Interesting looking back on this video, and realising that beautiful tree is now one in my collection. I hope to do some work on it very soon and to share an update. 👍
I have a big birch forest that I put together after watching the two videos by Nigel Saunders and his friend Jonathan which is something of a masterclass on creating forests. They were relatively young whips that I used so don’t have that pale bark, and possibly won’t acquire it in a pot for years. Lovely bark colour on your trees there. 👍 On the subject of thin wire, I left wire on one of the trees to wire up a new leader but it strangled the tree which died, and will need swapping out for another tree. Also agree that Dave at Blue Sky Bonsai has great videos, and is a lovely guy with a great delivery and very easy, well edited viewing. I wrote Japanese style Haiku poetry for the first year of lockdown as a mindfulness exercise (books available on Amazon) and developed a poetic heirarchy for trees. The oak was mature, wise, gnarled old king of trees due to it’s great stature and age. The silver birch was the feminine, regal, pale, beautiful weeping queen of trees. Japanese maples are smaller, beautiful, showy graceful princesses of the tree world. Keep up the great work (and prolific output!!!) 👍 Ps. My previous house backed onto the Leeds - Manchester rail line and you soon get accustomed to the regular train noise and no longer notice it. Instead you then notice when the trains stop running for some reason… 🤔 Although a neighbour tells me of the time a cow wandered onto the line and he was collecting cow legs from his back garden…
Fantastic. That hierarchy fits those trees very well! I love Kaiku. I tried writing some myself which I think I put to some music and landscape photography photographs. I really enjoyed the process. You'll have to do a video with footage of your trees and haiku on the screen! Nothing puts me into the moment quite like bonsai practice. It beats any formal meditation techniques I've ever tried hands down. As for the incident on the railway, It must have been that cows time!
@@TonysBonsai your suggestion is on my list but will take some messing about and editing to put together. I have material for both trees in general, and bonsai specifically - much of it was inspired by or accompanied with photos. Miniature trees Contorted by hand and wire “Natural” beauty They were here before And will endure long after The Earth is theirs. Trees Re the cow, apparently a neighbours Doberman was seen trotting down the road with a haunch of beef in it’s mouth…
@@TonysBonsai not today then cold and very wet for the 1st week in June the week of my birthday which is now 80 years young and caring for 62 trees plus plants which will be made into bonsai one day which gets me up each day looking forward to the days work on trees.
Really like that first tree Tony. to have such a slender trunk turn the classic papery silver is a great find. sounds like Preston is a good place to go collecting unless you travel a bit. dead wood on deciduous tend to turn black and rot much quicker than coniferous so it's a preserving thing. Oaks and birch you'll be ok as they're pretty hard wood to start with.
Thanks Daniel. Yeah, it's a bit of an unusual find that tree with such white bark. I do wood turning, and birch and oak are two of my favourite types of wood to turn too.
yeah I can't actually turn at the moment for health reasons, but I'm hoping to start a wood-turning channel sometime next year. Oaks seem to be the most popular trees. Must be something about their presence and age.
Fantastic Connor. I'm sure you'll get some beauties. My advice is don;t be obsessed with trunk thickness. Silver birch grow like crazy and put on loads of girth pretty quickly. Focus on great movement in the trunk
Hi Tony! Love your videos, you have a great style! - also agree that Blue Sky Bonssi has some easy to use info. No problem with the length of this video (even the trains are nice!) - it’s great to hear your thought process while pruning all of these fabulous birch. - you should do a follow up so we can watch them develop! It’s too difficult to pick a favorite tree but birch is up there with poplar on my list. Years back (was a garden designer in NYC) I used the Crimson Frost Birch which was a hybrid and magical. Keep up these great videos & thanks!
Hi Peter and thanks for the positive feedback on my video. I will definitely be following up on the progress of these trees and also the larger birch which I didn't include in this video. I had to google the crimson frost birch, and they are a beautiful tree for sure. I think they would make a really interesting bonsai too, so I think I'll keep my eye out for one of those, thanks!
