This big oriental hornbeam was collected in 2009. Collecting was hard since tree grew in-between few huge rocks. We have broken big chisel, and finally get tree out, but with only few roots. So we are very happy that it survived.
In new pot.
This is how tree looks like today. First styling in next Winter.
One very known person told us that this is one of ours best trees 
Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, is typical Mediterranean shrub, still not popular in bonsai culture.
We have started shaping bonsai only from hollowed double trunk, without any branch.
This photos are from the end of first and second growing season.
In 10/2009 first styling is done.
This is how tree looks like today.
We are satisfied with crown developed in three years. After repotting from training box, we will start to work more on details. This pot is virtually added. Photo of the pot is borrowed from Walter Pall’ s acer.
Carpinus orientalis collected in 2009. with complete rootball. In nature this hornbeams most commonly grow like multi trunk tree.
Budding.
At the end of the first growing season we have removed all unnecessary branches and trunks.
This season we do almost nothing. Can’t wait to start shaping it but nothing before Winter.
Also we have to find huge pot for it.
We have collected this Phillyrea latifolia in 2007. It was a 2m high tree, with powerful nebari an interesting movement in lower part of the trunk. We shortened it and collected tree without any branches, aware that many years will have to pass until harmony between thin new branches and old trunk is achieved.
First season we let it grow freely. Next year we have choosen main branches for future crown design, and remove all other sprouts, then let them grow freely for a season to get thicker, and then cut back.
Here after second growing season it looks like shrub, but at this point the most important thing is for branches to get thicker.
Walter Pall has visited us in last October. We had private workshop for few days in our garden, and work with Walter on our trees.
You can read more about it on Walter’s blog where he has written 22 posts about it – Very advanced broadleaved styling workshop
In March Matija, our friend from Slovenia, helped us to put tree in the pot.
This is how it looks like now.
Wild Olive (Olea europaea) collected in 2009.
After first growing season we have transplanted it into bonsai pot, put tree more upright, shortened secondary trunk and make it into nebari.
Drum pot better fits this tree, so we will change it soon.
We have simplified jins (horns) also.
We will wire it in winter.
This is Holm oak (Quercus ilex) collected few months ago. Quercus ilex is domestic plant here. This tree is the first Evergreen oak that that we like and decided to collect. Nebari is pretty natural. Tree looks interesting from few angles.
Here are two photos after collecting.
New sprouts in spring. Next winter we will shape the tree, now we are just considering options. What to do with lowest and the thickest branch; cut it entirely off and make a one more hole, or leave it and threat it as secondary trunk … we will see!
Small lizard lives in one hole.
This strawberry tree – Arbutus unedo is collected this season. Because of huge nebari and big rootball it was the heaviest tree collected this year. It was very hard to bring it to car … even rain started. But it was worthy because tree is in same time powerful and elegant.
The first two photos shows tree after collecting. On third is how it looks like now, new sprouts started on all branches.
Peeling the bark. Underneath grey old bark is new bark of intensive orange colour, which is one of qualities of this species.
Another specificity of this plant is that it has fruits and flowers an same time on tree.
This is still non shaped raw material, some branches are only shortened, but this season we will leave it to grow freely an fully recover.
Phillyrea latifolia after collecting in 2007.
After first growing seson we have decided to make jin of small branch on right.
Trunk detail. Interesting shari along trunk goes to nebari. In bonsai pot that will be better visible, than now.
In 2009. we have experimented with defoliation technique, to see how the tree will react.
At this point wanted design of the crown starts to be obvious. Next winter we will wire it, and before next spring put in proper bonsai pot. In this training box nebari is hidden, and it is very important part for the tree with movement like this. It has strong wide lower part of the trunk that gives balance to the tree.
