Western hemlock bonsai from nursery stock

[@BlueJayBonsai]

Love hemlocks! 😍 It was the channel Kootenay Bonsai that got me interested in hemlock. Good luck with yours Tony! 💙

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers Jay. Yeah, they seem ideal for bonsai, so I'm really interested in working on this Hemlock, and hopefully others in the future.

[@mmjnice97]

That looks like a graft on the bottom... that swelling is a sure sign most times and the dead branches because the grafted stock mostly dies away, but I can't imagine why tho.. so maybe it ain't anyway as always really enjoy your Enthusiasm and good project for sure.. I always imagine an snowy slope up in Colorado when I see hemlock.. maybe a wind swept tree, the possibility are endless for a pliable little tree like that.. happy snip snip my friend!!

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes, I know what you mean about the graft, but I'm unsure. I think it could just be where a lower branch has died off. The windswept idea is a good one. It didn't cost much this, so I might head back to that nursery and have a root around and see if there are any more as I do like the idea of a windswept hemlock. That would look fantastic possibly planted over a rock clinging on to life.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Morning Tony thought I would catch up on your latest before I go rock hunting on the seashore. I've never worked on hemlock so this shall be interesting to see. Cheers Xav

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes, it looks like a really promising species to me. You're very lucky to have a rocky coastline nearby. Nothing clears the mind like a couple of hours scouring the beach in search of that perfect rock! Good luck mate.

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

A lovely species of tree Tony. Really like those small needles. My Christmas list has started already ! 👍👍

[@TonysBonsai]

yes It's such a lovely small needle, I'm surprised that it's not more widely used. Don;t forget to write a note to Santa!

[@joegarland4885]

That tree has a lot of promise I like it I agree with cutting it back to reduce the height at some time in the future when the time is right.

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Joe. Yes, it looks like I've got a nice piece of starting material there. I definitely want it to grow and thicken up, but the chop will certainly happen in a couple of years or so.

[@piotrdziadczyk8598]

Hi Tony. It’s a beautiful tree. Peter

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Peter. yes I am going to try to find more of these. They seem so perfect for bonsai.

[@piotrdziadczyk8598]

@@TonysBonsai I don't have a western hemlock in my collection but I'm definitely going to buy one at spring. It seems to be great for bonsai. Piotr

[@geoffreydowen5793]

love my Taxus love that you keep trying things

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Geoffrey. I love to try all different trees and techniques. I think that's the only way for me to find out what I enjoy and what isn't for me. I love taxus too. I have a really thick collected tree with a fabulous nebari which is doing great. It's had a year now, so I think I'll take a look at it next spring.

[@viktorsbonsai]

1:02 aah she’s a beaut, Beautiful movement you put into it. Once it thickens up 1 or 2 cm it Could make a great shohin in around 3 yrs time!

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Viktor. With the lovely small needles, I think this could be a really nice shohin in the future. I agree that it definitely needs 2 or 3 years to thicken the trunk though to hive it more weight.

[@viktorsbonsai]

@@TonysBonsai yeah truly. Perfectly placed strong first branch too which to me is a very nice powerful look and a “classic shohin look”

[@oachkatzlsmam6128]

Thank you Tony 🙏 Now I know what I've collected this summer. 😘 Hemlock ♥️ Good luck with yours. 🙋🏼‍♀️

[@TonysBonsai]

Excellent. You've collected very nice material for bonsai!

[@nillysbonsai9636]

Great species often confused with yew! Nice piece of stock!

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers mate. yeah, I've been looking for one of these for a while. Seems finer and more refined than yew, and ideal for what we want to achieve in bonsai. DO you know when would be a good time to take cuttings off this?

[@lorigraham2496]

I just collected several small mountain hemlock while out in the woods this summer. Thats the species we have in the Rockies. Several have survived. I like the tiny needles as well. Let's see how they develop.

[@TonysBonsai]

Very nice Lori. you are lucky to have access to native mountain hemlocks. Perhaps you could even create a group planting at some point in the future. That would be cool!

[@mattbrennan647]

What an interesting species. The eastern hemlocks we have here in Connecticut are not nearly as interesting. Those small needles are are perfect for bonsai. Nice branch placement with that wire. Thanks, keep growing

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers Matt. I was really surprised by the very tight delicate needles. Definitely a species I am looking forward to doing more with in the future.

[@mandyhernon2238]

Great subject one I am considering now back home, but first some Holm oak/ilex quercus. Happy growing. Xx

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣Just add it to the ever expanding list Mandy!

[@mandyhernon2238]

@@TonysBonsai ordered 3, bargain at £10 total. Hubby wants a group, I am thinking 5 but not species yet.

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes! Go for it Mandy. That would be a superb and quite original group planting!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

I believe I have one of these growing from seed. It should be ready to work on in a couple of years 😮

[@TonysBonsai]

Nice. You'll hopefully be able to get some nice movement into it early then and if it doesn't work out, I'm going to have a bash at propagating some cuttings from this next year.

[@mmjnice97]

Well good morning to you.. it's 5am and can't sleep.. I love hemlock.. that was one of my lusting plant species for a long time,,, never really found one tho so the search continues.. I'll comment when the video is done if I have an comment about your first trim😄

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Marcus. Like you, I've been looking for one for a while, so this was a fortuitous find!

[@richt4336]

I have one of these, it will be interesting to follow this one. It's nice to see I am not the only one who cant stop buying bonsai material, it is definitely an addiction :-) Please can I ask where do you get the thick wire from? Cheers Richard.

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Rich. It can get crazy, At this rate I'm going to need a bigger garden! I have shopped around, and this seems to be the best value wire I can find online britishbonsai.co.uk/

[@Ad_DOOM]

do you have any plans for over the winter? do you need to do anything to protect some of your younger trees from frost or do you just roll the dice like a lunatic?

[@TonysBonsai]

Preston is a strange place weatherwise. We don't generally seem to get much frost, and when we do it's not a deep freeze, so I find that my plants do fine. Also, they are mainly in plant pots as opposed to tine bonsai pots, so that also affords the roots some added protection. So basically, yes. Lunatic mode engaged! 🤣