Excellent job Nigel; and I see you had fun with it...which made it fun for us, the viewers. I really enjoy watching your videos, primarily because your trees look like real trees in nature and not a stylized version of a tree. Frequently, when walking through a bonsai show or exhibit, I ask myself if this tree is really something I would see in nature, even though I truly appreciate the artistry that has gone into its development. And more importantly, and you've said this many times in your videos, knowing the horticulture of a particular species really does help inform how you take care of a tree, how you prune it, what soil you give it to live in, and how much water it requires. I have become more of a pruner now, using less and less wire because of directional pruning techniques. Keep up the great videos. It's good to see what our Canadian brothers are doing.
Excellently captured the spirit of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, except the place is full of Elephants, that's what your composition reminds me of. And bless the rooster for remind us he is there.
Nigel - your bonsai are AMAZING My favorites are the African animal setting and the little forrests. Your really passionate about your Bonsai. Impressive. Thanks for sharing
Looks great and definitely has potential. One detail that I think would make a big difference is if you added some elephant footprints in the sand. Maybe to form a path between the tree and water, but also all around the tree so it looks like the elephants frequent the area and use the tree for napping, rubbing tusks, et c. I think you could really tell a story with some well-placed footprints. I suppose they'd wash away whenever you water it; but on the plus side, you could try out lots of different arrangements to see what looks best for if you want to show it in the future.
Nigel hi. This is Zeenat, From my home Canada, I am fond of your work; You are not only Nature plant lover but also Craft Artist after watching your 'African Style cedar Bonsai with Elephants family' Excellent. I was in Zambia,worked in Tourism in short period of time. I saw Elephants goes with family. Love to watch your programme, I will try Bonsai one day. Thanks.Regards. Zz.
Looks great, good job, liked the perpetum jazzile song at the end☺ nice to hear people know it as far as canada. Have a nice one and greetings from slovenia☺
Jordan Pape Thanks, I'm already thinking of more ideas to improve it. I'm going to make some termite hills and add some elephant bush as shrubs around the scene. I was also thinking of putting some dead branches on the ground around the tree.
Looks great! I love to also build diaramas for my model kits and it looks just like the models iv built from woodlands sceances, iv made a couple live ones with a silver back and ficus and bald eagle with swamp cypress lol and mountain ash on a mountain made from rock and cement iv got a spruce to do next and a sorbus rowan! , I was wanting to ask you about the repoting! Iv not repotted and my cedar or junipers yet eh and seeing you do yours here just reminded me 2 need repotted! Can I do it now or should I wait ? I'm in uk so basically same weather climate lol
Scottish Bonsai I love model building also, I just wish I had more time for it. Cedars can be repotted out of season, with some good after care. I keep the root pruning a little lighter than I would do in spring and I place them on the floor of the greenhouse for about 3 weeks afterwards. This keeps them semi-shaded and the humidity is high, so the roots can recover. The temperature near the floor level is not as hot as up on the bench level also. I mist them a couple of times on hot days. So far this seems to work well. I think I could re pot any tree using this aftercare with good success. If you re pot too late in the summer, I would be worried that the new fine roots might not be strong enough to survive the winter. If you can wait until spring, this is the best time, but if your tree is pot bound, hard to water or the health is suffering, you may want to pot out of season.
Iv done that last year with a Leylandi cypress conifer n kept it in greenhouse the foliage scorched one morning n that was that! So I just slip pot if I need to these days I never repot out of season now all these years iv really learnt to be patient in this game compare to 10 year ago I couldn't wait n wanted it all done yesterday haha! Be good to meet you some day!
those mosquitos were nothing like I experienced in Yellowstone this summer! To eat, I had to fast walk in big circles around our lakeside campground and drink through our bug nets! It was bad enough that you would rather hike for 10 miles and be too hot, than feel refreshed and covered in scratch marks from itching! I had to wear a rain coat over my hoodie while hiking in 25º sunny weather! It was worth it. I was one of at least 2 people out of 30 in our scout group that got less than 10 bites. Everyone else looked like they had chicken pox!
