Once again, the Bonsai Society of Southern Tasmania put together a fantastic convention. Congratulations must go to the committee and volunteers who made it such a memorable weekend.
Matt Reel (USA), and local talent Jarryd Bailey, Hugh Grant and Sean Harley (doing his demonstration after his Japanese apprenticeship) kept the audience interested and entertained with their skill and knowledge over the two days.
The sales area was full of desirable bonsai “stuff’ from Tasmanian native trees (bonsai, stock trees and starters) to fantastic pots, both local (Marcela Ferreira, Nat French, Tony Birt and Ian White to name some) and Japanese (Bonsai Island and Grant Bowie), to suiseki and exotic trees from Shane Boyce. Many happy buyers were seen leaving the area!
The exhibition was an enticing mix of unique Tasmanian natives and familiar exotics. Good lighting and tall backdrops showed the trees to their best advantage.
Jarryd Bailey’s yamadori Melaleuca virens (lime bottlebrush) above, collected in 2018 with appropriate permission, captured the wildness of the Tasmanian landscape and won him both Best Bonsai in Exhibition and the NBPCA Perpetual Award for Best Australian Style Bonsai. A well-deserved result from a very talented artist.
Another award for Jarryd- Best Large Bonsai which beautifully captured the essence of the Tasmanian wilderness with a deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii) just starting to turn and a pencil pine (Athrotaxis Cupressoides).
Winner of the Best Small Bonsai- Shimpaku juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Kishu’)
Beautifully balanced composition- 60-80 year old Wooly tea tree (Leptospermum lanigerum) and rushes.
60-80 year old trident maple (Acer buergerianum) with a charming rhododendron (species unknown) kokodama.
And finally the People’s Choice Award, Jarryd’s very large and beautiful myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghami) forest complete with understory.