I love silver birch as well althhough I have heard they can suffer from sudden branch diebacks. I've certainly had that happen on my bigger bonsai. Hey, if you get really bored Tony then you can watch when I upload my effort. I agree with you that pruning can be very relaxing when it is just about balance of energy and nothing too difficult. YOu have definitely collected a good few trees there.
Thanks Xavier. I'm not quite right in the head! 🤣 I put together my collection of over 200 trees in just over a year while recovering from stage 4 cancer. I'm quite nuts once I get into something!
@@TonysBonsai not nuts just strong and motivated. My wife fought hard against cancer and it was the bonsai that kept me finding positive things to wake up for. Good on you!
Thanks Ryan, and that's interesting re the deadwood. i think I'll leave it alone for a while and see how the tree develops before making any decisions.
Hi Tony, you made a comment about using thin wire and the fact that it cuts in more than the thicker stuff. Recently, I've been using loose coils on certain branches instead of tight ones and it's really made a difference. Guy wires (although a little unsightly) can be very useful too. Great content, please keep em coming :)
Thanks Bob. I have occasionally used thicker wire with looser coils, but so far only really on my maples. I think I will start doing it on all my trees. Thanks for the advice, and I'm glad you're enjoying my videos.
Nice selection of Birch Tony. Love 'em all. 👍👍. My favourite tree in nature I think is the Scots Pine. They seem to adjust their growth patterns to really suit the environment that they're in. i.e. Sparser upper growth on snowy mountain tops and really rich foliage on single trees. They seem to have a slightly different appearance in whatever country they're in as well. Just have a look at 'Scots pine landscape images' on the old interweb and I think you'll have to agree. 😊😊
Hi Guy, and I completely agree! I don;t talk about it much, but I'm a fairly well regarded landscape photographer, so I have travelled all across the UK photographing amongst other things our native trees. Glen Affric in Scotland is one of the places I have yet to visit. If you look at images from there, you will see some amazing images of old scots pines.
I did make it to the end! Favourite trees are cherry blossom, oak and yew or larch as l get them mixed up. Own favourite this week is my new oak and my lilac l had for Mothers day. Reporting and making a bonsai of a 15yr old Duertzia Monday, no-one has heard of it but its in catalogues, bushy flowering tree.
Hi Mandy. You are correct in that I've never heard of a Deutzia, but I just googled it and they look lovely. If azalea and rhododendron are ok for bonsai, I don't see why you can't use any species of shrub. Should be a fun project!
yeah, I love a majestic old oak myself. As for ficus, I don't think we get them naturally here in the UK, so I'm not sure I've ever seen one fully grown.
fantastic, you certainly won't be keeping them outdoors in Norway! I will probably visit Lofoten at some point for photography. I had the chance to join my friend on a workshop there last year but the circumstances weren't quite right for me, but I will be going at some point for sure!
Really cool assortment of birch’s Tony looks like some good potential between them. I cut a couple back grown in the ground last year but forgot to check them this spring. Something to collect next spring now I maybe surprised! Favourite tree has to be English oak for the structure although I’m sure elms rivalled them but the specimens were all gone before my time!
Thanks Sam. It's great having trees like your chopped birch to look forward to digging up next year! I agree about oaks, and I've never really thought about large elms in nature before, because as you say the dutch elm disease got them. A bit of a shame really. We'll have to make do with our miniature bonsai elms!
I have one planted in a corner of the garden over buried paving slabs which I gave some shape with wire then forgot about. It is now a peculiar side twisted tree with a new straight leader so at some point I need to decide what way to go with it. For now one or other is a sacrificial branch helping to thicken it up and hopefully start to get that lovely pale bark…
That sounds fantastic David. I don't know about the Himalayans, but the normal birch grow like weeds, so hopefully they won't take too long to develop.
Thanks Clyde. My subs have really dried up over the past couple of days just as I approach 1k, but I'm sure I'll get there in a day or two with a bit of luck!
