Hawthorn Research… #Bonsai

This article focuses on the subject of encouraging Hawthorn bonsai to flower, however, the basic principles can be applied to flowering bonsai of all species.

Maturity and Reproduction

All trees are genetically predisposed to be dominant over surrounding trees and plants in an effort to reproduce. The most successful specimen (of any one species) are those that are able to outgrow their neighbours in an effort to gather as much light, water and soil-space as possible.

Once they have grown to their fullest extent (as high and as wide as they are able, given their local environment and circumstances, (whether that be 100 metres or just 1 metre tall) they then begin to try and reproduce themselves by flowering and spreading their seed.

These two different phases, of gaining maximum height and then of seed-production, are known as immature and mature growth.
In the immature phase of growth, a tree will put out predominantly (or exclusively) vegetative growth in order that they can ‘outcompete’ its neighbours by growing as tall and wide as possible, commonly known in most tree species as apical dominance. This is a pre-disposition and it does not matter whether the tree in question is growing wild or in a bonsai pot.
Conversely, during the mature phase of growth, the tree reduces the amount of energy put into growing new vegetative shoots and begins to try and reproduce by flowering.
This mature or flowering stage of growth is triggered when the tree can no longer spread upwards or sideways and continues the process of dominance by trying to reproduce itself.

These same events occur with a bonsai; a bonsai will continue to grow vegetatively in an effort to grow taller and wider until such time that it is unable to grow any bigger and begins to enter a mature, flowering phase. Ergo, in order to encourage a bonsai to flower, first it must be encouraged into maturity.

Encouraging a Hawthorn to flower

Trees need to reach a certain age before they will ever begin to flower. The age varies according to the exact species; some species will flower after just a couple of years, while others, such as Hawthorn need to reach 15-20 years of age before they will begin to flower.

Feeding regimes high in phosphorous can help encourage more flowers on a tree that already produces flowers each year, (do not feed high nitrogen as it will encourage vegetative growth), but will not make a tree enter maturity and start flowering.

The procedure is first to gently slow the vegetative growth by allowing a Hawthorn bonsai to become on the rootbound side, if repotting and root pruning is absolutely necessary (for the health of the tree), only root prune lightly. Newly available space around the rootball encourages new root growth and therefore new vegetative top growth. A confined rootball dissuades the tree from trying or being able, to spread itself and remain immature.

Do not prune the tree hard, reduce the trunk or remove heavy primary branches. Doing so will result in vigorous vegetative growth, very much at the expense of flowering. New collected yamadori (wild trees) that may have flowered well for many years in the wild, will frequently stop flowering for many years after being chopped or pruned hard, until they re-enter a mature-growth phase. When a previously mature tree is in a vegetative/immature stage of growth, existing flowering spurs will simply open a rosette of leaves in the Spring but will neither flower or extend. Occasionally they will produce a vegetative extending shoot but this cannot be relied upon when trying to develop the branch structure of a bonsai. Bonsai that are still having their branch structures developed or are poorly ramified, should be ‘completed’ before encouraging flowering.

(On bonsai species that flower easily, the reverse is true, remove flower-buds to encourage more vegetative growth on trees in development)

Once the vegetative growth of a well-ramified and pot-bound Hawthorn bonsai slows down, pruning to contain the size of the tree naturally becomes more gentle. The tree begins to produce a new type of shoot that contains flowering ‘spurs’. This is mature growth and is subtly different than immature, vegetative growth.

Two new shoots on a Hawthorn bonsai during the Summer. On the left a mature flowering spur, on the right, a vegetative shoot carrying just leaves.

Flowering shoots on a Hawthorn will have a thorn at its tip, as shown in the image above. These shoots should not be pruned, if possible, otherwise they may become vegetative. Flowering shoots that are left unpruned will produce flowering spurs from which flowers will emerge sometime in the future. Unfortunately with Hawthorn bonsai, encouraging flowers can take a few years to achieve. The thorn itself should not be removed for the same reason.

