biork 木の精神

Old Tjikko & a collected smaller spruce

2011-12-12T09:58:00.001+01:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picea_abies

While searching for species detalis on wiki i also found this interesting article about the worlds oldest "standalone" tree which is of the same species as my little spruce, well worth a look. 9550 years is pretty impressive I think. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Tjikko.

Pot by wallsall studios.

American sweetgum, sweet-gum, alligator-wood, American-storax, bilsted, red-gum, satin-walnut or star-leaved gum, or whatever you like ...

2011-12-10T17:39:00.001+01:00

The only alligator tree left from last years sowing season.

Not a very commonly used tree as bonsai is it : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidambar_styraciflua

Austrian Pine Group Planting

2011-12-05T20:49:00.001+01:00

The slowgrowing beeches

2011-12-04T17:50:00.001+01:00

Most bonsaiists I know have reported limited growth on all fagus species. Extremely slow growth on my beeches, spanning from spring and steadily producing leaves until mid-november. Strange. In addition these trees are tourniqated just below the soil for a better nebari in the future, so this may have added to en extra slow growth this year. Of all trees I have i find the beech to be the hardest to understand, but Im still hoping to crack the code. If only the temperature would keep as calm as now these trees may explode during the spring..

Why keep? Why Not?

2011-12-04T17:44:00.001+01:00

The cutling from my first Larch transplanted to a trainee pot for growth.

Ugly Bugly.

Siberian Maple

2011-12-04T11:49:00.001+01:00

Siberian Maple Cutling Update

2011-12-04T04:00:00.000+01:00

Linden Update

2011-12-03T04:00:00.000+01:00

Mispel Update

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000+01:00

Reaching for the crown

2011-12-01T15:18:00.001+01:00

Suspect this one to be a Cotoneaster of some kind, but have not investigated further. Suggestions are appreciated on this one.

Hazel Update

2011-12-01T04:00:00.000+01:00

Korean Hornbeam

2011-11-29T16:53:00.001+01:00

New tree, aquired from http://www.bonsaipotter.com september 2011. Imported from the Netherlands the same month. This tree is a korean yamadori from the late eighties according to Jan Olav at Bonsaipotter.

Also on my watchlist for cold norwegian winters.

"Carpinus turczaninowii /Korean hornbeam Less vigorous form reaching 10metres when mature native to Japan, Korea and China, very small leaves and delicate, branching growth pattern has orange-red Autumn colour. Needs some protection from winter cold and loses lower branches when weakened." - From "Species Guide" at bonsai4me.com.

Katzura Maple Bonsai Fall Update

2011-11-29T15:30:00.001+01:00

On the list of trees to be taken inside if temp drops below 7. Has its first full on norwegian winter. (Which by the way seems to be the mildest in years :) )

Redwood Bonsai

2011-11-28T23:33:00.001+01:00

2 small giants left.

Norwegian Maple Update

2011-11-18T04:00:00.000+01:00

Birch Forest Update

2011-11-17T04:00:00.000+01:00

Pine update

2011-11-16T04:00:00.000+01:00

Bonsai Haiku and Japanese Red Maple Update

2011-11-15T04:00:00.000+01:00

Still pretty thin-leaved after the pruning this spring. Curious to how it will respond to a full on norwegian winter. Normal precautions below ten degrees.

Before fall pruning:

After fall pruning:

This is blog post number 200 from BIORK bonsai. Celebrations kept in the still. Here a little ad-hoc haiku to honour my readers:

Norsk dialekt (7-5-7)

Koppen bli fort kald ude,

Ngen tre vil inn.

Ikkje kaldt nok for resten.

English

The coffe cup gets cold quick outside,

Some trees are taken inhouse.

Not cold enough for the rest of them.

Japanese

コーヒーカップは、冷たい素早く外側を取得

いくつかの木は、社内を取っている。

ないそれらの残りの部分用に十分な寒さ。

Dont blame google translate, blame me.

Torsøy Pine

2011-11-14T04:00:00.000+01:00

Responding good to the pot transplant having buds at all branches. Pot by Victor Harris at Erin Bonsai

Japanese Purpur Maple

2011-11-13T04:00:00.000+01:00

This group planting has experienced some dieback of branches etc. due to change of environment from previous owner which had a warmer overall climate for his trees than what I allow mine to have. But it has finally settled and is looking more fit than ever regarding next spring. It is full of buds close to the trunk.

