Inspiring stuff in Greece

NJF

Just thought I'd try and warm all of us up in the northern hemisphere, as it's been a bit chilly of late. Some tree photos from my summer holiday (vacation for those of you in US)

Last September I was on holiday in Crete and visited Spinalonga island in the east end of the island. It was formally a leper colony and fort. If you've read the book, "The Island" by Victoria Hislop, that's the place. It had some very interesting trees, one of which is an exceptionally inspiring full sized semi cascade and quite a few very old naturally occurring pine bonsai, presumedly stunted by lack of water and exposed sea position. There's also a shot of an old juniper, at least I think that's what it is

Crete on the whole seemed a good location for yamadori, not just Olive but pine (sorry not sure which type) especially up in the mountains. Only problem would be getting them home on the plane. I did manage to bring back some Kermes oak (has a holly like leaf) acorns, which have been stratified and sown along with some red oak I collected here in the UK. Anyone ever used either of these for bonsai? I also brought back a piece of olive wood to do a wrap around tanuki on one of my spindly trunked olive trees. It kind of worked.

I've also put a shot of Beauganvillia in, the colours are amazing, I must get one of these. I'm sure I've even seen them bonsai'd.

Hope you can see the pictures clear enough, I really am struggling with this low res 75kb restriction.

Attached Images

	Semi cascade1.jpg (66.8 KB, 44 views)
	Semi cascade2.jpg (67.7 KB, 51 views)
	Spinalonga pine1.jpg (66.4 KB, 61 views)
	Spinalonga pine2.jpg (68.0 KB, 54 views)
	Beauganvillia.jpg (62.1 KB, 44 views)
	Spinalonga juniper.jpg (63.8 KB, 48 views)

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BarbaraM

I love your pix. Seeing the natural inspiration is a joy. The contrast of the bougie and the sea is so mediterrainian. I have always wanted to visit Greece and Crete.

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"What I like about bonsai is that it has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow. It is like searching for the rainbow's end; the farther it is pursued, the farther away it is." John Naka