A Genesis of Design

Today I received a text message from a bonsai friend.  This well respected bonsai friend has been practicing the art of bonsai for well over 50 years, has a large collection of high quality bonsai, and really didn't need to develop any more bonsai.  So i was supprised when he texted me with two images of trees he has just started to develop as bonsai.!!

One comment in his text inspired me to write this article... 

"I've forgotten how much I get out of starting a new tree."

 I agreed whole-heatedly with his comment and remembered an article I read in an old Bonsai Today Magazine titled "The Art of the Future".  The article was about the 're-birth' of a neglected 'Aka-Matsu' named 'Tako'.  Unfortunately I cannot reproduce the entire article here but it was the closing paragraphs of the article that resonated with me and which relate well with my bonsai friend's comment.

Here is that extract:

"Our trees are a metaphore for the history and the future of an inspiring bonsai culture.  This culture, largely unknown to those living outside of the community, represents a collective effort in dedication to things old and timeless - to living creations passed on from generation to generation.  Although Tako is an immature bonsai in need of many years of strategic feeding and applied technique, it is a collective work and, in this context, represents a bonsai heritage - the artistic leanings and horticulture care of the many who have touched its roots, trunk, limbs, and spirit. 

The evolution of our designs is one of the protean and exciting elements characterising our living asthetic.  Our bonsai beginnings are filled with sparks of creation and high expectations for the selective material.  In this instance, the styling of the small Japanese Red Pine has imbued me with a sense of a new beginning  -  a rebirth - and vaguely realised dreams."
........ Bonsai Today - 56, 1998 - 4, page 46.

 This is a true and concise description of the satisfaction felt when starting a tree, and ourselves, on the bonsai journey.

 Initial styling of two Catlin Elms

Second Generation Oak - from Seed

This old English Oak bonsai was grown from an acorn collected from an oak (that I had also grown from an acorn over 35 years ago).

As with the majority of bonsai in the gallery collection it was field grown for a number of years to develop a reasonable nebari and lower trunk.

The ongoing chalange is to encourage more buds to improve ramification and smaller leaves.

Colour Persisting in this Winter Swamp Cypress

This old  field grown Swamp cypress is holding on to it's Autumn colour.  

One of our favourite bonsai in the gallery collection, this 'swampy' was developed from small tube-stock over the past 43 years. 

Swamp cypress grow rapidly in most climates and can be developed quickly if field grown.

A great species for those starting out in bonsai.!

Workshop Progress on Black Pine

Some great progress on this Japanese Black Pine. Student wired and shaped over the course of the day applying some advanced wiring and shaping techniques.

It was satisfying to see this tree taken to the next level.  This bonsai will continue to be refined over many years.

Winter is a time for working on the refinement of most bonsai species.  Set your bonsai up for a productive Spring by enrolling in one of our Winter workshops HERE

Some Autumn Colour in this Old Momiji

This old 'Fuyu Momiji' has some late colour after a very wet season on the Dorrigo Plateau.

This one was purchased, as a small nursery plant, from The Koreshoff Nursery in Castle Hill in the mid 1970's.  We liked it because of it's Autumn colour.

It was field grown for many years and only 'transitioned' to a bonsai pot ~9 years ago.

Now, with a nebari of over 30cm, it is showing some real character..... BUT..... as you can see from the large leaves, there is a great deal of refinement to be done.

Ian Hearn Bonsai - Canberra Arboretum

On our recent trip to Canberra, to deliver purchased bonsai, we included a visit to the Bonsai collection at the National Arboretum.

I managed to get Ian to stand next to some of the trees, he had developed, that are on permanent display in the collection.

Ian has number of bonsai for sale on the website HERE

Black Pine Bonsai Simplified

We hear so many comments about how difficult Japanese Black Pine bonsai are to develop and refine.  So many novices are told not to start with JBP as they are difficult and not suitable for the beginner.!

In an effort to dispel this myth we have put together this short presentation to demonstrate how easy it really is to deal with this great species.

Now that your second flush growth has hardened off, it is a great time to start your foliage balancing, bud selection, and wiring. 

A pdf of this presentation is available for download HERE.

Click image to open slideshow

If you missed last month's workshops we have just added more dated for June - 2021. Our workshops allow you to tap into more than 45 years of experience in the development and refinement of bonsai.

The Australian Bonsai Gallery is offering a number of Bonsai Workshops for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

All of our Bonsai Workshops are held in The Australian Bonsai Gallery among our collection developed over the last 45 years.

Our Bonsai Workshops are held over one day, from 10:00am till 3:00pm and numbers are limited to 3 students per workshop, (Due to COVID-19 restrictions).

Extended, 'one-on-one' Advanced Workshops can also be scheduled by appointment.  See all available workshops HERE.

Spend the day working on & promoting BONSAI

The World Bonsai Friendship Federation established this international day of celebration to pay homage to bonsai Master Saburo Kato's mission to promote peace and friendship through the art of bonsai.

The day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year, which this year is TODAY.!!

Master Saburo Kato

Bright Autumn Colour

This 'root-over-rock' trident maple (pictured on the left) never disapoints to put on a nice Autumn show.  This maple, although displaying some nice Autumn colour, needs a lot of work to increase the number of buds so that we can reduce the overall leaf size.

The image to the right is from Mr. Takeyama’s trident maples at the Fuyo-en Bonsai Garden in Omiya Village.  After seeing these bonsai in 2016 I realised just how much more work we have to do, at the gallery, to really bring our bonsai to an acceptable level.

The work continues.......