Named my recently bought garden nursery japanese maple 'Tony' in honor of the man himself. Not that it's because he's "changed my life " or cause he's inspired me, is Dubbed my maple Tony bonsai because it's to honor a good man who did what he loved till the end. It's respectable. . Yah know I'd say it is a little inspirational. Anyways. Thanks for showing me how gentle I shouldn't be haha. Prayers and good energy to your family. You now know the secret. Enjoy your life everyone
Good choice in saving the bent trunk tree. We learn a lot reworking old projects. I like seeing personal progress and mistakes made along the way. Pride in progress. Keep making mistakes, thats how we learn.
Yeah, I think this is going to go on to be a really interesting design. It will hopefully be make a good photo in the future too which is something I also bear in mind woth my groups
I know you used hawthorns but this looks like an alder thicket that you would see along a creek in the Boise forest. Good on you! I will love watching this develop in the future. It is quite different than one would expect. Love it! And love how you push the design envelope.
Yes, I agree. Hawthorn don't generally tend to grow like this, but I have been in many forests over the years with lots of twisting trunks and it's that overall atyle that I am going for. I don;t actually have any alder, but it's a species I am looking to aquire at some point.
Yeah I agree about the tree tables. I'll actually be plastering that wall this summer as it needs covering really to tidy up the back of the house, but after that, a nice staged table would look great.
My daughter keeps claiming my bonsais for her fairy garden - this one would need to be for the goblins: it has a delightful "other worldly" feel to it! I am inspired to do something similar with a collection of apple seedlings I have . . . And I agree with another commenter that the middle tree looks a bit straight - maybe show off the nebari in a pot of it's own? All in all, a lovely planting!
Another great composition of hawthorns Tony all those twists and turns on the tree trunks will make for some very interesting viewing in a years or so ..simply cant wait and i wish it was a years time already ..im a bit like you impatient and want things to be done and dusted A.S.A.P.another great video well done Sir.
Thank you, yes, I love the idea of a group of interesting trees as opposed to the usual straight trunks. I'll start to look at pruning the trees in late summer or autumn I think.
Hi Tony, a very challenging project that you are trying here indeed. And this is particularly because your trees majorly are twisted and bent and not straight, the latter form of which is more normal and ideal for trees in the middle of a group or forest. I think your composition is definitely on a good way. But if you allow me anyway a comment from the far distance, personally I would have tried more strictly to place the most straight ones in the center and to position the twisted guys all at the sides and edges to give the group an even more uniform „fan out“ character. I have seen that you have heavily tried to avoid crisscrossing trunks when looking through the group but this is difficult as long as you still have „a twisted guy“ in the rear confusing the view. I have got several self-made groups and forests with different species in my collection and I am facing the same challenge here and there. But I have learned this is a journey with no end obviously 😅. By the way, I don’t know whether you’ve had the chance to have a look into Peter Chan‘s new edition „Bonsai Masterclass - The definitive chapter“. There is a page where he displays a nice overview of group planting schemes, each different depending on the number of trees being used. I love this as a very nice guideline. Good luck Tony and see you soon.
Hawthorne's galore..here a Hawthorne there a Hawthorne everywhere a Hawthorne. Interesting placements to create a natural forrest with branches and trunks crossing Tony. The hyperspeed action was awesome 😃
Cheers mate. This was a real challenge to put together, but what I love about attempting something like this is that when I go back to arranging a normal straight-trunked composition, it will seem like a piece fo cake.
Cheers Mick. This one is both weird and a bit freaky I think. I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks down the line, and whether it will end up having the kind of feel I imagine or whether it will just look messy and not visually appealing enough.
Odd trees make for some of the best bonsai. I like the time lapse. If I can figure out how to use phones and computers I'll send you a picture of house plants I have growing in test tubes hanging on windows. I like to see the roots and plant at the same time. Some of them ive let grow and have had to pull up. So thy are exposed roots out of a test tube. No soil just water.
The problem is that my trees are all on the floor, and my camera doesn't have any image stabilisation so the footage tends to be super shaky with my shaky hands. I do do update videos though where I update on lots of my trees all in one video
I've been using that stones+compost soil for many many years. They grow well. Now I'm substituting the stones for construction expanded clay, that are much lighter. And they still grow very well
I am always having to revise my group planting plans when i start unearthing hidden gems amongst the selected trees. Good point about not wasting bonsai soil in the early stages of tree development. Most of my oaks and Hawthornes thrive in anything that has some rocks in it! Some more good projects to see develop in the future.
Cheers mate, yeah I think newcomers are often told in forums to 'get it in inorganic soil', but in reality, with a tree in development, it's often just a waste of money.