Japanese Maple

2011-11-12T04:00:00.000+01:00

2012s reppoting and new growth will have this maple look like a bonsai in no time. Next year will be a blast.

Before fall pruning

After fall pruning:

Japanese Larch Group

2011-11-11T04:00:00.000+01:00

Japanese Larch

2011-11-10T04:00:00.000+01:00

Osakazuki update

2011-11-09T04:00:00.000+01:00

Golden Larch

2011-11-08T04:00:00.000+01:00

The Prunus Beast

2011-11-07T04:00:00.000+01:00

Rowan growin

2011-11-06T18:47:00.000+01:00

Pine update

2011-11-05T04:00:00.000+01:00

Japanese grey bark Elm repotted and left out in the cold

2011-11-04T04:00:00.000+01:00

"All your elms are belong to us."

Planning to keep this tree outside this winter. Normal precautions, but no default inhouse of my second elm either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelkova_serrata

Chinese Elm left out in the cold

2011-11-03T04:00:00.000+01:00

The Chinese Elm (also called "Lacebark Elm") was kept indoors last winter, but will remain outside this winter. I will take the regular precautions if the temp drops below 10.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_parvifolia

Looking at the below image there is room for expanding of the crown. It can easily take 35-40% expansion in all directions and even look more like a tree in nature. If it survives, mohahahaha!

Mother Fuchsia

2011-11-02T15:58:00.000+01:00

Cutling from Mother Fuchsia before and after pruning

2011-11-02T15:56:00.000+01:00

Cutling taken during last winter. Like all cutlings from the mother it grows with vigour. Needs shelter when -10 celsius. Only species I won that will be kept indoors during winter time.

Du riechst so gut!

Austrian Pines

2011-11-01T10:49:00.000+01:00

Here are the remaining 7 Pinus Nigras, rest of them were given away to my good bonsaifriends, Myrlik and Gymir.

Growing pines from seeds is a slow process.

Norway Birch Bonsai

2011-10-30T19:35:00.002+01:00

Fall images of all my trees will follow the next 20 or so days. I start as usual with a visual update of my Birch. Please remember to use the "Species link" below the post to check the progress of the tree in question. Hoping to hear from you guys soon.

All images with watermark "BIORK 14.10.2011" were taken by Bjørn Tore Eik. Check out http://www.bteik.no or http://starlab.sbp.no/ to see examples of his fabolus works,

Myrliks roots

2011-10-27T06:25:00.000+02:00

Wrong timestamp on these images, 27.10.2011 is the correct date

Norway Maple

2011-08-26T10:44:00.000+02:00

Check history of tree to consider development. This year it has received only water, fertilizer and sun. It has responded with vigour. Next year for a bigger pot, but already now I am starting to get an image of how it CAN be a bonsai in the future.

Yet another Low quality image, but again, for the record, it is, basically for the record.

Bonsai Prunus

2011-08-07T23:09:00.000+02:00

A friend and a dawg helped me pull this cherry tree from my garden. No high hopes, since almost no roots where attached to the clump. A high risk, low cost, big gain project.

Birch Forest shortened

2011-07-14T10:17:00.000+02:00

Before:

After:

Linden pruned

2011-07-14T10:14:00.001+02:00

Mispel styling

2011-07-14T10:13:00.001+02:00

Auto-Water System

2011-06-24T17:13:00.000+02:00

Going 14 days on summer holiday. My Hozelock system will ensure 4 daily waterings a 5 minutes everyday starting from noon tomorrow. :) Should have had some time-lapse video, that wouldve been king to monitor. For now I am counting on really really good neighbours for this. Happy holidays everyone...

New Erin Pots

2011-06-24T17:08:00.000+02:00

Bonsai / Metal video from the end of May 2011

2011-06-20T15:26:00.000+02:00

Pinus Sylvestris #2 WIRED

2011-06-20T14:59:00.000+02:00

initial wiring on the pine

Myrliks first yamadori

2011-06-20T14:05:00.002+02:00

1 piece of saved hedge, unknown spieces, Ligustrum?

