The Story Of My Mugo Pine "BIG RON"

hansvanmeer

Hi everybody,
I would like to share with you all "for the first time" the story of my old "Mugo Pine"!

The story of "BIG RON".
Some were in November 2000, my friends: Teunis-Jan Klein, Carlos van de Vaart and I made the long drive all the way to Milan (Italy) to look for some Yamadori material. After visiting some bonsai friends gardens in Milan, we arrived at NIPPON EN bonsai garden. There were some amazing bonsai on display and for sale and the yamadori material the had there was of very high quality! Some were lost among all this super yamadori I discovered the very old "Mugo Pine" of this story.

Pic. 1: In this picture, that is a still shot from a poor video, you can see this amazing "Hawk" like roots of this Pine, that looks if it is lifting the earth. I fell in love immediately, but was scared of the leg of workable foliage on these almost "Octopus" like long branches with only some scares foliage on the end!

Pic.2: Here you can see the backside of the tree. There is not much to work with here either! Only those few long branches you see in picture 1.

Pic.3: I could not resist the challenge of this massive tree and bought it from the owner of NIPON EN. He told me that it was one of the first yamadori he ever collected. He found it literraly on the top of a very high mountain in the Italian Alps. And it stood in his gardens for many years, with out much work don to it. And nobody seamed to be interested in buying it, because of the leg of foliage and age on those few branches. As there was no room in that car for this big tree and I did not have that much money with me as well, I had to drive all the way back again in May the next year to collect it! I was very excited when I made that long trip again with a other friend in my own (bigger) car. The former owner of this pine asked me to take care of it and I promised him, that I would try my best to make it beautiful! When I finally had the tree in my own garden I made this first drawing of the idea I had in mind for its future. Although (than) I had no idea how to reach it, this is what I saw.

Pic.4: And now just over 6 years later, this is the result. This tree made a big transformation in a very short time, with only one real scare during that whole time. A few years ago the tree lost its beautiful bark on the right side of the tree. I pealed the bark away and my hearth almost stopped when I found out that the whole backside of the tree had died. I could easily remove all of the old bark of the already dry wood! I literally burst into tears, because I thought the tree might die and most certainly would never be like I hoped for it to be! After the first shock was over I tried to see what caused this die back. I discovered than that the whole tree was hollowed out by "Wasps", all the way true this thick tree, right up the the live bark on the bottom of this tree! I removed all the rotted dead wood with power tools and treated the remaining deadwood with Jinseal and then Wrapped the hole trunk of the tree with screening cloth to keep the constant returning wasps out for 3 long years. But the tree remained healthy and strong! And looks actually much better with this great looking peas of deadwood, as if Mother nature had the brilliant idea to help me with styling! I was tremendesly proud to be able to show this old survivor I named "Big Ron" in this last "Ginkgo Awards Show"!
I think this Bonsai came a long way in a short time and I am glad I can finally show it to my friends here on Bt. The compleet story can be seen on my website in the near future.
I hope you like it?
Hans van Meer.

Attached Images

	dikke mugo2 web klei Hans van Meer..jpg (56.9 KB, 140 views)
	dikke mugo4 web klein Hans van Meer..jpg (59.8 KB, 119 views)
	september 2007 350 klein Hans van Meer.jpg (29.9 KB, 100 views)
	september 2007 340 web klein Hans van Meer.jpg (58.3 KB, 169 views)

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Bonsai Blog: http://www.knowledgeofbonsai.org/ha..._meer/index.php

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lagunamadre

It's amazing how the deadwood fits in to the whole idea of extreme hardship. Your trees are an inspiration to us all, Hans. Thanks for sharing them. Larry

irene_b

Makes you wonder if Ron helped get this one to the Gingko for you.
Mom

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hansvanmeer

I would like to think he did Mom!
Hans.

__________________
"I fly so high...and fall so low!"


Website: www.karamotto.org

Bonsai Blog: http://www.knowledgeofbonsai.org/ha..._meer/index.php

AoB Profil on Hans van Meer:
http://www.artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1191

Kitsune

Amazing transformation!

Now, I have to ask, so forgive me.... I have a mugo pine with similar issues in the needles, the pom pom effect all the way at the ends of the branches. The trunk and nebari on this are, however, far too good to pass up. What technique did you use to remedy the problem in this mugo? I would love any insight you are willing to share.

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"Learn about pines from the pines, and about bamboo from the bamboo." -Basho


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hansvanmeer

Hi Kitsune,
if you use the proper techniques "Mugo Pines" can bud back very vigorous. Even on older wood. I have described the same methods I used on this Pine in a article you can find on my website linked below. Than click on Two needle pine care article.
I hope this helps? If not let me know. It takes a few years but it possible in most cases.
Regards,
Hans.

__________________
"I fly so high...and fall so low!"


Website: www.karamotto.org

Bonsai Blog: http://www.knowledgeofbonsai.org/ha..._meer/index.php

AoB Profil on Hans van Meer:
http://www.artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1191

irene_b

Since Son Hans forgot the link....
Mom

www.karamotto.org

__________________
....MOM....
Student of Life
Student of Nature
http://gongshi.freeforums.org/index.php
http://bonsaivaultforum.freeforums.org/index.php

PatArizona

Absolutely outstanding Hans...great transformation!

Pat

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THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

Kitsune

When I'm on your website I get so caught up in the bonsai stories, I've plum looked over that section! Thank you!

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"Learn about pines from the pines, and about bamboo from the bamboo." -Basho


Please visit me at: http://kitsunebonsai.blogspot.com/