Importantly, vegetative shoots (without a thorn at their tip) should be pruned by pinching out their tip as they extend to stop them becoming too long rather than allowing them to extend fully and then pruning them back (which encourages further vegetative growth).

A flowering spur on a Hawthorn beginning to open in Spring and revealing a cluster of flower buds…….

4-6 weeks later, the flower buds are about to open……..

The Hawthorn bonsai finally in flower

Some of the research was initially a bit confusing, as bonsai are usually trimmed all year to maintain the shape of the tree, and one source recommended only pruning flowering bonsai in the winter. The article I have posted today, at least explains it a little better.

It has been suggested that the best course of action for all flowering bonsai, is to find out whether they bloom on new growth or old, as this can differ, depending on the species. That way you can at least try to keep them in shape.

So far so good, now I need to research crab apples…

#Friday Flowers… Not Mine, I’m Afraid…

Image by Ilona Ilyés from Pixabay

I would love to be the proud owner of this beautiful Azalea bonsai, but for some reason, flowers are proving impossible to get in my collection. I do have the white azalea, but it has never looked as good as this. I am reading up on the techniques needed before frustration drives me crazy!

Image by Ronaldo Akallél markes from Pixabay

This amazing specimen is a pink Hawthorn. I have had one of these for several years now, a present that had flowers when I received it, but has never flowered again.

This is my Hawthorn sans flowers. It is a strong, healthy tree, fed and watered well, so I have no idea why it refuses to bloom.

I also have a crab apple that has never bloomed. Hopefully, my studying will enlighten me…

If I learn the secret, I will share it with you…

Jaye’s Disappointing Days… Have I done it Again?

Have I done it again!

What I needed was a little more enthusiasm, something that had seemingly been mislaid, disrupting my joy in all things writing-related.

All of my past irons were still in the fire, but the flames had long since extinguished.

So, when I felt that joy returning last week, I was overjoyed.

I felt stronger, more capable than I had in ages. More than happy to stoke the fire and ramp up the workload. Just as well, really, for there was a lot to catch up on. My days were full of bliss and determination as I set to work.

Most of my endeavours brought even more joy to my heart, but gradually, the not-so-easy tasks began to make their presence known.

I wasn’t daunted, as I was the new, stronger me now, wasn’t I?

My enthusiasm doubled as I refused to admit defeat. Not so soon, anyway!

It wasn’t long before I realised I was almost back to square one. Too many irons in the fire again, and I wasn’t getting anywhere. The only thing missing was the despondency and depression.

I could avoid the tasks that were defeating me and walk a less complicated path, but I knew I couldn’t live with that.

The first thing that occurred to me was that I had to concentrate on one thing at a time, as it was becoming apparent that my multitasking days had gone the way of all things. Trying to ignore this fact was probably the reason I had painted myself into a corner before.

I will also ask for help more often, as trying to learn anything on YouTube can be disappointing, and I am fast running out of ideas. (And a little patience)

So, there will be changes as I continue to try and make everything work…

#Silent Sunday… I need some Sea!

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay 

Image by Pexels from Pixabay 

I think it is time that I twist someone’s arm to drive me the twenty miles to my favourite beach…

If I don’t go soon, I will probably go nuts!

Milo… growing up!

You will probably remember Milo. That adorable marmalade and white kitten who arrived unexpectedly just before Christmas?

Turned out to be a bit of a monster. Still adorable, of course. Very affectionate and all that, but still a monster.

There are times when we wonder if there can be such a thing as a cat with schizophrenia, as he does seem to have a split personality. He can leap from docile to demonic in seconds, and his temper has to be seen to be believed. He also has one hell of an appetite and has grown so much with no sign of stopping.

Milo had been desperate to go out for ages but had to wait until he was vaccinated and chipped. When we finally unlocked the cat flap, we thought he would sail through it, more than ready to explore. He had spent enough time looking out of windows, so his reluctance seemed odd.

We tried everything. We put his toys outside where he could see them. This didn’t work. He followed me everywhere, always hoping for food, so I went outside, expecting him to follow. Not a chance. Maybe he knew there was no food out there?

