I’ve just been nosing through the website and realised that I haven’t done a blog post for ages.
In terms of our stock of bonsai trees, we’re got more than ever. The place is really very full now. I wish I had more time to photograph and list them on the website. This year’s Chinese Junipers have just arrived and look fantastic. We’ve also got lots of Japanese White Pine bonsai trees. I didn’t go for very large expensive ones this year. They are from about £100 up to £400.
We’ve had the shop for seven years now. It’s long enough for the wooden benches outside to have rotted and need replacing, so I’ve been making new ones. It’s interesting from me to see how much better I am at woodwork these days. Better at all aspects of bonsai too probably.
The spring weather was nice, not cold. A long spring which started early without the blasts of cold weather in late spring. The summer has been wet as we all know. For us this was great, much better than last year’s heat wave, which was very hard work for us and the trees. Bonsai trees like nothing more than a dull, grey, slightly wet day.
Work at the shop takes on cycles. We water, we prune. We get peoples orders ready to send. Customers come, talks about bonsai care follow. Stories about bonsai keeping flow both ways, as does learning. It’s really quite wonderful.
I feel quite torn between the artist aspects of bonsai and the need of running as business. I’d love to be able to spend more time working on the trees but the shop needs woodwork doing and the place needs care to keep it looking good. Admin jobs also eat into creative time. I shouldn’t complain though, it’s good to be busy. I feel like the business has really come on over the last couple of years.
We’re still not doing any events, flower shows etc. some people as surprised by this when they come in but honestly we don’t have time to get out that much. Its mainly just me and Jude. You could say we’re living the dream by living and working together. Imagine doing this with your partner. Its not always as rosy as it may seem, for her anyway. My grumpy histrionics are legend. With my long hair, beard and cargo shorts, you’d think I was pretty chilled out. Books and covers I guess.