Awesome!!!! Not much more is needed to be said. Do you think maybe some plastic down lining that water hole would help with water retention. Like a pond liner.
xxx52bmo43 I'm thinking of using epoxy and and sand mixed together to surround the plastic container. This way the sand wouldn't absorb the water and it would blend in to the surrounding area. A liner as you suggested would work well also!
I actually found the elephants at Michael's. I purchased clay there also for my muck wall that I'm doing for my stone slab. My first time doing this. I just got into this hobby a month ago. Love it.
It came out looking good. It was a Feuken Tea with tiny leaves, very small. Either way it's a beautiful bonsai. I had to move all my bonsais in due to the cold here in Florida. lol. Can you believe that?
+Nigel Saundersits more than just liking i was literrally tripping lol .. the moment where you try to figur out were to place the elephant haha i was having so much fun i wished it was me.im from quebec btw
+Aleks Bonsai Here is the website for the plastic animals. I get them at a local toy store, they are expensive! www.schleich-s.com/en/CA/toys/wild_life/
I use a watering can with a slow fine head. The water comes out like a fine rain and doesn't disturb the sand much. It is best to wet the sand first and then slowly water a little more heavily, this stops the water just running off the surface of the sand.
I've been watching your videos for the past coyple of months and I decided to try making some bonsais myself, is there any way to condact you for some questions?
The sand seems to just sit on top of the bonsai soil. At first, I thought it would mix into the lower layers of the soil, but after many years, it seems to still stay separated.
Kennet De Bondt I sure had fun on this one! I even enjoyed the changing weather, although it's not too good for the video! My wife's parents are Italian, I hope to get there some day for a visit and check out the cool olive trees in your video.
+Charles Cortez Hello Charles, the sand is put on the surface to simulate the dry African savanna. The sand also covers up the ugly course bonsai soil with a realistic ground cover. I do this with quite a lot of my trees. The sand helps keep the soil at a more even moisture level by wicking up moisture from below into the sand layer. Moss grows really well on a layer of sand. Watering takes a little longer with sand on top, because it needs to be wet first before the water runs through into the bonsai soil below. It only adds a few more seconds to your watering time and is not a big deal for me.
wouldn't this be considered penjing? not being nit picky just wondering... that's why I like watching and learning from you... your not exactly snobby about the rules...
Yes this would be considered penjing, maybe? The focus is on the elephants, the tree is just background. I will be doing a complete remake of this landscape, coming soon, in the future.
Most stores carry a low nitrogen fertilizer but you might have to buy the components separately and mix them up to get a zero nitrogen mix. Phosphorus and potassium.
Isn't it amazing that a tree can soak up all those nutrients out of the soil yet the soil level stays the same? You would think there would be a depression in the soil but there isn't. If you took the mass of a full size tree and removed all the water, you would have several thousand pounds. So why isn't several thousands pounds of soil missing? Oh well, it's of no great importance, it's just a question I've pondered in the past.
***** I think trees actually gain bio mass as they grow. They are always dropping leaves and seeds into the soil and are continually making more soil for themselves. A typical example is a tree growing in a small pocket of soil on a rock. They shed bark, drop leaves etc. and the pocket of soil gets larger and contains more nutrients as the tree grows older. All from sunlight, water and the magic of life. Amazing!
SIR,, I AM WATCHING ALMOST ALL VIDEOS ,, FRANKLY SPEAKING ,, ALL VIDEOS ARE VERY NATURAL,, SIR,, I AM INTERESTED TO BUY THOSE ANIMALS,, LIKE GERAFE , ELIPHANTS, ZEBRAS.. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW AND FROM WHERE YOU GET IT ?? ACTUALLY ALL THOSE ANIMALS ARE LOOKING VERY NATRUAL,, AND FRANKLY SPEAKING ALL YOUR CREATIONS ARE LOOKING TRUELY NATURAL ...
