Koi friends going beyond the call

[Maurice]

This post is not about koi, but about two very good koi friends and a collected pine I had purchased. The passion for bonsai often goes hand-in-hand with koi, I've always loved them, but have never had the finances to own the type and style of bonsai I like, so have steered clear of the them for a.....................long time!

But a month or more ago I purchased a collected miniature Douglas Fir from a local bonsai nursery, it was reduced to to around 1/3rd of normal price and that put it in my limited price range. Sold!!

For those who have seen my pond in life or photo will know it has a 2mtr x 7mtr bank as a back drop. This is made of rock from the pond excavative and just a few inches of topsoil covers it. This, for the last 6 years has been planted with herbacious perenials, but this to me has never worked. So I have dreamed up a miniature forest to replace the flowering plants. This fir is my starter!!

The fir in question, with the 'bank backdrop' in view.


Those who know me well, know I do 'everything' myself and my plan was to turn this fir into a bonsai myself, perhaps it would not come out as a purist bonsai, but I was sure it would end looking the part to me!

But this weekend, I've had a bunch of friends visit me. Two of these are very special folk who have a passion for bonsai equal to their koi, Mark and Ritta Cooper, who live in South Wales. I knew they were coming and asked Mark, for fun and enterainment if he could 'Bonsai' my tree while we all watched?

Mark took up the challenge, but unknown to me Ritta is as compitant with bonsai as Mark! They both set about my tree, they cut and snipped and made a pile of clippings which I valued at around 50% of what I'd paid for the tree!! Then out came the wire, knives, blow torch etc and the tree was reshaped to the disbelief of all who viewed. The transformation was incredable by the end of Saturday.

Today, Sunday they returned to put the final stages to the transformation, doing something to the deadwood, which smelt so bad it was almost nauseating. They then produced a 'real' bonsai pot, which was to my suprise their gift to me (as if they hadn't done enough)! I have such good friends in the koi world.

Before and after shots, side-by-side!!



Thanks Mark and Ritta, you are great friends and you have done a wonderful job. I'm made up!
Perhaps this should be posted somewhere else, but at least I know their very good friend Dick Benbow will see it here.

A photo of the culprits, although I'm sure Mark will not be pleased with his side of the photo (his face normally beams), but I only took one snap. Sorry Mark!


Thanks again,
Maurice.

[kgt1223]

Unbelievable!


They really know there stuff! What a fantastic transformation. Arent koi folk the best?

[MikeM]

Now that's the way to start!

Looks good, Maurice.

[jbolding]

Wow what a transformation. I am always amazed at what a good bonsai artist can turn an unassuming potensai into

[Mark Cooper]

Hi Maurice,

Thanks to you both for a great weekend. Your koi are really progressing from strength to strength.

Glad that you liked what we did with the tree for you. Do remind me next time though to keep "out of shot" LOL !!

In a couple of years, with a bit of care and attention, it will make a very nice bonsai. BTW the smelly stuff we put on the "deadwood" was jin seal (lime sulfur ...hence the horrible pong !). It will eventually bleach the wood white and preserve it.

I guess that next time we meet will be in Nomoles, Nagaoka in just a few weeks ? ...looking forward to that.

All the best, Mark & Ritta

[kingkong]

Nice job on the twin tree, minature Dougls fir, neat looking plant. Maurice, the herbacious perenials are too coarse and chuppa looking for pond background I agree. The banking of soil is great plan. Many fine looking ponds have the elevation look as a backdrop. Makes a logical source for mountain water to trickle into pond. You need some large boulders to work in, a specimen bonsai tree or three and some fine foliaged trimmed shrubs all placed to give the eye depth and harmony. You think raising koi is hard, try doing an Oriental garden on that "bank". It is very rewarding, it will look great and your in the right climatic zone to pull it off. Good luck

[JanT]

Nice to see you again, even if only in a photo. You two are sooooo talented. Would love it if you would post some pics of your bonsai on here, too; the ones you showed me last December in Manchester in the pics you carried with you.
Have a wonderful time in Japan. Wish we were going this year.

Maurice, this beautiful artwork is just a wonderful gift and gorgeous! You are a lucky man to have two 'living-life-to-the-fullest' friends like Mark and Ritta. Bonsai with a personal touch; no one can estimate the sentimental value this will have forever.

[dick benbow]

I consider Mark a good friend and mentor for my bonsai interest. His own personal collection is incredible. His koi pond is stocked at the same level.

For those of you who like Horses, you have a passion shared by his wife.

Maurice, you have chosen the best of friends! Thanks for sharing the photos!!!

[Mark Cooper]

Hi Jan, nice to hear from you. It seems along time ago now since we met at Infil., and the happy few hours we spent at the McCanns pond. In fact we hope to meet up with Tony & Sue for a beer or two in Japan very soon.

If you'd like to see some more of our trees you can see them here at our small Bonsai study group's website http://www.artisticbonsaicircle.co.uk/.

Love to you and Scott. Mark & Ritta

[Mark Cooper]

Hi Dick, your comments are very kind my friend, just wished we lived a bit nearer to each other.