@@TonysBonsai probably people out celebrating jubilee maybe 😆, sure you will Tony! Iv Been a sub From when u had 150 sub so it’s nice to see the following grow !
Hi Michael. It's a good question. Two reasons really. Firstly, they are fairly recently collected trees (all within the last 18 months), so I'm leaving them to grow on and get healthy, but also, I just can't afford bonsai pots If I'm honest. I have over 200 trees so I'd need to remortgage my house!
@@TonysBonsai wow that's a lot of trees I am in a similar situation the pots are so expensive. My trees I have grown from seed or there just regular plants that I am training to become bonsai.
Sounds like we have a similar approach to bonsai Michael. I have had a go at making my own out of cement, and I think I'll make a video on it at some point.
@@TonysBonsai I will look forward to that Tony.. I plan a trip to greenwood bonsai one day its only Nottingham not to far away is there any decent bonsai shops in Preston we have nothing in leigh..
There is a small bonsai place just on the outskirts of preston. I've bought the odd piece of starter material from him, and I think he sells pots etc, but you can only visit by appointment. www.wyndcotebonsai.co.uk/
Hi Tony, love oaks, weeping willows & birches. For bonsai, dawn redwood. What are your thoughts on shrubs as bonsai? Love my honeysuckle & azalea, also trying to make a weigela & poinsettia one.
Some good trees there. Particularly like the movement in third tree. Are you going for a twin trunk in that one or using the smaller one as a sacrificial branch?
@@TonysBonsai I think your mame idea is a good one, though you might have trouble keeping the internodes small unless you keep it starved in a small pot. I have a similar birch that I'm trying to turn into a weeping literati. It's very much a work in progress. You could chop that low branch and give that a go if you're feeling brave.
I also saw that Dan Robinson interview on Mirai. Dan's one of my favourite bonsai artists. I gotta get out to see his Elandan garden one day. Interesting to hear him say he rarely repots.
You seem to be the silver birch expert among all the TH-cam channels, so I’m hoping you may be able to answer my question. I have one and would like to know whether they can be ground layered… if so, when would be the best time to do this? The buds are just about to open on mine. Thank you! 😊
Hi Natasha. I certainly would never call myself an expert when it comes to bonsai, but I do know that silver birch air layer very easily. This makes me think that they will therefore ground layer readily too. I would wait until all the leaves have hardened off (early May) before attempting the layer though, and I would personally set up some kind of plant pot attached around the base of the trunk filled with sphagnum moss rather than just backfilling with garden soil.
Hi Janet. I will remember to do that on a future video. I have a couple of silver birch which I haven't yet pruned, so that will give me a chance to show a close-up!
Silver berch makes a really nice tree. They do have 1 major issues that's very annoying. Once they are more than a few, I don't mean a litteral few, years old the trees start to randomly drop WHOLE branches. This can be mitigated somewhat by keeping decent spa e between each branch as light seems to be a factor. Even then though it's not anywhere near a done deal. Quite the opposite. It's rather annoying when you've spent years getting 9 or 10 branches looking great. Then, dispite good health and light penitration, the tree drops 2 branches. It's even worse in bonsai from as normal they shed small or medium sized branches, but because the difference in branches size is so small in bonsai it could be any branch, quite often its a well developed, needed and quality branch, that totally ruins your concept for the tree. Obviously this is a bigger issue the further along in the process you are, its annoying in development, its hive inducing when on a tree years into refinement. Essentially these trees are always being worked on and redesigned as they drop branches over thier life. Don't get me wrong, I still love them. Partly because they are always a work in progress due to this issue, but it is why it's no a popular species as most experienced bonsai artists find it too much. Loved the video as always. It's always good to see your trees and how you work on them. Thanks for the content.
Hi Stimm. I have heard that this can be an issue with birch, but as I've not had mine all that long, I've not found it to be an issue yet. I think I'm probably a bit like you though in the respect that I am happy to work with the tree, and if it changes over time as some branches die off, then so be it. They are just such lovely delicate trees, and for me they are worth it for the stunning green spring colour alone.
