What a pleasure it is to visit the NBPCA at the National Arboretum. Summer might not seem like the perfect time but the weather has been a milder in Canberra this year. A volunteer commented that they had had a good amount of rain and many overcast days and the trees shone with their appreciation! […]
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.
Allan has been practising bonsai from 2004 and has great knowledge and experience which he shares as a visiting speaker to clubs all over NSW. His focus is on the collection of, mostly native, mature wild trees. Allan’s aim is to promote Australian natives as bonsai and help like-minded local artists develop the distinctive style
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
Michael gave an excellent demonstration last month which was much enjoyed by all present. Using an old yamadori olive with terrific exposed roots (Neagari) that he collected 4-5 years ago, Michael walked us through the process of getting collected material to this stage and then where to go next. When collected, this tree was growing
Lovely trident, upper structure well developed and ramification coming along very nicely. But the nebari looked like two legs doing the splits. A couple of years ago I cut a path all along the front nebari, brushed on rooting hormone and covered it up. A few roots developed but grew straight down. Which, while understandable,
I took over care of a Japanese red pine in December of 2017 from a very good friend who had had the tree for many years. It is an old Koreshoff pine that was grown from seed planted in 1951. I have come across quite a few 1951 Koreshoff pines with a number living in
At this time of year a lot of azaleas and camellias have or will be finishing their flowering period. It is important that if you want to have them for bonsais, there are a few things that you must do straight after they flower. Cut off all the old dead flowers and seed pods. Trim
Michael has been practising bonsai since 1995 after working a few days at a bonsai nursery. He was then lucky enough to study with Lee Wilson for several years. For the past fifteen years, he has been working alongside his brother Sean, in congenial sibling rivalry, developing outstanding trees. Yamadori is a particular interest. Michael