Thank you Parag, they can be purchased at.... www.ebay.ca/itm/SCHLEICH-WORLD-OF-NATURE-AFRICA-amp-ACCESSORIES-ANIMAL-TOYS-amp-FIGURES-FIGURINES-/181524673412
Great arrangement, giraffes stretching their necks to reach acacia would be good idea, but I wouldn't be able to do what you did, not creative at all I'm
Whats the point of asking questions with this guy. He never answers. My questions on cedars were never answered. Thanks Nigel. And thanks for another wasted season.
Nigel, you are an artist, a visionary, and an awsome teacher. Keep up the good work.
Nigell, you are the best! Every video from you is a gift!
Excellent job Nigel; and I see you had fun with it...which made it fun for us, the viewers. I really enjoy watching your videos, primarily because your trees look like real trees in nature and not a stylized version of a tree. Frequently, when walking through a bonsai show or exhibit, I ask myself if this tree is really something I would see in nature, even though I truly appreciate the artistry that has gone into its development. And more importantly, and you've said this many times in your videos, knowing the horticulture of a particular species really does help inform how you take care of a tree, how you prune it, what soil you give it to live in, and how much water it requires. I have become more of a pruner now, using less and less wire because of directional pruning techniques. Keep up the great videos. It's good to see what our Canadian brothers are doing.
Jim Doyel Thank you, we do our best with our short growing season, in the great white north!
That's a beautiful work Nigel. Congratulations and thank you for sharing!
Thank you Nytes!
Excellently captured the spirit of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, except the place is full of Elephants, that's what your composition reminds me of. And bless the rooster for remind us he is there.
***** Thank you Iqbal, I'll continue to refine the scene and post an update later in the year.
that was a great vid to watch, you forgot the piles of elephant poo though lol!! Only joking, it looked awesome even after the first set up
great Nigel sir👑👌💙🌳
Glad you liked it!
Nigel, you are a genius, or mad. Or maybe a mad genius, I can't decide. Either way keep doing what you are doing.I love it.
Cheers
Sid
Nigel - your bonsai are AMAZING My favorites are the African animal setting and the little forrests. Your really passionate about your Bonsai. Impressive. Thanks for sharing
Thank you Ann, I just love creating miniature scenes!
Looks great and definitely has potential.
One detail that I think would make a big difference is if you added some elephant footprints in the sand. Maybe to form a path between the tree and water, but also all around the tree so it looks like the elephants frequent the area and use the tree for napping, rubbing tusks, et c. I think you could really tell a story with some well-placed footprints.
I suppose they'd wash away whenever you water it; but on the plus side, you could try out lots of different arrangements to see what looks best for if you want to show it in the future.
Your bonsai are so cool I remember when I saw my first bonsai and I saved up my allowance and bout it and now I have three
Very cool, thanks Jason!
Nigel, that's superb inspiration. I love it. It inspires me to step away from traditional bonsai way's. Thank you. 👌🍁
nigel your positive nature is inspireing keep it up love your videos watch atleast three a day minimum thanks as always
Thanks Jason, good to hear!
Nigel hi. This is Zeenat, From my home Canada, I am fond of your work; You are not only Nature plant lover but also Craft Artist after watching your 'African Style cedar Bonsai with Elephants family' Excellent. I was in Zambia,worked in Tourism in short period of time. I saw Elephants goes with family. Love to watch your programme, I will try Bonsai one day. Thanks.Regards. Zz.
Thank you Zeenat, here is a later video of this planting.....
th-cam.com/video/FCkoXhtdS0A/w-d-xo.html
Looks great, good job, liked the perpetum jazzile song at the end☺ nice to hear people know it as far as canada. Have a nice one and greetings from slovenia☺
Mindgrid That's my daughters high school choir singing Toto's "Africa". Slovenia looks a beautiful country!