@@TonysBonsai yes I totally agree. Infact I'm getting a couple more in the coming weeks. They would constantly change and be reworked by nature, so whats the problem with that being the case in bonsai. That's how I looked at it.
Interesting looking back on this video, and realising that beautiful tree is now one in my collection. I hope to do some work on it very soon and to share an update. 👍
I have a big birch forest that I put together after watching the two videos by Nigel Saunders and his friend Jonathan which is something of a masterclass on creating forests. They were relatively young whips that I used so don’t have that pale bark, and possibly won’t acquire it in a pot for years. Lovely bark colour on your trees there. 👍
On the subject of thin wire, I left wire on one of the trees to wire up a new leader but it strangled the tree which died, and will need swapping out for another tree.
Also agree that Dave at Blue Sky Bonsai has great videos, and is a lovely guy with a great delivery and very easy, well edited viewing.
I wrote Japanese style Haiku poetry for the first year of lockdown as a mindfulness exercise (books available on Amazon) and developed a poetic heirarchy for trees. The oak was mature, wise, gnarled old king of trees due to it’s great stature and age. The silver birch was the feminine, regal, pale, beautiful weeping queen of trees. Japanese maples are smaller, beautiful, showy graceful princesses of the tree world.
Keep up the great work (and prolific output!!!) 👍
Ps. My previous house backed onto the Leeds - Manchester rail line and you soon get accustomed to the regular train noise and no longer notice it. Instead you then notice when the trains stop running for some reason… 🤔
Although a neighbour tells me of the time a cow wandered onto the line and he was collecting cow legs from his back garden…
Fantastic. That hierarchy fits those trees very well! I love Kaiku. I tried writing some myself which I think I put to some music and landscape photography photographs. I really enjoyed the process. You'll have to do a video with footage of your trees and haiku on the screen! Nothing puts me into the moment quite like bonsai practice. It beats any formal meditation techniques I've ever tried hands down.
As for the incident on the railway, It must have been that cows time!
@@TonysBonsai your suggestion is on my list but will take some messing about and editing to put together. I have material for both trees in general, and bonsai specifically - much of it was inspired by or accompanied with photos.
Miniature trees
Contorted by hand and wire
“Natural” beauty
They were here before
And will endure long after
The Earth is theirs. Trees
Re the cow, apparently a neighbours Doberman was seen trotting down the road with a haunch of beef in it’s mouth…
They are excellent!
very evocative.
here's one I wrote
leaves are fluttering
outstretched limbs holding my gaze
bonsai in the now
Pruning is one of my favourite times to Tony I love spending time forgetting any problems losing myself in the process talking to myself.
Especially on a nice warm calm day with a cup of tea. Can't beat it Joe!
@@TonysBonsai not today then cold and very wet for the 1st week in June the week of my birthday which is now 80 years young and caring for 62 trees plus plants which will be made into bonsai one day which gets me up each day looking forward to the days work on trees.
Really like that first tree Tony. to have such a slender trunk turn the classic papery silver is a great find. sounds like Preston is a good place to go collecting unless you travel a bit. dead wood on deciduous tend to turn black and rot much quicker than coniferous so it's a preserving thing. Oaks and birch you'll be ok as they're pretty hard wood to start with.
Thanks Daniel. Yeah, it's a bit of an unusual find that tree with such white bark. I do wood turning, and birch and oak are two of my favourite types of wood to turn too.
A man of many talents. I like oaks in the English countryside in terms of natives.
yeah I can't actually turn at the moment for health reasons, but I'm hoping to start a wood-turning channel sometime next year.
Oaks seem to be the most popular trees. Must be something about their presence and age.
Love birches. And Tony’s videos. Unforgettable. 🙏
Hi Tony, Love the Tongue in cheek style .
Thanks, Wullie. I don't like to take life too seriously!
