Yes, Akadama in Dorrigo.  The Australian Bonsai Gallery makes it's own version of Akadama.  We have been developing this essential bonsai soil component for many years now.  It is hard and rates very well in soil dispersion tests.  It performs well in the pot and makes a real difference to tree health even in our very high rainfall climate.

Three old Chinese Elms re-potter.  This is the earliest I have re-potted elms in over 40 years!  Very warm in Dorrigo at the moment..... waiting for the cold of August to hit.  Will have to protect these elms from the cold and wind that is to come.

This old Liquidamber started it's bonsai journey as small nursery stock I purchased in the early 1980's. Heavily styled this winter, I am looking forward to further increasing the number of buds, and the consequent leaf size, over the spring and summer.

This bonsai is for sale.  Details at our on-line catalogue.

This old Liquidamber started it's bonsai journey as small nursery stock I purchased in the early 1980's.  Heavily styled this winter, I am looking forward to further increasing the number of buds, and the consequent leaf size, over the spring and summer.

This old Japanese White Pine, I have named Resukyū  (レスキュー ) has been in the collection for ~2 decades.  It was 'rescued', as a potted nursery plant, from a coastal nursery where it was in poor condition.  I was attracted to this pine due mainly to the very neat graft union and the foliage colour. Some years latter, after a period of recovery, it flowered for the first time with bright crimson inflorescence.

It spent two years under the care of Shannon Young, at the Canberra Arboritum.  I was fortunate to have Shannon and Pavel Slovák work on the bonsai as part of a demo at the Arboretum.

Resukyū (レスキュー )

This old Kuromatsu, I have named Zaidan ( 財団) as it is one of the major 'foundation' trees in the gallery.Zaidan ( 財団)

Most bonsai in the collection are in need of a Winter cleanup; starting with the nebari.  This is a very important element in the design and character of a good bonsai.

This old KuroMatsu was field grown fron nursery stock since the mid 1980's.  It spent 2 years at the Arborutum under the expert care of Shannon Young.  Needle plucking had to be done with tweezers....

Now bud selection is done and one branch wired.... Have to find time to finish wiring.!!

Yet another old KuroMatsu that has been in the collection since the early 1980's.  I developed this one from small nursery stock.  It was field grown for at least 5yrs.

It is now getting the attention it deserves.  Should be a very good bonsai with more refinement. 

Another two pines needle plucked, bud selected, and wired. Ready for the spring.