Nice work Tony. 14:13 Another interesting project to follow. I’m always amazed at the quantity of hawthorns you have access to. I use packing peanuts when I want a light weight alternative to drainage stones. Just make sure they’re not the biodegradable ones. Thanks, keep growing
Yeah hawthorns grow everywhere around here like weeds. Lucky really as they are great for bonsai. the packing peanuts is a really good idea, and they would be a lot kinder on my back!
I was wondering who would comment on that tree, and I agree completely. It wasn't until while editing the video that I really noticed how it stands out. I will either chop it right down, or more likely I will replace it in the next few days on a video with something more in keeping. It just stands out. I've got loads of other trees to chose from so I'll be able to improve the composition I'm sure
That trick of using the wood to hold down the tree was a new one on me. I’ll nick that. I know the pain of moving trees around, I spent nearly 3hrs recently doing a Larch forest until satisfied.
That's the pain of being a perfectionist Brian, but then on the other hand when we get it right, we reap the rewards of our effort with lovely designs.
Interesting the shapes of the trunks you’ve chosen. Great angle interesting video Tony. BTW your name was chosen to name one of my Star Wars piceas. So the larger one is called Chewbacca and Joe named the smaller one R2D2 😊
Hi Gail. Yes, I really wanted to create a different look to this group instead of the standard straight trunked forest. Make sure you look after Chewbacca!
Thank you for this well thought out comment. I have had a good look at the composition since I read what you wrote, and I must say that I completely agree. I have already selected a replacement tree, and I will be swapping it in a future video. Cheers
Odd number of trees are traditional and makes the eye look for more. The Juxtapose twirley trees make up for it. Its easier to remove a tree than add one. Do you reuse/recycle your bonsai soil? or refresh it?
An exposed root clump style is an unique and awesome idea! The base of your individual Hawthorne is super cool. Reminds me almost of a raft style with a twist. Very nice work on the group planting. You had a lot of hard decisions with all those good looking trees. Keep up the great work!
Have you ever seen pictures of the dancing forest in Russia? It’s a unique forest where all the trees have twisted trunks. They don’t know how they got that way either. A real mystery. You made your own dancing forest.
Reasonably new to bonsai. Most of my trees still in large first pots. I’m in Scotland. Is it still to early to repot the once’s that need it? Buds are developing
Hi Andrew. generally speaking, when the buds are swelling is a great time to re-pot as the roots are just beginning to grow. There are a few exceptions but now is a good time.
Wow, you literally duplicated and miniaturized the "Crooked Forest" in Poland: ua-cam.com/video/HCbrpIW_WP8/v-deo.html. What I find enticing is how each tree is bent the same direction! CHeers!
The joy of working with native material, they just thrive.
yeah, I can really beat up these trees and they just love it.
Named my recently bought garden nursery japanese maple 'Tony' in honor of the man himself. Not that it's because he's "changed my life " or cause he's inspired me, is
Dubbed my maple Tony bonsai because it's to honor a good man who did what he loved till the end. It's respectable. . Yah know I'd say it is a little inspirational. Anyways. Thanks for showing me how gentle I shouldn't be haha. Prayers and good energy to your family. You now know the secret. Enjoy your life everyone
Wild and wooly composition, looks like groups i have seen around Dartmoor... great job.
Indeed! I've never had the pleasure of visiting Wistmans wood, but I've seen photos from there and it looks amazing!
Lovely forest, the moss on the top really finishes off the aesthetics as well as moisture retention. Well done and thank you.👍❤️
Cheers Bob. At some point I think I need to start making that proper top dressing. It might help to keep the weeds down a bit too.
Good choice in saving the bent trunk tree. We learn a lot reworking old projects. I like seeing personal progress and mistakes made along the way. Pride in progress. Keep making mistakes, thats how we learn.
Very true! We need to keep experimenting and making mistakes to keep learning
Wow what a pleasant Surprise. Almost 30 min with Tony this morning! Cheers mate! Love it!
Cheers mate. Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully with a nice brew and a couple of slices of toast with jam
The wild one! Great video!
Cheers Dave. It's certainly a wild one. Like you, I'm still pondering on my penjing landscape challenge.
It will look great in a few months, I'll look forward to seeing it 👍
Yeah, I think this is going to go on to be a really interesting design. It will hopefully be make a good photo in the future too which is something I also bear in mind woth my groups
I know you used hawthorns but this looks like an alder thicket that you would see along a creek in the Boise forest. Good on you! I will love watching this develop in the future. It is quite different than one would expect. Love it! And love how you push the design envelope.
Yes, I agree. Hawthorn don't generally tend to grow like this, but I have been in many forests over the years with lots of twisting trunks and it's that overall atyle that I am going for. I don;t actually have any alder, but it's a species I am looking to aquire at some point.