I have a spot that I go to in the pocono mtns that has acres of silver birch I cant wait to go harvest this spring
Fantastic Connor. I'm sure you'll get some beauties. My advice is don;t be obsessed with trunk thickness. Silver birch grow like crazy and put on loads of girth pretty quickly. Focus on great movement in the trunk
What a wonderful collection of birches. Each beautiful in its own way. Looking forward to seeing THE BIG ONE 😉. Thanks, keep growing
🤣🤣🤣🤣 That's for a completely different channel!
Hi Tony! Love your videos, you have a great style! - also agree that Blue Sky Bonssi has some easy to use info. No problem with the length of this video (even the trains are nice!) - it’s great to hear your thought process while pruning all of these fabulous birch. - you should do a follow up so we can watch them develop!
It’s too difficult to pick a favorite tree but birch is up there with poplar on my list. Years back (was a garden designer in NYC) I used the Crimson Frost Birch which was a hybrid and magical. Keep up these great videos & thanks!
Hi Peter and thanks for the positive feedback on my video. I will definitely be following up on the progress of these trees and also the larger birch which I didn't include in this video.
I had to google the crimson frost birch, and they are a beautiful tree for sure. I think they would make a really interesting bonsai too, so I think I'll keep my eye out for one of those, thanks!
Favourite tree has to be the majestic oak, followed by the beech, hornbeam, elm and field maple.
Nice choices, although I would definitely have to add the scots pine to that list.
I love silver birch as well althhough I have heard they can suffer from sudden branch diebacks. I've certainly had that happen on my bigger bonsai. Hey, if you get really bored Tony then you can watch when I upload my effort. I agree with you that pruning can be very relaxing when it is just about balance of energy and nothing too difficult. YOu have definitely collected a good few trees there.
Thanks Xavier. I'm not quite right in the head! 🤣 I put together my collection of over 200 trees in just over a year while recovering from stage 4 cancer. I'm quite nuts once I get into something!
@@TonysBonsai not nuts just strong and motivated. My wife fought hard against cancer and it was the bonsai that kept me finding positive things to wake up for. Good on you!
Sorry to hear that, but life can be challenging, and things like bonsai can be great healers!
You have a nice collection of birches. Leave that deadwood feature it looks good 👍
Thanks Ryan, and that's interesting re the deadwood. i think I'll leave it alone for a while and see how the tree develops before making any decisions.
Hi Tony, you made a comment about using thin wire and the fact that it cuts in more than the thicker stuff. Recently, I've been using loose coils on certain branches instead of tight ones and it's really made a difference. Guy wires (although a little unsightly) can be very useful too.
Great content, please keep em coming :)
Thanks Bob. I have occasionally used thicker wire with looser coils, but so far only really on my maples. I think I will start doing it on all my trees. Thanks for the advice, and I'm glad you're enjoying my videos.
Nice selection of Birch Tony. Love 'em all. 👍👍. My favourite tree in nature I think is the Scots Pine. They seem to adjust their growth patterns to really suit the environment that they're in. i.e. Sparser upper growth on snowy mountain tops and really rich foliage on single trees. They seem to have a slightly different appearance in whatever country they're in as well. Just have a look at 'Scots pine landscape images' on the old interweb and I think you'll have to agree. 😊😊
Hi Guy, and I completely agree! I don;t talk about it much, but I'm a fairly well regarded landscape photographer, so I have travelled all across the UK photographing amongst other things our native trees. Glen Affric in Scotland is one of the places I have yet to visit. If you look at images from there, you will see some amazing images of old scots pines.
The field maple is my favourite wild tree as bonsai the Larch is my favourite tree especially the Japanese.
two nice choices. I would switch them around though. I love big old larch trees in the wild!
I did make it to the end! Favourite trees are cherry blossom, oak and yew or larch as l get them mixed up. Own favourite this week is my new oak and my lilac l had for Mothers day. Reporting and making a bonsai of a 15yr old Duertzia Monday, no-one has heard of it but its in catalogues, bushy flowering tree.
Re-potting
Hi Mandy. You are correct in that I've never heard of a Deutzia, but I just googled it and they look lovely. If azalea and rhododendron are ok for bonsai, I don't see why you can't use any species of shrub.
