet who wrote about autumn, “tis the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. Not too sure if I share his whimsical notion. I don’t much like autumn OR winter here in Blighty. Last week I was in Spain enjoying beautiful warm dry sunshine. An hour after I returned it began raining and it hasn’t stopped since. You know it’s autumn because everything is wet and soggy and it’s getting dark before you finish work. The heating is on and I have early onset trench foot.

Bonsai folk have a special relationship with the seasons. Who doesn’t go out early in the morning or after work to have a look around their benches and admire their fine bonsai or, more to the point lately, to pick them up off the ground following high winds. Our trees are a great barometer of what’s happening out there and a wonderful link to the eternal rhythms of life that, by and large, go un-noticed by modern ‘interactive’ man. These things are important for our wellbeing, much like eating prunes.

We English have a reputation for *issing and moaning about the weather. Having travelled around planet bonsai a bit over the years I can assure you that the weather is the great bug bear wherever you go. One place it’s too hot, another it’s too cold or wet. The secret is to find the little gems of magic that sparkle no matter what the weather is doing. This time of year many things are starting to look a little worse for wear in the bonsai garden but here are a few gems I spotted on a quick once around the nursery. Enjoy whilst you can…..

G.

Enfield Bonsai Group Autumn Show

Oct 15, 2013 | General

4am Sunday morning we were on the road in the torrential rain heading for Enfield, north London. Not my preferred option for a Sunday morning, especially after a hectic week of travelling. A busy day in prospect we collected my friend (also Graham) and reluctantly made our way through the floods in the cold and dark.

The Enfield Bonsai group have been holding an autumn show for a while now and this year we were asked to get involved. So a little sponsorship, a tokonoma display, demo’ and trade space ensured a busy day. Because I was working, Rammon was consigned to our trade pitch for the day and the two Graham’s got up on stage to do a little work. My mentor, Kevin Willson appeared and sat in the front row. No pressure there then 😉

Despite the weather a great turnout ensued. I think this was an excellent little show, very well supported and some very special and well presented bonsai trees. The club here have done exceptionally well to put together an excellent event. Here’s looking forward to next year…..

G.

New Bonsai Tree Listings Imminent

Oct 12, 2013 | General

Over the last few weeks we have bought in several large private collections of bonsai trees. The thing I love about doing that is we always turn up some very unusual trees. When you buy a whole collection you also get some strange items like weird pots and a few scruffy bits and bobs. This week we have prepared about 30 new items for the web site and they will be listed in the next few days. Here’s a taster of what’s coming up.

New Bonsai Tree Stock

Oct 12, 2013 | General

This week I have been away on a buying trip. By the end of next week we will have a large delivery of some really nice yamadori trees including junipers, scots pine, oaks, olive and even some vines. Obviously more information and pictures will be available once everything arrives but for now here are a few snaps.