European Larch.

European Larch, one of Charly’s Bonsai trees.

“European Larch Larix decidua. Over 20 years old tree, grown as a bonsai for approximately 15 years. It was found as a seedling near train track where it would be destroyed in subsequent years. I am not too fussy about my trees adhering to Japanese bonsai styles, I do not use the wire or grafting too much and I let the trees mostly “choose” their form by themselves with me only slightly guiding the process through cutting. To a Japanese professional this would probably look as very shoddy work. This year the tree actually bloomed and I find larch blossoms very beautiful, which is why I am sending these as first.”

Back in SoCal, we grew Bonsai trees, and had around 50 of them. We did ours traditionally, our nursery owners were a lovely Japanese couple, who also provided a tree sitting service for when you had to be away, which was so very nice. I did go light on the wire, and tended more toward judicious trimming and cutting. To my eyes, this tree is absolutely beautiful, and I think Charly has done sterling work with it. Click for full size!

© Charly, all rights reserved.

Old Mill.

From rq: This is in the same township that had the burnt out abandoned house. The township used to be a member of the Hanza Alliance, so it was a major stop on a river trading route, and business boomed. Now it’s a small out-of-the-way place with a lot of beautiful history but the same economic issues as most rural places in the country. Click for full size!

© rq, all rights reserved.

Attaining Red.

I was a bit disappointed that the red hydrophilic beads weren’t actually red, but an odd pink. So, a bit of paint in the water took care of that one. :D By the way, if you have rats, don’t forget to secure them, because apparently, they make fabulous toys, and disappear completely, to no observable ill effect. Click for full size.

© C. Ford.