Bonsai tree: Zelkova Demo in Seattle

Here are a few photos from a Zelkova serrata styled during a demo. The photos show the progression from ‘pre-broom bush’ to ‘not-quite-broom but no longer bush.’ These are the highly technical terms for the grey areas after the vigorous use of a saw but while we’re waiting for new growth… It will, eventually, be a broom style Zelkova. Thanks to the excellent Peter Chapman for the use of these photos, and the Puget Sound Bonsai Association who sponsored this event on April 26, 2010.

Before...

During...

And after. Further developments will be shown as we go along in this several-phase demo in Seattle.

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Bonsai tree: Art from National Museum

115 years in training! This dignified old Zelkova serrata lives at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It was donated by Yoshibumi Itoigawa and has been in training since 1895.
The photos in this post are from last year’s Autumn Arts of Nature exhibition at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington DC.
Yosa Buson (1716-83)
 
Sotdae. Kusamono: Pygmy bamboo (Pleioblastus pygmaeus) & Wild Ducks. Artwork created by Sam-Kyun Yoon. Inspired by a traditional Korean folk art called sotdae. Placing large sotdae at the entrance to a village is a very old Korean tradition still practiced today. The carved ducks atop tall wooden poles are thought to guard against calamities and disasters.

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Bonsai tree: Bonsai balance

There are few concepts more central to bonsai than “balance”. The California buckeye below strikes me as a well-balanced composition. The foliage, ramification, trunk, pot and stand all work well together.

California Buckeye – Aesculus californica

The photos here are from the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show. Like so many good exhibits, it provides ample opportunities for thinking about balance.
The cryptomeria below is a favorite of mine. There are few good examples of the variety around, and only a fraction of these are shohin. When I squint my eyes and focus on the tree’s silhouette, however, I notice that the trunk is surprisingly thin. For the foliage to be balanced with the trunk, I would expect either a thicker trunk or thinner foliage – a subtle point for such a nice specimen.

Cryptomeria japonica

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Apex, Canopy, Crown

This Zelkova serrata is a classic broom style bonsai. Often when you think of broom style, you think of Zelkova. However, neither broom style nor zelkova are what inspired this post.

Sometime back someone asked me for some info on designing apices. At that time I promised that I would sometime post something and then proceeded to neglect to do it.



As you can see, this picture shows how to maintain the silhouette on a zelkova broom style bonsai. Pretty simple and the good news is that this technique can apply to many types of trees in various styles, though you don not want to be too literal as there are differences that crop up. Read more!

Backyard Bonsai

This shot provides a glimpse of one small corner of of Michael Veith’s magical world. His living-in-art aproach, is a great way to integrate bonsai, gardening and much of the rest of what makes life interesting.

The iceburg’s tip

The photos here represent only a small piece of what you will find at Michael Veiths world of bonsai, gardens and art.



This shot from a little farther away places some bonsai in a larger context.



Bonsai can stand on its own too. This powerful Zelkova in full leaves is a picture of a lush vitality.



Bonsai and Japanese style gardening are a natural fit. And though there are no bonsai in this shot.



The artist at work on a large in ground "garden bonsai". Read more!