Bonsai by Victoria

[victoria]

I have finally sorted my pictures of my Bonsai out. Bonsai means 'a plant in a container' in both Chinese and Japanese. I have been creating them since 1993 but have sadly lost the originals, an Ivy that was 15 years old, a Cotoneaster that was about ten and an Ash. For the years we travelled back and forth to the UK in the summer, they went as well, lovingly packaged and returned with us, just like the cats! It was when we stopped the journeys that I lost the above three ... through neglect on my part in the summers ... now I know better and water them 2/3 times a day.

Anyway, here is my current collection ...

A Ficus microcarpa (Ginseng Fig) which has a massive trunk ...



An Azalea and it bloomed last year with two normal sized flowers on this tiny-leafed shrub ...



A Podocarpus sinensis (Buddhist Pine) which is one of my pride and joys ....



The Scorpion Bush, Buddhist Pine and Azalea (l-r) on a shelf in the Baffa together ...



A beautiful Carmona microphylla (Scorpion Bush) with blooms with tiny white blooms at any time of the year ...



My fantastic tri-coloured Bougainville which sits proudly in front of the front doors ...



A little Hawthorn sent to me by Paladin which has doubled in size in a few months ...



And as I lost my Ivy (which can be seen in the Azalea photo) I have started a new one with a cutting from Palmela Castle ...



Most of these pictures were taken several years ago so they are developed more since then. I also have a Cotoneaster ready to bonsai and a half dozen Jacarandas to make a 'forest' with.

[DAG]

Sterling work there Victoria, must be a real blow when after all those years they suddenly die on you, that thought puts me off completely.

However they are wonderful and I would like to ask if you started the Scorpion Bush (my favourite) and the Buddhist Pine off from scratch?

The tri-coloured Bougainville is truly beautiful and a real showpiece!

for sharing and look forward to updates in the future.

[kedigato]

A lovely show and a really nice mix of different sorts and shapes, Sis. Well done.

Like DAG, I like the Scorpion Bush best and it has the "typical" Bonsai shape, at least, in my opinion.

The tri-coloured Bourgainvillae is stunning, what an eye-catching show-stealer! I hope the blooms last for a long time, like the regular ones do.

The Podocarpus is nice. We planted 3 of the normal ones along the back wall here last autumn as they make good screeners. You are trying to keep yours small and neat and we are hoping that ours get huge and bushy. ;D

It is a shame that you lost your original ones, fingers crossed that these ones do well. Should do now that you have the trick right in your hot weather.

Thanks for sharing. xx

[victoria]

Thank you DAG and Sis. Having lost my precious 'babies' I placated myself by purchasing 'ready made' ones, ie, the Scorpion Bush and the Buddhist Pine both of which were already ten years old.

Remember I had the twin Acers, Sis, that Jim gave me for a birthday/anniversary present several years ago? Well, sadly they died on me that same year much to my dismay. How funny about the Podrocarpus!

[capney]

I do like your Bougainville.. simple superb

[victoria]

When I cut back the Bonsai in November both in form and for the watering, I thought I would lose the Azalea as it lost nearly all it's leaves. So I was pleasantly surprised today when I was greeted by a bloom albeit a little sad with some further buds ...



I am also pleased that the little Hawthorn Paladin sent me has thrived and is now 16cm tall and the Ivy cutting I took from Palmela Castle in January is growing well ...

[DAG]

So nice when nature gives you a little surprise now and then!

[capney]

You should be rightly proud Victoria. I really like the Buddhist Pine.

[kedigato]

Azaleas do loose all of their leaves in the cold period, Sis. Since it presented you with a flower, it is doing fine, just give it a chance. Did you only trim the top or did you also give it a pedicure?

I'm partial to the Buddhist Pine as well, Robert, but the Scorpion Bush has a wonderful shape and I just love how the ivy grows out of the old root stock, very interesting.

[victoria]

Thanks guys.

I may have lost the Buddhist Pine, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Sis, my Azaleas have always been evergreen! It only had a haircut, not a pedicure this past season. The old rootstock is a dead Bonsai from a few years ago ... thought it made a nice climbing frame for the Ivy. The Scropion Bush blooms on and off all year.

[kedigato]

Fingers crossed that your Buddhist Pine recovers, Sis. xx

That old rootstock was a brilliant idea as it makes a perfect backdrop for the ivy.

Are all the Azaleas evergreen down you way? I must see if they are here as well. In Germany they are not.