A Tale of 32 Japanese Black Pines.

[Grant Bowie]

Last Friday 21st march 2014 I purchased 32 Japanese Black Pines all reputedly from 1974; i.e. 40 years old this year.

Knowing the stock and the grower/enthusiast I am confident in the trees provenance.

They varied in size from medium to large but all had very good, old looking bark, reasonably compact in the most part after years of trimming but some elongation due to loss or cutting off of lower branches.

They were all in reasonable but not bullet proof health, but in need of a feed and spray.

I decided to repot a few of the biggest trees but after looking at the roots and the garden soil that they were growing in I decided to repot the whole 32. This certainly soaked up my entire stock of private, top shelf mostly Japanese pots that I have been collecting for 40 years. Found a few curl grubs as well so it was a good move.

Enough soil was removed, but with not too much disturbance, and the roots spread. I very securely wired them into their pots and it will now be a full year before I will do any wiring or cutting off of branches. No foliage was removed for the repot as I want to force the roots to really get going before winter. I will leave them for a year to really get the roots strong before I overhaul all of them.

Grant

[Ray M]

Hi Grant,
Wow!! That's going to keep you out of the pubs and off the streets. Would love to see some photos if you can get a chance to take some. Hope they all bounce back well for you mate.

Regards Ray

[Matthew]

I'm dying for pics Grant and quite a score. 32 mature black pines at once . I can see the days pass when needle plucking /thinning in the years ahead

[Grant Bowie]

I may have taken a photo or two and will post.

I have been flat out since the purchase repotting as it is a big job to do them properly.

Grant

[bodhidharma]

Did you have to go into hock for the purchase Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Did you have to go into hock for the purchase Grant

No, I did end up selling my big Taxodium and a few others so it was an even swap in the end.

I will have to sell more bonsai to make space for my new pines, timber decks, display area,new car, holiday etc however.

Grant

[bodhidharma]

No, I did end up selling my big Taxodium and a few others so it was an even swap in the end.

I will have to sell more bonsai to make space for my new pines, timber decks, display area,new car, holiday etc however.

Grant

Thats the way Grant, no retreat, no surrender.

[Grant Bowie]

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I am currently overhauling my work and display areas and so some stuff is sitting on upturned pots etc. Now that I have finished repotting all the trees(except 2 that I am working on) I can get back to preparing the area for the next stage.

Grany

[Reece]

[vlkcheng]

Good stuff. All full of potential. Is that an elm tree that was in one of your pics? That tree is stunning. All the best.

[Grant Bowie]

Good stuff. All full of potential. Is that an elm tree that was in one of your pics? That tree is stunning. All the best.

It is probably my recently overhauled Banksia integrifolia.

Grant

[rodm]

Who's a lucky boy then! What a wonderful lot of projects to have to work on envy envy envy. Best of luck with them all
Cheers Rod

[kcpoole]

Hey grant, are these all the unsold ones from the Ausbonsai sale day? Nice score

[Shane]

Hi Grant, I admire your set up there. Looks like a nice bespoke cage to keep your 'preciouses' safe (and healthy).

[Grant Bowie]

Hey grant, are these all the unsold ones from the Ausbonsai sale day? Nice score

Yes,

bought the lot.

Grant