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Japanese import - spring sprung.


Guest Farnsbarns

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Guest Farnsbarns

Treated myself to a 40th birthday present. Very rare and very cool Shishi-gashira (Lions Mane) Japanese maple. About 40 years old, 34" high, imported from Japan. That's a good thing with bonsai trees!

 

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How in the world does one import something like that without damaging it? Very tricky, I'm sure.

 

It's gorgeous, by the way - looks like someone took an old-growth tree from the forest and zapped it with a miniaturizing ray gun! [smile]

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Beautiful! We are lucky to live not too far from Longwood Gardens, I've always enjoyed the bonsai collection. Good luck with it, I hope it is still thriving long after all of us are gone!

 

rct

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Guest Farnsbarns

Actually a fully mature and developed tree like this is easier to keep than a tiny tree. Much tougher, bigger pot (water reservoir), more foliage so can afford to lose some etc etc.

 

Temperature isnt really an issue. This can be outdoors in any weather. Need to watch warm wind which scorches the leaves although this species is harder than most acers. It does want a spot where it sees some shade each day.

 

It was rather expensive but the good thing is these don't depreciate or become "second hand" and I did get it at wholesale straight from the importer. There's a lesser example on a British bonsai site right now for £675 more than I paid. If I ever need my money out it won't be a problem. Just gotta keep it alive!

 

The species is very rare, covered by CITES in fact, which led to a Brazilian rose wood conversation. There's a good chance this tree is pre-CITES. Wasn't covered right from the start.

 

Importing is a massive risk. They can decide to destroy your £££,£££ container for virtually no reason and when they do they charge you £400 an hour to do it. They even charged him for xraying the last one. Things die and get damaged etc.

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Guest Farnsbarns

That's beautiful! Do the leaves turn red in the fall?

 

This species is known for an incredible orange. Late in the year too, hangs in there into November. Then you get to enjoy the branch structure all winter and new foliage in spring.

 

The other good thing is that while this tree stands as a finished, developed tree there are things that could be developed further so I get to add something.

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Stunning...I can't own one because I would probably kill it. I can't imagine ruining something that beautiful.

 

I have a Kumquat tree that I got for Father's Day three years ago. It is still alive, but I live in Southern California where citrus trees grow like weeds (or used to until they built houses).

 

Congratulations!

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Wow, nice! Happy Birthday Farns… Wish you many more! BTW, I have a 45 year old bonsai Ficus tree… Got it as a gift when it was 25 years old and I've had it 20 years, still going strong!

 

Wow. Can you post pics? Id love to see it. You may not be aware but that could be very valuable.

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Guest Farnsbarns

I love a good bonsai & that is a very nice one indeed. Happy belated birthday.

 

Thanks. Bonsai rarely look as good in pictures as they do in real life as anyone who has tried to photograph one will know. A branch with a nice curve,from one angle, will look dead strait from another but somehow, having walked up to a tree you detect that it isn't. Also branches which grow apart can look very parallel from another angle.

 

This is certainly a top quality tree and with a few years of refinement of the tiny details it will be exhibition quality.

 

My Mrs kept coming outside last night to find me sitting in a deck chair looking at it. She thought it was hilarious, I suggested that's what it's for and it would have been a monumental waste of money to not look at it.

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Yes, pests are a big issue, aphids in particular. Tricky because you have a tree growing in hard conditions, root bound and struggling to add new growth, spraying harsh chemicals is not an option. There are some specialist products. I refuse to remove the spiders webs and I think that gets me some mileage. I can also pretend they're giant spiders.

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Yes, pests are a big issue, aphids in particular. Tricky because you have a tree growing in hard conditions, root bound and struggling to add new growth, spraying harsh chemicals is not an option. There are some specialist products. I refuse to remove the spiders webs and I think that gets me some mileage. I can also pretend they're giant spiders.

Good luck bud! The way these are potted and elevated should make it easier to protect it from pests. Maybe you can surround the base of the pot with a detergent or something to keep the aphids away? Those little bastards always find a way but the spiders will probably take over at that point

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Happy Belated Birthday To You! It's a beautiful bonsai you have there! [love]

 

Many Happy Returns of the Day, Farns!

 

I'm looking forward to seeing the forthcoming (I hope) snaps throughout it's year-long cycle showing it in all it's different guises.

 

Pip.

I share in Pip's hope you may post some more pics of your Shishi-gashira Japanese maple through the seasons.

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