Bonsai phill very good video nice shape tree s thanks Tony keep it up mate
Cheers Phil. I love these twisty trunks.
That corner of your house just behind the camera would look great with a homemade tiered bonsai table…get cracking! Good stuff Tony, love your videos!
Yeah I agree about the tree tables. I'll actually be plastering that wall this summer as it needs covering really to tidy up the back of the house, but after that, a nice staged table would look great.
@@TonysBonsai Lovely stuff!
Lovely! Lord Hawhaw lives again! 😀👍
NYou know that I am the Lord of the Haws!
My daughter keeps claiming my bonsais for her fairy garden - this one would need to be for the goblins: it has a delightful "other worldly" feel to it! I am inspired to do something similar with a collection of apple seedlings I have . . .
And I agree with another commenter that the middle tree looks a bit straight - maybe show off the nebari in a pot of it's own?
All in all, a lovely planting!
You're dead right Rebecca. I've already picked out a new tree, and I'll be replacing that straight one in an upcoming video. Well spotted!
Another great composition of hawthorns Tony all those twists and turns on the tree trunks will make for some very interesting viewing in a years or so ..simply cant wait and i wish it was a years time already ..im a bit like you impatient and want things to be done and dusted A.S.A.P.another great video well done Sir.
Thank you, yes, I love the idea of a group of interesting trees as opposed to the usual straight trunks. I'll start to look at pruning the trees in late summer or autumn I think.
Hi Tony, a very challenging project that you are trying here indeed. And this is particularly because your trees majorly are twisted and bent and not straight, the latter form of which is more normal and ideal for trees in the middle of a group or forest. I think your composition is definitely on a good way. But if you allow me anyway a comment from the far distance, personally I would have tried more strictly to place the most straight ones in the center and to position the twisted guys all at the sides and edges to give the group an even more uniform „fan out“ character. I have seen that you have heavily tried to avoid crisscrossing trunks when looking through the group but this is difficult as long as you still have „a twisted guy“ in the rear confusing the view. I have got several self-made groups and forests with different species in my collection and I am facing the same challenge here and there. But I have learned this is a journey with no end obviously 😅.
By the way, I don’t know whether you’ve had the chance to have a look into Peter Chan‘s new edition „Bonsai Masterclass - The definitive chapter“. There is a page where he displays a nice overview of group planting schemes, each different depending on the number of trees being used. I love this as a very nice guideline. Good luck Tony and see you soon.
Hawthorne's galore..here a Hawthorne there a Hawthorne everywhere a Hawthorne. Interesting placements to create a natural forrest with branches and trunks crossing Tony. The hyperspeed action was awesome 😃
Cheers mate. This was a real challenge to put together, but what I love about attempting something like this is that when I go back to arranging a normal straight-trunked composition, it will seem like a piece fo cake.
Did you mean weird or freaky? Another great video with a composition way outside of the box. an innovative take on a traditional group planting Tony.
Cheers Mick. This one is both weird and a bit freaky I think. I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks down the line, and whether it will end up having the kind of feel I imagine or whether it will just look messy and not visually appealing enough.
Odd trees make for some of the best bonsai. I like the time lapse. If I can figure out how to use phones and computers I'll send you a picture of house plants I have growing in test tubes hanging on windows. I like to see the roots and plant at the same time. Some of them ive let grow and have had to pull up. So thy are exposed roots out of a test tube. No soil just water.
Well that sounds like some technical gardening, even if you haven;t yet mastered computers.
Nice work. When the leaves start to grow would it be possible to make a video of all the trees in your yard. They would look really nice.
The problem is that my trees are all on the floor, and my camera doesn't have any image stabilisation so the footage tends to be super shaky with my shaky hands. I do do update videos though where I update on lots of my trees all in one video
I have yet to do a grouping..very inspirational study here..I need to watch your video where you instruct on how to make Bonsai soil...cheers!
I'm working my way back through old comments today and I laughed reading this just after replying to your comment on my soil video. Gllad you found it
I've been using that stones+compost soil for many many years. They grow well.
Now I'm substituting the stones for construction expanded clay, that are much lighter. And they still grow very well
Nice. It will be a lot easier to move the pots around instead of lugging a load of stones.
The crushed expanded clay products work in my experience even better than the ordinary pebbles and indeed make the pots light to move around.
I am always having to revise my group planting plans when i start unearthing hidden gems amongst the selected trees. Good point about not wasting bonsai soil in the early stages of tree development. Most of my oaks and Hawthornes thrive in anything that has some rocks in it! Some more good projects to see develop in the future.
Cheers mate, yeah I think newcomers are often told in forums to 'get it in inorganic soil', but in reality, with a tree in development, it's often just a waste of money.
