Walter's Travelogues

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #12 the event

2012-01-26T09:21:00.001+01:00

The crowd was so strong on Saturday that it was nearly impossible to move. There must have been a few thousand visitors.
The demos were very well visited and folks stayed for many hours to watch.
The plastic bonsai looked so real, even when one was very close.

Overall it was the highlight of the year again. This is the event where one has to be. I look forward to January 2013.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #11 people

2012-01-26T09:13:00.000+01:00

Tony Tickle from England

Davide Benavente from Spain

Jarek Lenarczyk from Poland

Jorge Campos from Spain

Mauro Stemberger from Italy

Ryan Neil from Oregon, USA

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #10 Mauro Stemberger demo

2012-01-26T09:05:00.000+01:00

Mauro Stemberger and crew worked on an old collected sabina juniper.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #9 Vaclav Novak, second demo

2012-01-26T09:00:00.001+01:00

Vaclav Novak and his crew worked on an old collected sabina juniper.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #8 Ryan Neil, second demo

2012-01-26T08:53:00.000+01:00

Ryan Neil worked with his assistants Mike and Matja on an old collected mugo pine.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #7 Bill Valavanis , second demo

2012-01-26T07:03:00.000+01:00

Bill Valavanis worked with Corin Tomlinson on an old collected sabina juniper.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #6 Jorge Campos demo

2012-01-24T22:15:00.000+01:00

Jorge Campos worked on an old collected common juniper, Junperus communis.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #5 Vaclav Novak, first demo

2012-01-24T22:12:00.001+01:00

Vaclav Novak worked on an old collected mugo pine, Pinus mugo. The Václav Novák's crew consist of :-) Jiří Walker Procházka
and Jan Culek, who is Czech's last NTC winner.

The Václav Novák's crew consist of :-) Jiří Walker Procházka
and Jan Culek, who is Czech's last NTC winner.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #4 Ryan Neil first demo

2012-01-24T22:08:00.001+01:00

Ryan Neil worked with his assistants Mike and Matja on an old collected mugo pine, Pinus mugo.
Most images by Andrija - thank you.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #3 Bill Valavanis, first demo

2012-01-24T21:58:00.000+01:00

Bill worked with his assistant Corin on an old collected Scotspine, Pinus sylvestris.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #2 the exhibit second part

2012-01-24T12:05:00.001+01:00

These are not all the trees of the exhibit. It's just a selection.

Noelanders Trophy 2012 #1 the exhibit first part

2012-01-24T11:57:00.000+01:00

Visiting Ryan Neil in Portland, Or

2011-12-11T10:55:00.001+01:00

During a recent visit to Ryan Neil with Randy Knight I could see the progress at his place compared to last year. There are a couple of hundred most outstanding trees in this nursery already and more to come. I cannot show the trees because at this time of the year in winter storage they would look lousy. Trust me, this nursery gives reason for the highest hopes. This will become a bonsai Mecca, the place to go. I am very sure of that. I look forward to meet Ryan again at Noelanders Trophy 2012 in January in Belgium don't miss that, it is the biggest show in Europe.

Workshop in Portland, Or Dec. 6, 2011 #2

2011-12-11T10:46:00.001+01:00

This was the workshop in Portland of 2011.
The next one will happen on Wednesday, November 28, 2012.
On Tuesday, November 27, 2012 I will hold a lecture "Bonsai Styles - the Naturalistic Bonsai Style" at the Portland club in the evening.

Randy Knight will administer that workshop. We accept participants either full day of half day. Silent observes for a fee are welcome. Lurkers can look for 30 minutes for free whether they want to participate now or in the future.
Call Randy 1-503-396-6323 or write him oregonbonsai(at)qwestoffice.net to put you on the mailing list and to register

Workshop in Portland, Or #1

2011-12-11T10:33:00.000+01:00

A few days ago we had a workshop in Portland, Or, organized by Randy Knight. See for yourself what was going on.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #12

2011-12-11T10:15:00.004+01:00

This was 'Winter with Walter and Jim - 2011' at Nature's Way Nursery in Harrisburg, Pa as part of the International Bonsai Academy. This is much more than a weekend workshop. It is an event with friends. If you missed it this year, there will be another one in twelve months.

"Winter with Walter and Jim - 2012" will take place from Friday, November 30 to Sunday, December 2, 2012.
You can enter as full participant for one or several days, as silent observer. We also accept 'lurkers', which are folks who look a t this for up to 30 minutes for free to decide whether they like it or not. Around 300 collected trees of all kinds will be available also for affordable prices.

"Woodstock V" as part of the International Bonsai Academy will take place from March 30 to April 2, 2012. Main subject will be working on collected material, repotting, design, wiring special techniques, carving etc. You can also bring your own stuff. We have full participants for one or several days, silent observers and lurkers, who can look for free for 30 minutes and decide whether they like it. On Monday April 2 we will have a large Ponderosa workshop with affordable trees.

