Bonsai tree: The bonsai of Aichi-en

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Bonsai tree: The bonsai of Aichi-en


Source: Bonsai Tonight

The bonsai of Aichi-en


I always appreciate the different approaches bonsai professionals take with their gardens. Some gardens are filled with exhibit-ready trees while other gardens are filled with project trees. Some focus on a certain size or variety of tree while others include bonsai of every description. At a glance, it’s clear that the focus at Aichi-en is on pine bonsai. White, red, and black pines fill the majority of the garden, and there are more large trees than medium or small sized bonsai. Trident and Japanese maples comprise the bulk of the deciduous trees, but these sit beside quince, ume and hornbeam among other deciduous varieties. There are junipers, cryptomeria, and many other trees whose names I do not know.


From the roof of Mr. Tanaka’s bonsai workshop, one can get a sense of how many trees fill his garden.


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Aichi-en from above



More garden and the family house


Tanaka keeps some trees on the workshop roof.



Rooftop garden


Many of the garden’s project trees were kept on the rooftop. The nicer trees were situated closer to ground level.


Black pine on a rock


Root over rock Japanese black pine


Black pine


Black pine


Pine


Pine


Red pine


Red pine


Black pine


Black pine


Most of the kifu-sized trees shared a staggered table near the house.


Kifu bonsai


Kifu bleachers


In fall, the colors were wonderful.


Fall color


Bonsai Fall color


Up close, the trees were wonderful. Two of the garden’s Zuisho were outstanding.


Zuisho


Japanese five needle pine – ‘Zuisho’


Zuisho


Zuisho bonsai


Considering the small size of Zuisho needles and branches, these are remarkably full trees.


Zuisho from above - what a full tree!


The same tree from above


The Japanse maple beside the front gate turned a wonderful shade of red.


Japanese maple


Japanese maple


The pieris below sits right inside the front gate.


Pieris


Pieris bonsai


I snapped these shots during short breaks or early in the morning – those precious moments when I was free to appreciate the trees in the garden. Back in the workshop, I appreciated the trees one at a time. The black pine below was one of the last ones I worked on at Aichi-en. I removed all of the old needles and some of the new from the strong areas. In weak areas, I removed some or all of the old needles. I also cut a few small branches where more than two emerged from the same place. It was very basic pine work, but it made the tree look a lot better.


Black pine


Cascade Japanese black pine


Old needles


New, old, and dead needles


After removing old needles


After removing old, dead and some new needles


Black pine


Fall work complete


That’s the story for a single pine. With all of the pines in the garden, that’s a lot of tweezer work.



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