Some pictures!

My first yama Pinus Sylvestris

Here i want to show you my first yama Pinus sylvestris and his development over the past years.

I started to work on this tree in 2006, this is a picture of his first styling.

After the first styling the tree did grow very well as you can see.
I had to remove the wire very fast cause the wire was growing into the branches, If they aren't grown into bad it's not a problem cause they will heal and the branches will stay better in position.

In oktober of 2006 I removed all of the old soil and a little of the clay in the center of the rootbase.
And repotted this into his first Bryan Allbright pot.

In Oktober 2007 the Pine got his second styling , it was heading out the good way but some points still need to improve.

This is the sylvestris in 2010, the tree has become fuller, and i still had issues with the ugly branch in the center of the tree.

In the spring of 2011 we repotted this tree , removed the rest of the clay in the center of the rootbase,so that the tree could create many new fine roots and build a compact nebari.
We also slightly changed the position a bit. And left the tree alone for a while to grow.
In autumn we removed the old needles so light and air could get in the tree to stimulate budgrowth.

In the end of june 2012 we removed the new candles to create backbudding.

This week the tree got a restyling,
There still were some minor faults in the tree for example the top was made by a couple of branches that curled up to make the top more full.
So we removed some branches in the apex and wired the apex up to create a better crown.
the tree looks less full than in the picture before , but unnecessary branches were removed to create better branch placement
This was the end-result so far.

Many thanks for the last styling by Yannick as present for his departure to Japan. Yannick Kiggen is going to Japan for an apprenticeship with Kunio Kobayashi. One of the best bonsai artist in the world. Follow his blog! http://yamabonsai.blogspot.be/ or come to http://europeanbonsai.freeforums.org/index.php and see more of him and his journey.

So, why a brave move?

The red and blue markings that you can see on the picture,bothered me.

The top branch is too straight, and the branches in the blue square, take the sight of the movement away. So this is what I did.

Cut, cut and cut.

At first I thought to make a new top with this branch (red arrow). But that wasn't good enough for me. So I cut the branch on the blue mark and hope to welcome some buds in a couple of weeks.

To make a new apex. 

...... to be continued.

A brave move?

Here is a hawthorn that i have for several years. It is a scottie. I bought this one from a nursery. It was the last one from this lot but nobody wanted this tree. But yeah, my heart is great and i took him with me. Some impressions.

His first styling under supervision.

With long hair :)

The tree in a pot from Bryan Albright.

Why a brave move?

To be continued !...

Repotting a little yamadori.

This is my first yama tree that i have dug out. I have this tree since three year and by the repotting was i pleasantly surprised. A lot of roots! Yeah, this tree is healty. Look the picture after i repotting him in a better soil. He grows and grows. The first styling is done, now the backbudding. Height of the tree is with topjin 55 cm, without 35cm.

The tree is special for me. It is my first yama that i have dug out, but the more i gave him to my oldest son .

He's very proud of it.

Bending a Pinus Sylvestris

This is a yamadori that i have for more than 1.5 year  in my collection. The straight section of the trunk is a thorn in the eye, so i ask my good mate Yannick to help with the bending. It's better for the flow of the tree and he looks smaller. It's the first time i used this technique for bending a branch.

We made some holes in the trunk at the place where he must be bent and give him some wire and raffia.

And this is the result.

Some possibilities.

The tree is growing well and it looks like he has no problems at all.