Our workshop last month was interesting, with members creating root over rock fig bonsais. Ian generously provided the expertise as well as the necessary muck and sphagnum moss to make it happen. One member’s tree that had been placed on a rock a couple of years ago was checked for root development and root pruning. […]
Have this charming little privet, all of 16 cm high. The trunk has great movement, showy roots and a mushroom top. What more can you ask for? The problem was, the roots were getting too big and the top had nowhere to go/grow. There was bar branching but it wasn’t in your face so it
The bonsai pictured below is believed to be the oldest tree in Australia to have been grown and designed specifically for bonsai that is still alive today. It was kindly donated to the National Bonsai & Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA) by Dorothy Koreshoff and was originally grown by her late husband Vita. Vita arrived
TOP STORY It’s not often you can send your bonsai collection around the world, but thanks to the latest stamp series from Australia Post, the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA) can do just that! Bonsai are the feature of a new stamp series released by Australia Post this July that highlight both
Working on a neglected maple forest last week reminded me of Lee Wright’s warning about mondo grass in a previous newsletter. The under-plantings in this setting were totally overgrown and needed radical thinning or removal. Military grass, violets, miniature ivy and even Lonicera willingly vacated the pot, but not mini mondo grass which stayed firm
With boarders opened at last, there has been the opportunity to see interstate bonsai artists demonstrate again, even if there’s a bit of travel involved. Jarryd Bailey, from Montane Bonsai in Tasmania, has been a visiting demonstrator at both Bonsai Reshaped at the NBPCA and the Central Coast Bonsai Club. Jarryd is passionate about native
ACCENT PLANTS I prefer small trees, mini, shohin with a few medium… arthritis in my hands… scourge of ageing. I enjoy creating beautiful trees with these sizes but the downside is having small enough accent plants. I have started collecting succulents. They like the warm spot on my hot water heater, the ones that prefer
A new bonsai podcast, Bonsai Wire, is now available on podcast apps: http://bonsaiwirepodcast.com. Michael Hagedorn, Jonas Dupuich, Andrew Robson and John Eads cover topics in a roundtable format and interview others for their viewpoints. CALLING AUSTRALIAN BONSAI & PENJING ARTISTS The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA), located at the National Arboretum Canberra
For the last couple of months the BSA has been trialing weekly Zoom meetings. For the first month or so four members tried to get their their heads around how this would work and what the the format would be while our usual monthly demonstration and workshops are on hold. Over the past few weeks,
Clinton brought this lovely little tree to the February meeting to illustrate how good Australian natives are for bonsai. This is a dwarf variety and like all Banksia serrata, it has wrinkled, grey, knobbly bark and shiny green serrated leaves. Add beautiful large, yellow/ grey flowers (known as inflorescences) and what more could you want?