New Pots From Erin Bonsai

2011-06-05T12:54:00.000+02:00

Two new pots from Erin Bonsai on their way.

Oval Pot from Erin Pottery. Size 13"x9.25"x3" approx

Oval Pot from Erin Pottery. Size 10.25"x7.25"x1.75" approx

My experience is that once the pots are in place, my visions of what trees fits, change, so not sure, but at the time of ordering I was thinking the 13'' pot for the birch, and the other for the Acer Palmatum (in the blue plastic pot currently)

meet your death Mr. Bugs

2011-06-03T11:39:00.001+02:00

Today I noticed several of my maples where infested with thousands of these nifty little creatures. Not sure what they are, approx. 0.5 - 0.8 mm big. Kind of nice insects I would say, somewhat more metal than your regular ladybug. Likeable regardless, they must die. As allways suggestions to what species it can be are allways welcome.

Since I am a homegrown kind of guy without immediate access to my car at the time being, I have found a standard recipe for several sorts of aphids that will be used as soon as the solution has cooled down a bit:

1. 2 l. Hot Water.
2. 40 ml. Green Soap.
3. Let Cool Down
4. 100 ml Red Spirit.

Should be sprayed on stem, leaves and substratesurface.

Dead neighbour's maltracted 'nonameyet' species yamadori

2011-05-28T15:38:00.002+02:00

Can you see the way this tree was begging me for rescue? There will definetly be some interesting dremeling on this one, in some abstract Lenz way. Responded to the extreme updigging very good regarding that almost 95-98 % of the root-system was removed with a coarse saw. Seems it is growing even better in this pot than in the ground. It may be a cotoneaster of some kind. Nebari is about 9-10 cm. Suggestions to age and species will be greatly appreciated.

Notice the five fingered hand reaching upwards. Maybe there are someone down there?

Cotoneasters

2011-05-26T08:00:00.000+02:00

Linden

2011-05-21T08:00:00.003+02:00

Hazel

2011-05-20T08:00:00.001+02:00

Beeches !

2011-05-19T08:00:00.000+02:00

Birch update

2011-05-18T08:00:00.001+02:00

Atropurpureum update

2011-05-17T08:00:00.001+02:00

Pseudolarix

2011-05-16T22:08:00.001+02:00

Osakazuki update

2011-05-15T08:00:00.001+02:00

Katzura update

2011-05-14T08:00:00.000+02:00

Norway Maple Update

2011-05-13T08:00:00.001+02:00

Rowan Update

2011-05-11T08:00:00.001+02:00

Chinese Elm Update

2011-05-10T08:00:00.002+02:00

A couple of pines

2011-05-09T08:00:00.001+02:00

Fuchsia updates

2011-05-08T08:00:00.002+02:00

Myrliks Fuchsia, 3 cutlings from the main tree..

Some Larches

2011-05-07T08:00:00.003+02:00

Siberian Maple Updates

2011-05-04T08:00:00.006+02:00

Acer Palmatum Update

2011-05-03T08:00:00.002+02:00

Biork Photo Bonsai Bonanza

2011-05-02T22:26:00.000+02:00

For the next two weeks I will be publishing updates on most of my outdoors trees every day, so stay tuned for more bonsai madness.

Red Maple Update

2011-05-02T21:39:00.000+02:00

Red Maple Update

2011-04-30T15:05:00.001+02:00

Currently working on fixing my photoissues. This image clearly shows the poor effort from my IPhone3GS

W(e)ired Mis(s)pel(led) - still missing you N

2011-03-25T09:55:00.000+01:00

Another low down, bad horse quality image from biork (still just using the iphone here). Wired the mispel without cutting anything from it, the shoots will be left for further thickening into what may become branches one day. Considering the base of this tree it has come a long way, and its closer to a bonsai now than ever.