I have to admit Nigel, I wasn't sure about this one. But you pulled it off in the end & it looks pretty good. I love your imagination :-)
You are doing Penjing already, not only Bonsai. I even didn't know that Bonsai came from Penjing. I found it a few time ago. It looks great!
I like what you did here, very creative!!!
Neat! And the bark on that tree is awesome!
Jordan Pape Thanks, I'm already thinking of more ideas to improve it. I'm going to make some termite hills and add some elephant bush as shrubs around the scene. I was also thinking of putting some dead branches on the ground around the tree.
Nigel Saunders Your welcome, and that would really complete the scene, it will be just like one out of a museum.
Reall NICE,,,one of your best man!
pretty cool nigel!!! you can actually get a wall with a sun painted on it and yellow horizon and keep it in front!! would look amazing!!
Looks great. I love penjing. Nice work.
Wonderful work! I truly love it!
Great turnout. Really captures something real
Great job, looks really good!
nice vid like always love ur work u got me inspired in bonsai and i love the animal features
Bass Fishing Guys2 Thank you, I'm going to be adding more details to the scene. I'll do an update later in the year.
This looks great fun and great for display
Thank you, I'm improving it slowly every year!
Looks great! I love to also build diaramas for my model kits and it looks just like the models iv built from woodlands sceances, iv made a couple live ones with a silver back and ficus and bald eagle with swamp cypress lol and mountain ash on a mountain made from rock and cement iv got a spruce to do next and a sorbus rowan! ,
I was wanting to ask you about the repoting! Iv not repotted and my cedar or junipers yet eh and seeing you do yours here just reminded me 2 need repotted! Can I do it now or should I wait ? I'm in uk so basically same weather climate lol
Scottish Bonsai I love model building also, I just wish I had more time for it. Cedars can be repotted out of season, with some good after care. I keep the root pruning a little lighter than I would do in spring and I place them on the floor of the greenhouse for about 3 weeks afterwards. This keeps them semi-shaded and the humidity is high, so the roots can recover. The temperature near the floor level is not as hot as up on the bench level also. I mist them a couple of times on hot days. So far this seems to work well. I think I could re pot any tree using this aftercare with good success. If you re pot too late in the summer, I would be worried that the new fine roots might not be strong enough to survive the winter. If you can wait until spring, this is the best time, but if your tree is pot bound, hard to water or the health is suffering, you may want to pot out of season.
Iv done that last year with a Leylandi cypress conifer n kept it in greenhouse the foliage scorched one morning n that was that! So I just slip pot if I need to these days I never repot out of season now all these years iv really learnt to be patient in this game compare to 10 year ago I couldn't wait n wanted it all done yesterday haha!
Be good to meet you some day!
those mosquitos were nothing like I experienced in Yellowstone this summer! To eat, I had to fast walk in big circles around our lakeside campground and drink through our bug nets! It was bad enough that you would rather hike for 10 miles and be too hot, than feel refreshed and covered in scratch marks from itching! I had to wear a rain coat over my hoodie while hiking in 25º sunny weather! It was worth it. I was one of at least 2 people out of 30 in our scout group that got less than 10 bites. Everyone else looked like they had chicken pox!
This was really cool. Nice video.
Thanks Jason, I'll be re doing the scene hopefully this summer. I have some new ideas!
Thank you for the prompt response. I'll check out the site after work.
Awesome!!!! Not much more is needed to be said. Do you think maybe some plastic down lining that water hole would help with water retention. Like a pond liner.
xxx52bmo43 I'm thinking of using epoxy and and sand mixed together to surround the plastic container. This way the sand wouldn't absorb the water and it would blend in to the surrounding area. A liner as you suggested would work well also!
Brilliant!! love it!
Thank you Samu, I have an update also.....
th-cam.com/video/ysMxKLEDabs/w-d-xo.html
I actually found the elephants at Michael's. I purchased clay there also for my muck wall that I'm doing for my stone slab. My first time doing this. I just got into this hobby a month ago. Love it.
