March Workshop-Steve Tolley

 Steve does his usual highly visual tree evaluation!

 Bill seems lost.......

 .....then a little concerned.

All hands to the pump.....or branch bender to you and me.

Hi Everyone 

It was a bright warm sunny day at the GGC on Sunday the 25th of March and great to see lots of smiling faces and some very inquisitive members of the Public

This was a Workshop we were all looking forward to as Mr Steve Tolley an English Bonsai Artist.His Curriculum Vitae (C.V )Includes Many Prestigious Awards Uk and Overseas,Many Articles and Photographs published in International Bonsai Magazines He was Awarded the Bonsai Club International (BCI) ARTIST, WRITER PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD at the 5th World Bonsai Convention in Washington DC where he was also a Demonstrator and Workshop Leader. Steve also Set Up His Four Dimensional Art and Established The Steve Tolley Bonsai School with the aim of helping to raise the Standards of UK Bonsai.A Bonsai Supremo In My Opinion

Anyway Much More Information about Mr Steven Tolley can be found
                                AT
http://www.stevetolleybonsai.com/

or Google Search  ++  Steve Tolley Bonsai Artist

On with the workshop it was well attended with a dozen or so members current and a few new members Colin and Dave.and of course Mr Steve Tolley who wasted no time in getting into action and was soon demonstrating and interacting with everyone including members of the Public
There were a large number of Trees brought into the workshop such as Various Pines including Two Large Pines + Larches + Privets + Chinese Elm + Damson + Hawthorns + Maples.

While Mr T. was busy with members Trees, members were also helping,advising or given assistance the General Public with all types of question of Bonsai and even horticulture questions and answers so Sean + Doug + Andy + Steve + Ian + Dena + Ron+ Arthur+ Bill + Colin + Dave + and of-course      Mr Tolley ALL were extremely happy to oblige with thier opinions and advice

There Were many interesting aspects of the Steve's Workshop, Many Branches Wired ,Trees Trimmed  Branches Relocated and in one instance given Bill G's Black Pine a Different and Superior New Look. Also we had Arthur our illustrious Vice Chair was hard at busy Carving, Hollowing Out a branch on his Escallonia Tree and filling the hollowed out segment to hold many Thin Pieces of Straight Wire, Wrapping the Branch in Raffia to prevent Damage to the Branch. Many members had never seen this method performed before (including your's truly) so many eager eyes and helpers were on scene willing to assist and learn from Steve.
This Technique was introduced by Mr Masahiko Kimura and popularized the technique in Kindai Bonsai and later in the English Language. Unfortunately we did not have a Bonsai Aesthetics Heavy Duty Branch Jack but all is not Lost as Arthur is confident he can make his own type of Heavy Duty Branch Jack to bend the branch of his tree successfully with the help of club members

The day was a day to remember and a great Privilege to have Mr Steve Tolley demonstrating, working on everyone's Trees and passing on extremely valuable, knowledgeable, useful information and know-how he has used many times around Europe and USA plus any New Technique's on his Travels

We would all like to thank Mr Nicholson who stopped and chatted plus ALL Gordales Garden Center Staff here in the Wirral for making W-B-S most welcomed and look forward to being there again on the last Sunday of The Month 29th of April 2012

Additional images of the The W-B-S Workshop with Steve Tolley Last Sunday of The Month of March   can be found at

http://www.facebook.com/theweelad

That's it for now Look After Each Other and all your Bonsai Trees

Take care

Jim thelad