We all live multi-faceted lives, Italia Joe worked on farms, became a businessman, and a writer who developed an interest in the art of Bonsai. I’m Italia Joe and I have built up a comprehensive selection of plants developed into bonsai art.
The collection of the various species I was interested in began in 2008. It was a matter of trial and error with reliance on my past experiences in orchards.
There were significant errors made and sadly suffered losses. I stubbornly persevered with making decisions about species of which I had little knowledge.
In due course, I came to the realisation that I should do a study on the needs of each species. The knowledge shared by other YouTube channel presenters has been most helpful.
Fortunately, many in the starting collection did survive and I kept adding to the range.
I have been able to interpret the soil requirements to adapt these to the weather patterns prevalent in Melbourne Australia. The objective has been to limit the watering cycle to ‘once per day’. If temperatures are forecast to be over 35 degrees Celsius, I tend to bring forward the next watering cycle.
The summer heat can be extreme. The shade from the house, weeping elms, and the ornamental grapevine pergola are utilised to shelter the collection according to each species’ tolerance to sunlight.
I have worked a rotation for laying out each pot for Summer. The groupings are moved once the mostly moderate conditions over Spring, Autumn, and Winter set in. The deciduous species are relocated to positions under the eves during winter to prevent waterlogging.
The ‘how to’ bonsai schooling is well catered for by more experienced presenters. My contribution to the Bonsai Space shall be moving pictures ‘walk-throughs’ of my collection in the so-called ‘paddocks’ to capture the seasonal colours and growth.Our eastern suburban locale in greater Melbourne is amidst a privately maintained green belt park. The open treed space is well utilised by residents and visitors. The bonsai collection adds to the colourful ambience typical of the changing seasons that characterise a Mediterranean-type climate. Native birds come to feed on the gum nuts giving impromptu stereophonicAustraliana background sound effects.
Walk-thru Bonsai Farmin’ End of Summer 2024
The summer layout for the Bonsai trees needs to consider sun exposure to sunlight to prevent leaf-burn and dehydration. Wiring work has been undertaken and mostly removed to prevent ‘wire-bite’. Trees that are considered at the end of the growth sperts are wired this late in summer and the wire left on to set the branches through autumn-winter.
Bonsai Farmin’ Autumn Colour 2024
At the end of summer, the trees are arranged to capture the sun’s warmth and light, which has much less intensity. The potential for damage to the foilage is minimal provided watering is kept up. The crispness of the cooler air signals the deciduous plants to begin their hibernation. The leaves turn on their wonderful colour pallets whilst the new buds await their turn for the coming spring. To capture the progression of colour, some still shots are blended into the clips to mimic time steps of one or two weeks to enhance the colour effect. These are identifiable by the fade in/out of the scene.
Bonsai Farmin’ Winter Structures 2024
The wiring and branch positioning using props were completed soon after the leaves dropped. The intent was to leave the formation all winter so the lignin could set through early spring. The evergreen species are not a feature, although they appear in the walkthrough. Some splash of colour appears from the Japanese Apricot “Ume”, the Chinese Quinces and the Japanese Flowering Cherry.