Sounds good, I hope your slab turns out well!
It came out looking good. It was a Feuken Tea with tiny leaves, very small. Either way it's a beautiful bonsai. I had to move all my bonsais in due to the cold here in Florida. lol. Can you believe that?
bellissimo originalissimo diorama...Complimenti...
Thank you Ruggero!
grazie a Te...
belo trabalho, muito lindo... parabéns...
Tonny Fênix
Carving Bonsai Obrigado, eu estou pensando em fazer mais cenas ou dioramas de todo o mundo
fantástica ideia amigo e você tem muita competência para isso, vá em frente... Deus abençoe... Tonny Fênix
Ola amigo heres un verdadero maestro deste hermoso arte
Gracias amigo mío, ¡hay mucho más por venir!
Good work Nigel. I am wondering why you are avoiding wiring of branches and plucking top needles which will give more look to tree?
Refinement to the tree will come , I don't want to do too much work to any tree at one time.
its midnigth and im watching this vid and laughing and my eyes roudend like 2 dollars
its so cool lol you make magic sir
+stevegot710 Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
+Nigel Saundersits more than just liking i was literrally tripping lol .. the moment where you try to figur out were to place the elephant haha i was having so much fun i wished it was me.im from quebec btw
+stevegot710 that cascadin tiny branch is so awesome
You inspired me. I made my own, but cannot find a way to send you a picture here.
You can send pics to...
thekwbonsaisociety@gmail.com
Thanks Paula!
Very cool . Nice job.
simply beautiful!
That looks great
Hi, can I ask what type of sand you used on top? Your video is inspiring me to try create something 😀
It is washed playground sand, you can get a bag from your hardware store. It is used for children's sand boxes.
Nigel Saunders, thank you.
Beautiful 😍
Love it great imagination
Been looking for elephants like the ones you used for your scene there with no luck. Where did you purchase yours? Giraffes would also look great too.
Here is their website.....
www.schleich-s.com/en/CA/wild-life/products.html
thanks for the video, i was wondering where did you get the animals from? thanks ~Alek
+Aleks Bonsai Here is the website for the plastic animals. I get them at a local toy store, they are expensive!
www.schleich-s.com/en/CA/toys/wild_life/
Sir does we can propagate mature juniper stem by cuttings
You can but it is difficult!
homeguides.sfgate.com/propagate-cuttings-juniper-45085.html
How do you detained the sand in place when watering?
I use a watering can with a slow fine head. The water comes out like a fine rain and doesn't disturb the sand much. It is best to wet the sand first and then slowly water a little more heavily, this stops the water just running off the surface of the sand.
I've been watching your videos for the past coyple of months and I decided to try making some bonsais myself, is there any way to condact you for some questions?
George Tourloukis Sure, you can email me at.....thekwbonsaisociety@gmail.com
I'd be happy to help if I can.
Thanks
I really appreciate it
Really very good I will try with some other tree
It's lots of fun making landscapes!
I think slightly too much moss in the middle. But brilliant. Really nice.
Thanks Jack, here is a later video....
th-cam.com/video/ysMxKLEDabs/w-d-xo.html&index=2
Baby elephant go in the middle of the elephant parents always taking care of the bby! but the way I love your videos
awesome just awesome, gives me idea to do something new.
Good to hear, just don't do it in a rain storm!
creative and amazing
Hlo sir, isn't sand mixed up with the bonsai soil
The sand seems to just sit on top of the bonsai soil. At first, I thought it would mix into the lower layers of the soil, but after many years, it seems to still stay separated.
your friend would be proud
I think of her whenever I see the tree!
Nice!
Ever heard about 'funsai'?
Greets
Kennet
Kennet De Bondt I sure had fun on this one! I even enjoyed the changing weather, although it's not too good for the video! My wife's parents are Italian, I hope to get there some day for a visit and check out the cool olive trees in your video.
so why did you put sand? is that something you do for all bonsai? is it wrong to do it on all bonsai?
