JRob
Sr. Forum Member
Posts: 470
USDA Hardiness: 5b
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« on: November 12, 2011, 01:05 PM » |
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Good Morning All,
Here are some pics taken today of my biggest Itoigawa. It was potted into a bonsai pot in March 2009 from a nursery container. This year I have been working on the jin & shari with fine hand carving tools under the watchful eye of my teacher. I have cleaned up the bark ad we dramatically lowered the bottom right branch. Next march with his guidance I will with do the initial styling of the foliage.
Its a beautiful fall day in St. Louis. As I was raking up leaves in the yard and the sun was glistening on the trees I couldn't help but to take a moment and snap some pictures and dream of bonsai days to come. I am hoping to have this tree ready to submit for entry into the 4th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibit in 2014 in either a Peter Kreb or antique Japanese pot.
JRob
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« Last Edit: November 12, 2011, 01:10 PM by JRob »
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« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2011, 02:42 PM » |
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Doesn't look like shohin to me. I would be happy to take it off your hands. I look forward to seeing it's progress next March. Please do remember to share some more photos then.
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JRob
Sr. Forum Member
Posts: 470
USDA Hardiness: 5b
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« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2011, 03:04 PM » |
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John,
You are correct - not shohin! The tree stands 24" to top jin. Tree should finish 22-23 inches is my quess.
JRob
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« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2011, 08:25 PM » |
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Really nice work Rob! The branch placements and angles are great....as is the trunk and carving. Overall, a fine tree ya got there Rob!  And I too look forward to seeing it's progression. |
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« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2011, 01:10 AM » |
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Nice work. You posted this tree a while back, I have one of its "siblings" that Joe Harris imported in a large group of field grown trees and placed in nursery containers at Matsunami-en. Igot one from DaveKreutz in 2005 (Washington, DC bonsai convention), Boon has had a one or two pass through the club as well. Nice material, just takes time, and Michael knows how to make them come along very well. Nice. As a post note, mine was given a rather significant hair cut in the past couple of weeks by the ravaging hordes of deer, I think you could train deer to do it very well, just have to teach them to leave a little green on the ends of the branches.....
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JRob
Sr. Forum Member
Posts: 470
USDA Hardiness: 5b
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« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2011, 05:52 AM » |
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John,
You are correct on this tree's history as far as I know it. I purchased this tree from David as well. When I bought it was one of two he had left. The last has left his nursery as well. If I remember correctly the trees where brought in for the BCI convention in June of 2004 held here in St. Louis. If this one did not make the cut for those selected during the workshop I can only imagine what the others must have been like.
As for the haircut - that is why mine are fenced and I switched to organic fertilizers. The do not attract my dogs and the squirrels to the benches. Lost a really nice antique shohin pot knocked off the bench when two squirrels where feasting on the rapeseed cakes my first spring. Also had a stay cat that must of been attracted to the smell of the fish emulsion. Now I only have the occasional bird landing on the larger trees. My camera is always ready. I want to snap a picture of a male cardinal on the Rocky Mountain to use as a Christmas Card but no luck so far.
JRob
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« Last Edit: November 13, 2011, 06:04 AM by JRob »
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« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2011, 08:10 PM » |
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very nice tree!
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Gary S
Legit New User
Posts: 10
USDA Hardiness: zone 4A
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« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2011, 11:28 AM » |
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Nice tree JRob.
I have an Itoigawa that is similar.
Your roots look so healthy. What soil mix do you use for this tree?
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JRob
Sr. Forum Member
Posts: 470
USDA Hardiness: 5b
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« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2012, 06:16 PM » |
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Gary,
So sorry for my delay in responding to you. I have not checked this thread in a while. On all my trees I use a Japanese manufactured professional grade soil which is premixed & sifted and it contains akadama, pumice and volcanic sand. It is called Clay King. We feed trees with a pellet called Bio-Gold from Dallas Bonsai Gardens that stays on the soil surface and then liquid feed alternating between fish emulsion and seaweed extract every Saturday.
I did extensive work on this tree with my teacher this past weekend. The tree was not repotted this year but its initial styling and wiring was accomplished under his watchful eye.
Here is a quick pic. I'll get some better pictures this weekend when I have more time.
Regards,
JRob
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Gary S
Legit New User
Posts: 10
USDA Hardiness: zone 4A
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« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2012, 09:59 AM » |
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Thanks JRob,
I have to repot my Itoigawa this Spring. I do have some Akadama medium left, pumice and some small red lava also.
This Itoigawa has not been doing so well lately. I think the soil I used 3 years ago was not as well drained as it should be, I had some turface in it, how much-I can't remember.
I think Boon's soil for Itoigawa is 1/3 Akadama, 1/3 pumice and 1/3 lava.
I haven't even started repotting yet since the temperatures up here in WI have been 30ºF above average!
Thanks again.
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JRob
Sr. Forum Member
Posts: 470
USDA Hardiness: 5b
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« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2012, 07:44 PM » |
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Good Evening All,
Spent the weekend working with my teacher who was in town with the STL Study Group on some of my trees. Here is a picture taken tonight of my larger Itoigawa which got a slight grooming. Good growth since last posted photo posted from May. Even with the extremely hot STL spring and summer all of my trees did well and I have no noticeable damage or stress but boy were they babied through the string of 108 degree days that never seamed to end.
I hope your all having a fantastic fall!
JRob
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Dan W.
Full Forum Member
Posts: 100
USDA Hardiness: 4b
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« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2012, 08:31 PM » |
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Having a great fall here  Thanks! I love the movement in your shimp. Good tree and good work! |
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JRob
Sr. Forum Member
Posts: 470
USDA Hardiness: 5b
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« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2013, 06:45 PM » |
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Evening All,
Repotted this tree this past weekend in a Kiesan - Hisada Shizuo tokoname. Not perfect but the best that was available. Enjoy!
JRob
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Gary S
Legit New User
Posts: 10
USDA Hardiness: zone 4A
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« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2013, 01:57 PM » |
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JRob,
Your Itoigawa looks like it's doing very well, good luck growing this year.
I can't find ClayKing anywhere around here so I'll use Boon's soil for Itoigawa is 1/3 Akadama, 1/3 pumice and 1/3 lava this Spring.
Here's a picture of the one I was talking about concerning repotting this Spring.
This picture was taken after the first frost but in general it has lost it's bright green color.
The rocks on the surface of the soil were necessary through the Summer of last year when one of the aluminum
hold down wires in the pot broke in half.
Hopefully it will spring back after repotting in the new soiless mix.
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