Nice work Tony. 14:13 Another interesting project to follow. I’m always amazed at the quantity of hawthorns you have access to.
I use packing peanuts when I want a light weight alternative to drainage stones. Just make sure they’re not the biodegradable ones. Thanks, keep growing
Yeah hawthorns grow everywhere around here like weeds. Lucky really as they are great for bonsai. the packing peanuts is a really good idea, and they would be a lot kinder on my back!
Great planting. I dint like that thick straight one in the middle looks out of place.
I was wondering who would comment on that tree, and I agree completely. It wasn't until while editing the video that I really noticed how it stands out. I will either chop it right down, or more likely I will replace it in the next few days on a video with something more in keeping. It just stands out. I've got loads of other trees to chose from so I'll be able to improve the composition I'm sure
That trick of using the wood to hold down the tree was a new one on me. I’ll nick that. I know the pain of moving trees around, I spent nearly 3hrs recently doing a Larch forest until satisfied.
That's the pain of being a perfectionist Brian, but then on the other hand when we get it right, we reap the rewards of our effort with lovely designs.
Interesting the shapes of the trunks you’ve chosen. Great angle interesting video Tony. BTW your name was chosen to name one of my Star Wars piceas. So the larger one is called Chewbacca and Joe named the smaller one R2D2 😊
Hi Gail. Yes, I really wanted to create a different look to this group instead of the standard straight trunked forest. Make sure you look after Chewbacca!
@@TonysBonsai I will do. He’s in the greenhouse in anticipation of the cold weather 😀
We could all learn a lesson from the limestone chips and soil. Deciduous trees will grow well without paying a fortune for compost.
Indeed, a lot of them are really tough and not only survive, but thrive in what some people would call terrible soil.
I agree , most of my trees are in a peat like soil with an abundance of pebbles mixed in. Keeps it loose and well draining for the most part
greetings Indonesian bonsai lovers
Thank you for this well thought out comment. I have had a good look at the composition since I read what you wrote, and I must say that I completely agree. I have already selected a replacement tree, and I will be swapping it in a future video. Cheers
Less a forest, more a Wyld Wood 😁 Imagine it back lit for Halloween 🎃
Ah yes, that would be very cool. Dramatic back lighting and if I want to go penjing style, perhaps a miniature witch
Odd number of trees are traditional and makes the eye look for more. The Juxtapose twirley trees make up for it. Its easier to remove a tree than add one. Do you reuse/recycle your bonsai soil? or refresh it?
Hi Andrew. most of the old soil I'm removing my trees throw was terrible stuff so I just throw it away, but my more recent soil I will be recycling
An exposed root clump style is an unique and awesome idea!
The base of your individual Hawthorne is super cool. Reminds me almost of a raft style with a twist.
Very nice work on the group planting. You had a lot of hard decisions with all those good looking trees. Keep up the great work!
Cheers Matt. Just like you I keep grinding on producing videos. I just love it!
Tony, Scotch pine assasination deprived us of our opportunity to watch roots over rock famous Rio de Janeiro figure recreation act.
🤣🤣🤣That sounds like a god title for a video mate!
Have you ever seen pictures of the dancing forest in Russia? It’s a unique forest where all the trees have twisted trunks. They don’t know how they got that way either. A real mystery. You made your own dancing forest.
Ah yes, I do recall seeing photos of those trees. They are very unique and it just goes to show that all group plantings don't have to be straight up.
Reasonably new to bonsai. Most of my trees still in large first pots. I’m in Scotland. Is it still to early to repot the once’s that need it? Buds are developing
And meant to say, love the content!
Hi Andrew. generally speaking, when the buds are swelling is a great time to re-pot as the roots are just beginning to grow. There are a few exceptions but now is a good time.
V good! I like 'rules' being broken.
Indeed David. We certainly don't have to stick to them just because that is the way things are normally done.
What is that thick black soil that originally planted that first tree in...😢
Assasinated you are a weapon! Mi5?
I can't talk about it on a public forum like this. All I'll say is 008 🤣🤣
My final positioning often depends on how the roots fit :)
Yes, it's a really interesting balancing act with the roots and the shapes of the trunks etc. That's why we love it though!
Sadly it looks like a pen*$ with arms ! it has made me feel sick at the thought !
🤣🤣I didn't notice, but yes it does look a tad phallic!
Wow, you literally duplicated and miniaturized the "Crooked Forest" in Poland:
ua-cam.com/video/HCbrpIW_WP8/v-deo.html. What I find enticing is how each tree is bent the same direction! CHeers!
I am actually half Polish, so it must have spoken to me!
@@TonysBonsai Haha! Amazing people, the Polish.