New Tree: True Japanese Red Maple, Acer Palmatum Deshojo

2011-03-25T09:46:00.000+01:00

My latest maple addition. This is a true japanese red maple or acer almatum deshojo as its called. I now have 8 different maple species on my porch. Got this one in a shallow italian pot from http://www.bonsaipotter.com/ at the usual bargain. Next maple I think may be the "Kiohime" which is supposed to be one of the hardiest species of acers. Here are the before and after images of the deshojo maltraction:

A couple or yeras or so and this one will be a star.

on the habit of freeshaping

2011-03-21T14:06:00.000+01:00

There are several advantages to forming trees standing in the nature over time. Firstly, with this type of approach, the trees is living by itself. It does not need any attention, watering, pesticides, frosthiding or anything tending to regular bonsai trees does. By fertilizing with high nitrogen fertz (hen manure) one can add that little extra to boost nature itself. The trees are not bound to any pots, so the growth in all dimensions is much larger. That makes pruning a fun job because the number of leaves, buds and branches grow in the same rate as the different design possibilities. This extended growth rate makes an artist able to achieve a design much faster.

A second, but important thing about this approach is the location of the trees. Of course, having 200 trees in your garden would mean much less transport than having them up in the mountains, I am not saying that nature-tree-forming is the best, my point is it can be very rewarding, as an excersise (yes, you get fit as well) and addition to your other trees. But, not everyone has a garden. My collection consists of 54 pots with trees in them outside on my Terrace. For everyone I get in, i need to ditch two others. I am out of space. Some of the trees standing in the wild are so big that I would be required to throw away 10-15 of the other pots if I were to collect them now. So, in the meantime I freeshape.

Last outside-pot-count:

What is the point in freeshaping a tree, for lets say 5-6 years and then when trying to lift it from the ground, only to FAIL. Wouldnt that be such a waste of effort?

No! Of course the mortification in itself would be a waste of energy. But I think that the freeshaper, having tended to the tree for several years before yamadori will have a bigger success rate for survival compared to a collecter whom does not have this same knowledge. And i would strongly suppose that the experience itself, lifting a freeshaped tree contra a raw tree, would lead the lifter into a much higher state of awareness regarding his own effort in tending to it on beforehand.In other words, the stakes would be higher (which is better for the tree) and the result would be better (higher survival-rate which is good for the artist)

Like people doing GEOCACHING I allways get this sense that I need to Ninja out the trees from the ground. Of course you must allways get permission to dig out trees, but nevertheless noone should see me collecting anything! The same goes with shaping-before-collecting. This caution/awareness when out there free-shaping adds to the experience as a total.

I have kept this Larch in the ground since i found it three years ago, feeding it, wiring a bit and pruning down ugly branches year by year.

Before this years pruning:

After this years pruning:

The next step is to dig a 300 mm * 75 mm ditch in a circle with a radius of 4 * (the size of the nebari) and fill the ditch with substrate / gravel etc to enable the refinement of small feeder roots. The ditch will be dug in several steps with some time in between to slowly release the tree from the ground.

Acer Palmatum "Katzura"

2011-03-21T12:41:00.000+01:00

Before and after images from repotting.

And then after two weeks later again:

Lego Bonsai

2011-02-20T15:28:00.000+01:00

Inspired by an article on art & bonsai, at http://www.artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=3904, I made this Legosai.

Pinus Sylvestris #1 WIRED

2011-02-18T21:03:00.000+01:00

It does not get away from its trunk, but maybe thats the sollution? Do we, any??

Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal.

Arthur Schopenhauer

Pinus Sylvestris #2

2011-02-16T19:40:00.000+01:00

Yamadori from the fall of 2010.

Pinus Sylvestris #1

2011-02-16T19:36:00.000+01:00

Chinese Elm Update

2011-02-15T21:54:00.000+01:00

Zelkova Seedling Update

2011-02-15T21:53:00.000+01:00

Liguster Bonsai Update

2011-02-15T21:52:00.000+01:00

Rowan status

2011-02-11T10:10:00.001+01:00

One more year in this pot and then it will be transplantated into a "slightly" bigger pot.

Purpur Maple

2011-02-10T10:27:00.000+01:00

Continuing to produce images of extremely bad quality, from my IPhone, edited with Photoshop Express and Colorsplash. Quantity, not quality for the time beeing, as my main computer died a couple of days ago and i have not bothered making a new input strategy for the ixus card. Well. < good enough for logging trees.

Anyway, this is one of Øyvinds trees, as a little present on his birthday today:) Happy happy to you!