Should be a fun project!
@@TonysBonsai my local bonsai had a beautiful azalea in full flower last time l visited.
Favorit tree in nature. Old oaks. Favorit bonsai in summer acer palmatum types, favorit type in winter ficus types.
yeah, I love a majestic old oak myself. As for ficus, I don't think we get them naturally here in the UK, so I'm not sure I've ever seen one fully grown.
@@TonysBonsai i grow the ficus inside. Live in norway
fantastic, you certainly won't be keeping them outdoors in Norway! I will probably visit Lofoten at some point for photography. I had the chance to join my friend on a workshop there last year but the circumstances weren't quite right for me, but I will be going at some point for sure!
Really cool assortment of birch’s Tony looks like some good potential between them. I cut a couple back grown in the ground last year but forgot to check them this spring. Something to collect next spring now I maybe surprised! Favourite tree has to be English oak for the structure although I’m sure elms rivalled them but the specimens were all gone before my time!
Thanks Sam. It's great having trees like your chopped birch to look forward to digging up next year! I agree about oaks, and I've never really thought about large elms in nature before, because as you say the dutch elm disease got them. A bit of a shame really. We'll have to make do with our miniature bonsai elms!
I have one planted in a corner of the garden over buried paving slabs which I gave some shape with wire then forgot about. It is now a peculiar side twisted tree with a new straight leader so at some point I need to decide what way to go with it. For now one or other is a sacrificial branch helping to thicken it up and hopefully start to get that lovely pale bark…
Those options are the best part of bonsai for me. The decision-making process is a real challenge.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.....
Thank you. I'm no expert, but I'm getting the hang of these birch as I seem to have more of them than anything else.
Mountain Ash is my favourite tree
Yes, a great choice. I have taken some lovely photographs of mountain ash over the years. I love them when they are in full red berry mode!
I have a couple of self-sown seedlings from a Himalayan Birch specimen tree. The mature bark on the parent is stark white - ace. Got high hopes...
That sounds fantastic David. I don't know about the Himalayans, but the normal birch grow like weeds, so hopefully they won't take too long to develop.
@@TonysBonsai I didn't know there was a Himalayan Birch until I was offered these before they were skipped. The parent is a belter!
Fingers crossed for them!
1k subs coming soon mate! Well done 👏
Thanks Clyde. My subs have really dried up over the past couple of days just as I approach 1k, but I'm sure I'll get there in a day or two with a bit of luck!
@@TonysBonsai probably people out celebrating jubilee maybe 😆, sure you will Tony! Iv Been a sub From when u had 150 sub so it’s nice to see the following grow !
Ah yes, I didn't consider the jubilee. I really appreciate your support Clyde!
Daft question Tony why ate they not in bonsai pots ..saying that a lot of my trees are in bigger pots..
Hi Michael. It's a good question. Two reasons really. Firstly, they are fairly recently collected trees (all within the last 18 months), so I'm leaving them to grow on and get healthy, but also, I just can't afford bonsai pots If I'm honest. I have over 200 trees so I'd need to remortgage my house!
@@TonysBonsai wow that's a lot of trees I am in a similar situation the pots are so expensive.
My trees I have grown from seed or there just regular plants that I am training to become bonsai.
Sounds like we have a similar approach to bonsai Michael. I have had a go at making my own out of cement, and I think I'll make a video on it at some point.
@@TonysBonsai I will look forward to that Tony..
I plan a trip to greenwood bonsai one day its only Nottingham not to far away is there any decent bonsai shops in Preston we have nothing in leigh..
There is a small bonsai place just on the outskirts of preston. I've bought the odd piece of starter material from him, and I think he sells pots etc, but you can only visit by appointment.
www.wyndcotebonsai.co.uk/
Hi Tony, love oaks, weeping willows & birches. For bonsai, dawn redwood. What are your thoughts on shrubs as bonsai? Love my honeysuckle & azalea, also trying to make a weigela & poinsettia one.
