When azaleas are dug from the field, it’s common to clean the trunks and reduce the branches. The trees are then placed in greenhouses so they get the heat and humidity they need to send out new shoots.
Satsuki azalea recently dug from the field
This is bonsai at its most abstract. The trunks, decades old, have lot of character, and the primary branches are massive.
Nikko
I see a handful of these every time I visit Kanuma in winter. These trees are growing at the Kobayashi Sangyo nursery.
Kozan
Kozan
The trees will stay in the warmest greenhouse for a couple months before moving to cooler greenhouses. By the end of the growing season, they’ll be covered with new growth.
Trunk with unusual shape
Clump-style azalea
Up next: more trees from Japan!
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Jeff Aldridge says
Be still my heart! These are stunning in every way. Infinite potential.
Jonas Dupuich says
Ha! They’re really something. Too bad we didn’t start any 40 years ago!
Scott Chadd says
do you remember that huge Azalea that was used in the demo in Saitama?
Jonas Dupuich says
I do remember the tree – it was Isobe’s demo. That was a great (giant) satsuki!
Charles Mosse says
That does it. I am moving to an area where I can grow Satsukis. I hope you can provide follow-up photos when they leaf out and then when they bloom. Extraordinary bonsai.
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks Charlie! I’ll have to visit mid-season sometime to show what they look like in bloom – from what I’ve seen it’s really something!