Pinus Nigra Seedling(s)

2011-02-09T13:14:00.000+01:00

One of sixteen Pinus Nigra seedlings. All look similar to this one.

Siberian Maple progress

2011-02-09T11:08:00.003+01:00

Second Mispel(l)

2011-02-08T10:04:00.001+01:00

A new Cotoneaster from http://www.bonsaipotter.com/. Pot also original bonsaipotter-craft. Aquired september 2010.

Larix Cutling

2011-02-07T11:24:00.000+01:00

Larix Cutling in a wallsall studios pot.

Japanese Maple winter image

2011-02-05T15:30:00.000+01:00

Still a pretty long way to go with this one, trunkchopped early 2009 and will just have to grow, grow, grow.

New pot for Fuchsia

2011-02-04T09:32:00.001+01:00

Fuchsia repotted. This is the first Fuchsia. Gift from a friend. Got it last summer, all the other fuchsias in here until now are cutlings from this one.

Redwood update

2011-02-02T10:31:00.004+01:00

Out of all the redwoods that germinated from the sowing season (winter 2009-6 in total), all but two died cause due to the Damping Off fungus. They all seemed to strive but suddenly the stem itself just collapsed, close to the soil-surface. This is due to a fungus that sometimes attack trees at this point. The redwood on the image is the only one I have left outside. It germinated in the first round (winter 2009). The second one were given to another friend of mine which is keeping it outside, word is its full of life.

I also have a group planting consisting of 3 redwoods that germinated later on in the spring of 2010, they are taken care of by a friend of mine in an outside greenhouse as a failsafe IF this one should not outlive the winter outside.

Ligustrum Sinensis

2011-02-01T10:52:00.001+01:00

Ligustrum from http://www.bonsaipotter.com Originally it was 3 times the height it is now. This training tree has joined my club of exclusive indoor trees. Great to have material to train on while the spring is waiting around the corner. Im getting quite the hang of keeping them indoors, but the question is what will happen to them when they get outside, and when to do just that. 5.5 degrees Celsius outside here in Stavanger.

Transferred into a pot bought at mistral bonsai outside barcelona. A lot of new shoots after maybe what was 95 % of the foilage was removed.

3 Larix Kaempferi summer 2010 seedlings group planting

2011-01-31T12:14:00.000+01:00

These 3 seedlings are from the 2009/2010 seeding season, but they did not sprout before late spring -10. Wallsall studios drum pot.

Larix Kaempferi early winter 2010 seedling

2011-01-31T12:10:00.002+01:00

Winter image of the only surviving japanese larch from the harsh winter of 2010. Thought this one was dead, but it started showing enourmous vigour during last season. From 2cm to appr. 15 cm in one season. This larch came from my first sowing season in late winter 2009.

Fuchsia late night virtual

2011-01-31T12:04:00.001+01:00

Might not be a mighty jungle...

2011-01-29T17:10:00.002+01:00

...but it is a jungle nevertheless.

These are some of my indoor trees, they are all thriving in 16 hours of plantlight from http://www.bonsaipotter.com , water trays to get high humidity levels and between 13 - 18 degree Celcius. They are fed weekly with high nitrogen fertilizer upon showing signs of growth.

Art sponsored by Njaard Myrlik. Welcome Home btw.

Chinese elm from http://www.bonsaipotter.com

Zelkova Zerrata from last years seeding season. Pot from wallsall studios.

Chinese pepper from http://www.bonsaipotter.com

Fuchsia "X" cutling from the big one. This speices grows ridicously fast from cutlings. Cut of fresh growth, stick it in a glass of water and let it stay in good lighting/humidity conditions for one month. Its that easy, you got a new tree!!! This one has grown 30 cm in 3 months. And they are in bloom constantly.

biork visiting Mistral Bonsai (MISS YOU SO clg)

2010-11-13T17:41:00.001+01:00

Noble readers. I have been such a slow blogger the last couple of months, but that does not mean I have not been tending my trees. Lots of images in the backlog, ready to be blogged during the next months:)

I will start on with a new category called "biork on the move" The first in the series will cover my recent trip to Mistral Bonsai outside Barcelona, Spain. Not much text, only images, but they speak for themselves. I also have a couple of "lindsey-farr-alike" videos on my HD, with commentary from the trip to come...

