In October 2013 I had the opportunity to have a workshop with Bill Valananis and I took the opportunity with both hands. The workshop was organised by the Canberra Bonsai Society and was held mid-week so I think that inhibitered the number of people who could attend.

I had a Cedrus Deodora that I really was not enjoying and I couldn’t put my finger on why. It was a cascade and had plenty of branching. It was a tree I had dug quite some years ago (around 1995) with two other trees of the same species and has been in pots every since. It has been watered and fertilized on a regular basis however I was never really sure about the look and style.

Bill convinced me that the tree had potential and that the cascade style was right for it. The tree has not increased in the trunk and nabari width too much in the nearly 20 years I have had it and that is probably because this species is a notoriously slow grower in pot culture.

The look before the workshop commenced

 Initially Bill discussed the tree and its future and then set me the task of wiring as much of the tree as I could in the allocated time. Well three or four rolls of aluminium wire and two hours later Bill returned to shape and discuss the trees future.

Bill setting the trees future in place.

So after only about three hours of assistance, discussion and plans for the future this bonsai is now back on the bench where it should be, and I have great hope that it will continue to thrive in the direction that Bill has given it.

The after workshop look.

It was great to have the opportunity to work with Bill on one of my trees and I asked Bill if I could have a photo with him and my tree as he was only too happy to oblige.

The tree, Bill and I

There is still quite an amount of refinement that needs to be completed but it is now well on the way to being quite a good bonsai.