Weekend at Eisei-en

[Brian Van Fleet]

Spent the weekend at Bjorn’s nursery (perfect timing for a BNut server upgrade). Here are some photos from around the nursery this AM.
RMJ:


My JBP:


Chinese quince:


Chojubai:


Itoigawa:


RMJ:


Workshop/entrance:


One-seed (?) Juniper:


Styrax left, JWP right:


One of my favorite RMJ in the nursery. A big boy:

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

A few from the growing pot selection. Most of these are antique Chinese containers.


The expanding Bonsai garden:


A few tridents and fat JBP:

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Some work happening...

 

[Aeast]

Looks good. I talked to Bjorn last weekend and he said he was tripling the size of the nursery. Good to see that business is going well for him.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I candle-pruned, needle-pulled, and added some wire to this JBP:





Strongly considered this pot for the JBP, but I think it is a bit too feminine. Although I really dig the pot.

 

[Hartinez]

Very cool Brian. Would love to just step foot in an incredible nursery on that level. And your probably right on the One seed juniper label. It’s my understanding he’s got several collected from New Mexico, including the monster he’s got growing in a wood box. One seed, Juniperus Monosperma, makes up 3/4 of the vegetation throughout New Mexico (or some ridiculous percentage there abouts). Thanks for taking time to post and share some pics.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Then we tackled this RMJ I collected in 2013. This is where I collected it:

Potted in 2013:

2019:

Cleaned up the foliage and live vein a little beforehand, and started playing around with a new angle. It had progressively leaned over during the last few years, and I want to stand it up. When cleaning the live vein, I found some movement that I liked. I also decided I wanted to keep the 2 jins at the top of the trunk, and not try to simplify the design too much. I was curious what Bjorn saw, and of course his first question to me was, “ok, what do you see?”

After some light pruning and setting the main branches only. Taking it slow...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Finally, today we worked on this Shimpaku originally from Evergreen Gardenworks and first styled by Crazy. I wasn’t crazy about the long semi-cascading branch. Mostly because it’s a pain to move around and keep healthy. So we shortened it to a jin, and started to pull the whole thing back toward the pot. Over the next few wirings the plan is to make more, smaller pads, and introduce more shari.

 

[TN_Jim]

Looks good. I talked to Bjorn last weekend and he said he was tripling the size of the nursery. Good to see that business is going well for him.

Tripling!? That’s awesome. Brian your photo of new build looks very healthy!

 

[Hartinez]

Dam! 3 trees. Very productive. That RMJ is gorgeous.

 

[Dav4]

Looking good, Brian.... both the trees and you! How much weight did you lose?

 

[Paulpash]

Is the plan to eventually completely Jin the low hanging branch and grow out others higher up to compensate?

Great trees but I'm not sure about the red shirt with check shorts combo - the mullet is pretty fly though

 

[Paulpash]

I candle-pruned, needle-pulled, and added some wire to this JBP:
View attachment 246776
View attachment 246777
View attachment 246778

View attachment 246779
Strongly considered this pot for the JBP, but I think it is a bit too feminine. Although I really dig the pot.
View attachment 246780

The pot looks very similar to those made by Pravoslav Dorda.

 

[Gary McCarthy]

@Brian Van Fleet did you happen to notice the make/model of those hydraulic lift tables?

 

[flor1]

Wondering the same thing myself

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

@Brian Van Fleet did you happen to notice the make/model of those hydraulic lift tables?

Yes:

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Caveat, they are extremely heavy, and while they will raise using the foot pedal, they release by turning the knob, and not gracefully. If you loosen the knob, it will drop to the floor.

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

I recommend the one with wheels.

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[Adair M]

Looks like you had a great time! I need to visit Bjorn’s place.

How often do you go there? (Or plan to?)

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I know it’s a cliche but it looks like a good time was had by all. Bjorn’s place is on my list of places to visit. Not exactly a bucket list, just maybe one of his open house weekends, that way I won’t feel compelled to buy something unless I really need it.

 

[Adair M]

I know it’s a cliche but it looks like a good time was had by all. Bjorn’s place is on my list of places to visit. Not exactly a bucket list, just maybe one of his open house weekends, that way I won’t feel compelled to buy something unless I really need it.

Taking a workshop or a class would be even better.