Winter preps

2010-09-27T19:38:00.001+02:00

Fuchsia "X"

Fuchsia hardiness is variable depending on particular species. Fuchsia magellanica though is reliably hardy down to around -3°C(27 F). Temperatures below this will cause rapid leaf fall and can, on occasions, cause dieback of the branches, though the root system will tolerate temperatures of -10° centigrade (14 F) or less. Specimens do require a dormancy otherwise they lose their vigour. It is advisable to leave trees outside until at least the first frosts of the Autumn and then move to a light, frost-free position for the remainder of the winter.

-from: http://bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Fuchsia.html

Birch Development

2010-06-23T14:24:00.001+02:00

The birch is doing well and is showing no sign of last years fungus. It is being allowed to dry up somewhat more than the other trees when watering and is also fertilized heavily to boost the immune system. The plan is that this and keeping the mosturization to a minimum will give the fungus lesser living conditions.

All shoots are beeing cut down to 2 leaves as soon as they reach appr. 4-5 leaves. This has left it producing a second flush of shoots in only three weeks after the first pinch. The biggest issue with this birch is to balance the apex more. There is a "hole" in the tree wich looks unnatural.

Øyvinds Maple

2010-06-23T14:08:00.000+02:00

Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum.

2010-06-23T14:06:00.000+02:00

Partly survived the hard winter. Two trunks are having problems budding, but there are signs of life.

My Common Hazel

2010-06-23T14:02:00.000+02:00

Succesful 2010 spring yamadori. Strategy: Leave all branches down to the 3 last buds and leave it to grow.

6 Limes

2010-06-23T13:57:00.003+02:00

Got 6 Limes at a bargain from Plantasjen late autumn last year. They have been tourniquted and stuck down into one and same pot for thickening.

biork 木 の 精 神

Old Tjikko & a collected smaller spruce

American sweetgum, sweet-gum, alligator-wood, American-storax, bilsted, red-gum, satin-walnut or star-leaved gum, or whatever you like ...

Austrian Pine Group Planting

The slowgrowing beeches

Why keep? Why Not?

Siberian Maple

Siberian Maple Cutling Update

Linden Update

Mispel Update

Reaching for the crown

Hazel Update

Korean Hornbeam

Katzura Maple Bonsai Fall Update

Redwood Bonsai

Norwegian Maple Update

Birch Forest Update

Pine update

Bonsai Haiku and Japanese Red Maple Update

Torsøy Pine

Japanese Purpur Maple

Japanese Maple

Japanese Larch Group

Japanese Larch

Osakazuki update

Golden Larch

The Prunus Beast

Rowan growin

Pine update

Japanese grey bark Elm repotted and left out in the cold

Chinese Elm left out in the cold

Mother Fuchsia

Cutling from Mother Fuchsia before and after pruning

Austrian Pines

Norway Birch Bonsai

Myrliks roots

Norway Maple

Bonsai Prunus

Birch Forest shortened

Linden pruned

Mispel styling

Auto-Water System

New Erin Pots

Bonsai / Metal video from the end of May 2011

Pinus Sylvestris #2 WIRED

Myrliks first yamadori

New Pots From Erin Bonsai

meet your death Mr. Bugs

Dead neighbour's maltracted 'nonameyet' species yamadori

Cotoneasters

Linden

Hazel

Beeches !

Birch update

Atropurpureum update

Pseudolarix

Osakazuki update

Katzura update

Norway Maple Update

Rowan Update

Chinese Elm Update

A couple of pines

Fuchsia updates

Some Larches

Siberian Maple Updates

Acer Palmatum Update

Biork Photo Bonsai Bonanza

Red Maple Update

Red Maple Update

W(e)ired Mis(s)pel(led) - still missing you N

New Tree: True Japanese Red Maple, Acer Palmatum Deshojo

on the habit of freeshaping

Acer Palmatum "Katzura"

Lego Bonsai

Pinus Sylvestris #1 WIRED

Pinus Sylvestris #2

Pinus Sylvestris #1

Chinese Elm Update

Zelkova Seedling Update

Liguster Bonsai Update

biork 木の精神