Some good trees there. Particularly like the movement in third tree. Are you going for a twin trunk in that one or using the smaller one as a sacrificial branch?
Hi Rhys. I'm still undecided on quite a few of these trees. What would you do with the third tree?
@@TonysBonsai I think your mame idea is a good one, though you might have trouble keeping the internodes small unless you keep it starved in a small pot. I have a similar birch that I'm trying to turn into a weeping literati. It's very much a work in progress. You could chop that low branch and give that a go if you're feeling brave.
I also saw that Dan Robinson interview on Mirai. Dan's one of my favourite bonsai artists. I gotta get out to see his Elandan garden one day. Interesting to hear him say he rarely repots.
You seem to be the silver birch expert among all the TH-cam channels, so I’m hoping you may be able to answer my question. I have one and would like to know whether they can be ground layered… if so, when would be the best time to do this? The buds are just about to open on mine.
Thank you! 😊
Hi Natasha. I certainly would never call myself an expert when it comes to bonsai, but I do know that silver birch air layer very easily. This makes me think that they will therefore ground layer readily too. I would wait until all the leaves have hardened off (early May) before attempting the layer though, and I would personally set up some kind of plant pot attached around the base of the trunk filled with sphagnum moss rather than just backfilling with garden soil.
Hi. I’m a very beginner so it would be useful if you would explain with a close up of where you are cutting on a few of the cuts
Hi Janet. I will remember to do that on a future video. I have a couple of silver birch which I haven't yet pruned, so that will give me a chance to show a close-up!
@@TonysBonsai thank you. I will keep a special look out for all silver birch videos. It’s my favourite tree and I’m hoping to get one soon
excellent, and I agree that they are a stunning tree. I hope you get a good one!
Thanks for sharing bro
Thanks Mas!
Scots pine for sure.
Good choice Peter. Unfortunately there aren't really all that many around here, but it is always a treat to see them when I venture north!
Only 8 Mate!
Just cracked the 1000 mate. Onwards and upwards!
@@TonysBonsai 🎉💥❤ well done!
Indonesia bonsai present
thanks!
How old is that first tree please
Hi Janet. Only just seen this. It is a collected tree, so it's hard to say, but I'd say around 10 years old but that's just a guess.
lol Tony!! 🤣🤣
🤣🤣
Silver berch makes a really nice tree. They do have 1 major issues that's very annoying. Once they are more than a few, I don't mean a litteral few, years old the trees start to randomly drop WHOLE branches. This can be mitigated somewhat by keeping decent spa e between each branch as light seems to be a factor. Even then though it's not anywhere near a done deal. Quite the opposite. It's rather annoying when you've spent years getting 9 or 10 branches looking great. Then, dispite good health and light penitration, the tree drops 2 branches.
It's even worse in bonsai from as normal they shed small or medium sized branches, but because the difference in branches size is so small in bonsai it could be any branch, quite often its a well developed, needed and quality branch, that totally ruins your concept for the tree. Obviously this is a bigger issue the further along in the process you are, its annoying in development, its hive inducing when on a tree years into refinement.
Essentially these trees are always being worked on and redesigned as they drop branches over thier life.
Don't get me wrong, I still love them. Partly because they are always a work in progress due to this issue, but it is why it's no a popular species as most experienced bonsai artists find it too much.
Loved the video as always. It's always good to see your trees and how you work on them. Thanks for the content.
Hi Stimm. I have heard that this can be an issue with birch, but as I've not had mine all that long, I've not found it to be an issue yet. I think I'm probably a bit like you though in the respect that I am happy to work with the tree, and if it changes over time as some branches die off, then so be it.
They are just such lovely delicate trees, and for me they are worth it for the stunning green spring colour alone.
@@TonysBonsai yes I totally agree. Infact I'm getting a couple more in the coming weeks. They would constantly change and be reworked by nature, so whats the problem with that being the case in bonsai. That's how I looked at it.
That's a good way to look at it. I hope your new trees are beauties!