After a while, we gave him a little shove. We were getting a little desperate by then, as he still wanted to go out, but only if we opened the door.

He liked being outside, although he didn’t venture very far. When he had enough, he shot back through the flap like a bullet! To this day, he won’t go out through the flap but always comes back that way.

See what we mean? Milo is a very crazy cat. His temper is worrying us, though.

We first began to notice it in the mornings after our number one son leaves for work. Milo runs around the house like a ninja on speed, wrecking anything that gets in his way. We learned the hard way not to interfere or offer any condolences, to simply wait until he calmed down. I was badly bitten just by offering to console him, which hurt my pride somewhat.

His favourite pastime is trying to rip the roller blinds in the living room down. He can jump to reach the chains but also hangs on the bottom, managing to drag all the material from the roller. All carpets are his scratch pad, despite spraying them with a multitude of deterrents.

So you see, life with Milo is certainly different and not what we are used to. Well, mostly. When he is asleep or affectionate, he is lovely…

Silent Sunday… My Favourite Walk…

I have been missing my favourite walk this Spring, as it is just a little too far for me to walk. I could probably manage to get to our local pond, but wouldn’t have anything left to walk home. These photographs were taken last year, and I enjoyed seeing them again.

I have no idea why they call it a pond, as it’s huge. Takes over half an hour to walk all the way around. Now that I am on steroids and feeling stronger already, maybe soon, I can make the trip!

WIP Wednesday #Fiction

Today, I am very pleased to report that I have suddenly found myself in that envious position of being totally obsessed with my WIP, The Mystery of Folly’s End.

It is constantly at the front of my mind, obscuring all others. Well, almost all of the others! Normally, at this time of year, I am seed-watching in the garden. Dropping everything to see if anything has sprouted, literally every few minutes, if I am honest.

After so many weeks of going through the motions, re-reading the existing chapters until almost sick of the sight of it. Worrying myself to death that it would never be good enough, and/or what on earth was I doing? To finally see the golden light at the end of the tunnel. I couldn’t be happier.

The one thing that was worrying me was I couldn’t find a twist for the ending. My characters were almost as good as I could make them but for the villain of the piece. That problem resolved itself this morning when a daddy of a notion dawned on me. Sorry, no spoilers from me, but I am so excited!

There is nothing like being in an amazingly good mood, to suddenly find more time for everything else, is there? And heaven knows, the list of must-dos is getting longer. In very small increments, I am slowly wading through the list, all the while desperate to get back to my writing.

Wishing writers everywhere a fabulous surge of enthusiasm too!

#Macro Monday… #Photography

Image by edith lüthi from Pixabay 

Image by JUAN FERNANDO YECKLE from Pixabay 

I love macro photography, so today you have two images because I couldn’t choose between them.

Also having trouble deciding what to do this week. Last week was almost a total washout, but I did work on the current WIP, so not all doom and gloom. I finally managed to plant some seeds yesterday, and if the rain holds off, there are other urgent jobs to do.

If I could only remember where I left my thinking cap…

New and Improved…

We now have a gloriously new and improved blurb for The Scarlet Ribbon, thanks to the wonderful response to Monday’s post, The Blessed Blurb ~ Help Needed.

Grateful thanks to all of your helpful suggestions, especially those from Audrey, Darlene, John and Annette…

The new, improved blurb

Where do you go when you’re in a coma?

A car loses control and mows Maggie down in the street, changing her life forever. She never liked her life, but when she ends up in a coma, she fights desperately to wake up to the sound of her husband’s voice.

Lost in the world of the coma, unable to communicate, she is forced to witness the bitter truth of her old life. In this dark place, she rescues an abused and terrified child, determined to take her home.

Trapped between life and death, Maggie doesn’t know what is real or a dream. She needs to wake up to change her life and help this child.

But is this possible if forced to stay in a nightmare world?

But will I pay for another blurb?

Maybe not. This exercise, and the helpful responses we received, have taught us so much.

We have ten more blurbs to check, improve and/or rewrite. Hopefully, the write angels are on our side this time!

Happy Blurb writing!