Around 400 collected trees will be available then, 200 or more brand new

Contact Jim Doyle for info and registration to secure your place.

natureswaybonsai@comcast.net
1-(717) 545-4555

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #11

2011-12-11T10:01:00.000+01:00

Japanese maple, Acer palmatum KIOHIME
There are around 10 of these avaialble at nature's Way Nursery. They are great to work with and become quite impressive after a few years.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #10

2011-12-11T09:52:00.000+01:00

Three Engelman spruce, Picea engelmani, These are typical for the kind of material available.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #9

2011-12-11T09:46:00.000+01:00

Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa. This one is typical for the better trees at nature's Way Nursery.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #8

2011-12-10T19:55:00.001+01:00

Saturday night is always the big night of such an event. This was the American answer to the Serbian night. Everybody had to make some noise of some sort. Until the dog left.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #7

2011-12-10T19:33:00.000+01:00

Engelman spruce, Picea engelmanii

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #6

2011-12-10T19:26:00.001+01:00

The seminar is flexible and everyone gets what he wants personally. Folks can either work on one of the trees for sale without the obligation to buy them, they can bring there own, they can purchase a tree and work with it right away. Or all of that as some did.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #5

2011-12-10T18:10:00.000+01:00

Engelman spruce, Picea engelmanii

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #4

2011-12-10T18:03:00.000+01:00

Engelman spruce, Picea engelmanii

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #3

2011-12-10T17:59:00.000+01:00

Lodgepole pine, Pinsu contorta.

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #2

2011-12-10T16:07:00.000+01:00

Engelman spruce, Picea engelmanii

International Bonsai Academy in Harrisburg #1

2011-12-10T15:59:00.003+01:00

From December 3 to4, 2011 the second 'Winter with Walter and Jim' took place at nature's Way Nursery in Harrisburg, Pa.
We did not wire trees in general, because of the time of year, but as you will see we did serious design work. There are about 200 very good collected trees in Harrisburg at the moment. We picked the ones which needed to get to the next step.
This is a very good Rocky Mountain Juniper, Juniperus scopulorum, probably up to 1,000 years old. A team was assigned to study the tree and find options for further development. These were discussed with the whole group. Then I let the team loose on that tree. The result is remarkable, I think.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #39

2011-11-29T21:31:00.001+01:00

This was some weekend! I really enjoy to work with such an enthusiastic group and with seemingly endless top-quality material. Here some glimpses int o a part of Marija's and Andrija's garden. Not a single tree there is for sale. Don't bother to ask. Well, a couple of olives and phyllirea are actually for sale as well as some pistacias. The trees that we worked on this weekend constitute much less than 50 % of the collection.
I wish all classes of the International Bonsai Academy come to a point where they realize that only with top-quality material one can create bonsai that will impress in the future. My classes are aimed to teach how to SEE such material and what to do with it.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 #38

2011-11-29T20:08:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #37

2011-11-29T20:02:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #36

2011-11-29T19:58:00.000+01:00

Wild olive, Olea europea

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #35

2011-11-29T19:47:00.001+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

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International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #34

2011-11-29T19:44:00.000+01:00

The show goes on. Andrija has rescued the missing images. About 50 more to go!

hawthorn, Crataegus mongyna.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #33

2011-11-29T17:16:00.000+01:00

This is all the images that I have. There were more trees bit at one point my camera ceased to cooperate. Well, you get some insight into what kind of trees, numbers and quality the Croatians are working with. This is mind blowing for someone who is not prepared. I am sure we will see more of Croatian bonsai.
This was the last weekend of International Bonsai Academy in 2011 in Europe.
Coming weekend we will have similar quality and quantity, only conifers in Harrisburg, Pa. Just in case you want to be there, there may be a couple of openings left. Contact Jim Doyle.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #32

2011-11-29T17:10:00.000+01:00

Pistacia, collected five years ago. This one was at Noelanders Trophy in Janaury of 2011 and got a lot of attention.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #31

2011-11-29T17:04:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #30

2011-11-29T16:59:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #29

2011-11-29T16:51:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #28

2011-11-29T16:46:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #27

2011-11-29T16:42:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #26

2011-11-29T16:35:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #25

2011-11-29T00:51:00.000+01:00

Pistacia

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #24

2011-11-29T00:49:00.000+01:00

Firethorn, Paracantha

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #23

2011-11-29T00:47:00.000+01:00

Philliraea, Philliraea latifolia

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #22

2011-11-29T00:44:00.000+01:00

Wild olive.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #21

2011-11-29T00:42:00.000+01:00

Stone oak, Quercus ilex. This will soon be ready for exhibit.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #20

2011-11-29T00:37:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #19

2011-11-29T00:33:00.000+01:00

Pistacia, the star of the weekend. this was submitted for Noelanders Trophy in January 2012. It is hard to believe that this tree was collected only four years ago.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #18

2011-11-29T00:29:00.000+01:00

Strawberry tree, Arbutus

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #17

2011-11-29T00:25:00.000+01:00

Wild olive, Olea europea

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #16

2011-11-28T20:10:00.000+01:00

Wild cherry, Prunus mahaleb

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #15

2011-11-28T20:06:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #14

2011-11-28T19:39:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis.