+Charles Cortez Hello Charles, the sand is put on the surface to simulate the dry African savanna. The sand also covers up the ugly course bonsai soil with a realistic ground cover. I do this with quite a lot of my trees. The sand helps keep the soil at a more even moisture level by wicking up moisture from below into the sand layer. Moss grows really well on a layer of sand. Watering takes a little longer with sand on top, because it needs to be wet first before the water runs through into the bonsai soil below. It only adds a few more seconds to your watering time and is not a big deal for me.
很好看 我很喜歡你的盆景
One of those rock like, reptile water bowls could work good for a water feature, in a display like that
I like how you did it alot, though
Thanks, I'm going to work on a bog this spring in my Larch forest, I'm thinking of a 3D printed pond.
That would be perfect :)
Magistral
wouldn't this be considered penjing? not being nit picky just wondering... that's why I like watching and learning from you... your not exactly snobby about the rules...
Yes this would be considered penjing, maybe? The focus is on the elephants, the tree is just background. I will be doing a complete remake of this landscape, coming soon, in the future.
+Nigel Saunders cool.. I think it looks good especially on first try... thanks for the help!!!
Nigel where can you get nitrogen free Fertilizer ?
Most stores carry a low nitrogen fertilizer but you might have to buy the components separately and mix them up to get a zero nitrogen mix. Phosphorus and potassium.
"the Rooster agrees with this" lmao!
Isn't it amazing that a tree can soak up all those nutrients out of the soil yet the soil level stays the same? You would think there would be a depression in the soil but there isn't. If you took the mass of a full size tree and removed all the water, you would have several thousand pounds. So why isn't several thousands pounds of soil missing? Oh well, it's of no great importance, it's just a question I've pondered in the past.
***** I think trees actually gain bio mass as they grow. They are always dropping leaves and seeds into the soil and are continually making more soil for themselves. A typical example is a tree growing in a small pocket of soil on a rock. They shed bark, drop leaves etc. and the pocket of soil gets larger and contains more nutrients as the tree grows older. All from sunlight, water and the magic of life. Amazing!
+Nigel Saunders excelente trabajos todos me encantaron .el paisaje de los elefantes me fascinó
nice vid nigel
Thank you!
SIR,, I AM WATCHING ALMOST ALL VIDEOS ,, FRANKLY SPEAKING ,, ALL VIDEOS ARE VERY NATURAL,,
SIR,, I AM INTERESTED TO BUY THOSE ANIMALS,, LIKE GERAFE , ELIPHANTS, ZEBRAS.. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW AND FROM WHERE YOU GET IT ??
ACTUALLY ALL THOSE ANIMALS ARE LOOKING VERY NATRUAL,,
AND FRANKLY SPEAKING ALL YOUR CREATIONS ARE LOOKING TRUELY NATURAL ...
Thank you Parag, they can be purchased at....
www.ebay.ca/itm/SCHLEICH-WORLD-OF-NATURE-AFRICA-amp-ACCESSORIES-ANIMAL-TOYS-amp-FIGURES-FIGURINES-/181524673412
Legal seus videos gostei! meio hexástico mas legal!
+Anderson Bonsai Obrigado senhor !
Just Wow
I think this might fit the bill of penjing. Or at least the beginning phases
great
pretty wild
Fantasic
Nyc one
Thanks Srikanta, here is the latest video on this planting, it's changed a lot!
th-cam.com/video/MlqT6gEbV50/w-d-xo.html
Great arrangement, giraffes stretching their necks to reach acacia would be good idea, but I wouldn't be able to do what you did, not creative at all I'm
Whats the point of asking questions with this guy. He never answers. My questions on cedars were never answered. Thanks Nigel. And thanks for another wasted season.
Sorry Greg, I'm trying to get to them all, but it takes a long time to make the videos, work on my trees and reply to comments and email.