A Range of Bonsai Varieties & Styles, Along with a Flair for Experimentation… 9/19/15

This raft style bonsai belongs to Tony Tickle. Most of Tony's trees are labeled by variety, but this one simply says 'Raft' (I spent some time searching Tony's site for more on this remarkable tree, to no avail). I'm guessing it's a Larch (Larix) or maybe not (see below). We could go further and guess European larch as the U.K. where Tony lives and works is considered part of Europe (by most people, at least) and Tony seems to favor yamadori that are collected in Europe (he calls his site Bonsai & Yamadori from Tony Tickle). Looks like I might be wrong once again. Check the comments. 

I’ve long been a fan of Tony Tickle’s bonsai. Many of his trees, like the raft above, are simply top-notch bonsai. But it’s not just the quality, it’s the range of varieties and styles, along with Tony’s flair for experimentation that keep me coming back.

Here’s a link to previous Bark posts devoted to Tony’s trees.

Snake bit. Somehow the links above don’t go to Tony’s site. Without pointing fingers, here’s the correct link.

Here's a good example of Tony's experimental side. I wonder if barb wire is part of the tree's original story or played a part in its collection. The tree is a Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

 

The perfectly rounded foliage masses on this Myrtle accentuate the rounded trunk while providing a sharp contrast to it's wild origins. And then there's the way the round smooth pot (with it's unusual color) mirrors the rounded foliage and trunk. Another of Tony's unique bonsai.

This larch is labeled with just the genus Larix, no species given, but for the same reasons as above, I'm going with European larch. No matter, this is a wonderful yamadori, wild and just a little tamed at the same time, with an undeniably perfect pot.

Cascading Mugo pine. If I'm not mistaken, many, if not most, yamadori Mugos are collected in the Alps. 

Tony calls this 'Teahouse Kusamono.' Is the little teahouse an incense burner?

Here's that raft from above. This time without foliage. Further proof that it's a larch? Maybe not (check the comments).

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