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International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #13

2011-11-28T19:34:00.000+01:00

Philirea, Philirea latifolia. This is show ready soon.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #12

2011-11-28T19:30:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis. The Emperor.
This should be ready for exhibit in the Bonsaimuseum Dusseldorf, Germany in summer of 2013.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #11

2011-11-28T19:23:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #10

2011-11-28T17:17:00.000+01:00

A quite advanced pistacia. This one will be show ready soon. Pot by Isabelia.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #9

2011-11-28T17:12:00.000+01:00

One more of these crazy vines which we call 'marihuna tree'. but it is not, of course.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #8

2011-11-28T17:08:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #7

2011-11-28T17:03:00.000+01:00

Oriental hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #6

2011-11-28T16:58:00.000+01:00

Advanced pistacia.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #5

2011-11-28T16:52:00.000+01:00

Orientql hornbeam, Carpinus orientalis

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #4

2011-11-28T16:45:00.000+01:00

Strawberry tree, Arbutus.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #3

2011-11-28T00:32:00.000+01:00

This is a unique tree. It is a vine which has foliage like cannabis. But it certainly is not cannabis. We still call it 'marihuana-tree' for a better name. This particular one has deadwood on top which looks much like a filigrane scull of a cow. Together with the cannabis foliage this seems to be an ideal candidate for a halloween bonsai exhibit. I love it.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #2

2011-11-28T00:21:00.000+01:00

This is another collected pistacia which is in training since two years. We decided to edit it and pot it in a new position.

International Bonsai Academy in Croatia 2011 - #1

2011-11-28T00:10:00.000+01:00

This was a long weekend in Kastela near Split, Croatia right at the Mediterranean coast line at Marija's and Andriaja's place. it was very intensive, we worked every day until late at night. Her now the sequence of events.
First the huge pistacia. This is recently collected great material for a future winner. I am aware that many who look at this will not be able to see the quality yet, because of lack of experience. If that is the case just go on looking until we come th the pistacias which are at exhibit stage. Then you will see what kind of great bonsai can be made of them.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #11

2011-11-09T23:02:00.000+01:00

On Monday morning a bit of sightseeing and off to the airport.
I am so happy to have been to Belgrade and met such nice folks. I am sure we will continue this and see eyh other next year somewhere in the area.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #10

2011-11-09T22:52:00.002+01:00

The fifth South-East European Bonsai Symposium as part of the International Bonsai Academy was a great success in my eyes in every respect.
Nations present: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria
Saburo Kato said 'world peace through bonsai'.- While some have smiled at this statement in the past it was clearly becoming true in Belgrade. All nations being friends there, despite of politics.
The number of attendants you can see from the photographs.
It is planned to do more of this in the coming years. We will announce and report.

A special thank goes to the organizers around Marko. This was you success!

Also thanks to all the photographers who provided the images. They are still coming in.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #9

2011-11-09T22:42:00.000+01:00

This field elm, Ulmus campestre, was analyzed. The ugly stump on top seemed to be a great fault. Well, we tried to make it into a feature.

This

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #8

2011-11-09T22:30:00.001+01:00

The Saturday night convention dinner beat everything! we went to this great restaurant with an outstanding gipsy band of six. All nations had to sing and in the end everybody sang Serbian songs. World peace with bonsai! All of Ex-Yugoslavia was united again plus the Bulgarians and the Czech folks and one Austrian.
This was by far the best bonsai dinner I have experienced in thirty years.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #7

2011-11-09T22:18:00.000+01:00

This huge Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris. got a lot of attention too. It was discussed at legnght whether to keep a twin trunk or to cut one trunk off and which one. On Sunday we then cut one trunk off and sent the tree on it's way.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #6

2011-11-09T18:33:00.000+01:00

More tree inspiration.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #5

2011-11-09T18:07:00.000+01:00

This European beech, Fagus sylvatica, got lots of attention. of course. 'Rasputin' has inherited this tree for a man who is not with us anymore. the tree was prepared on the mountain and the man died before the tree was collected. 'Rasputin' collected it and cared for it since then. this is a great tree. The quality is way beyond what one wold expect in this part of the world. I see great potential for bonsai in Serbia when I look at this particular specimen.

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #4

2011-11-09T17:51:00.000+01:00

After the introductory lecture a long series of 'tree inspirations' followed. It's called 'tree inspiration' and not 'tree critique' because it is not in any way negative and only constructive. All trees are analyzed, the pros and cons are mentioned. Lots of horticultural and artistic aspects are mentioned. In the end one or several solutions are offered. Nothing is really done to the trees physically.

This way of teaching has proved to be much better than the standard demonstration. It is much more educational and entertaining. Folks can much better relate to the trees since it is theirs or it looks like theirs. I try to avoid demonstrations by all means as this is so much better. Unfortunately most organizers are not aware of this.

Milica was my most competent translator during the whole weekend. Thank you Milica!

International Bonsai Academy in Serbia #3

2011-11-09T17:21:00.001+01:00

On Saturday the symposium started with a two hour lecture 'Styles - Naturalsitic Bonsai Style'. This lecture was originally prepared for the Bonsai Expo 2011 in Asheville, North Carolina. Now the lecture is standard in my genral International Bonsai Academy symposia.