Text: Well known as a national demonstrator, Joe Morgan-Payler brings a deep knowledge of bonsai and great creativity to all he does. Joe grew up in the temperate rainforests of the Otway Ranges in south-west Victoria and so has always been influenced by the complexity of nature. Interested in bonsai from his teenage years, Joe […]
I hope the start to 2026 has been a good one for all our members and their bonsai. I have been busy, like most of you, pruning, styling and weeding my trees. Some cooler days over the summer has meant I can be outdoors more achieving some of what I want in my collection. One
Brenda Parker was guest demonstrator at the Nepean Bonsai Society’s October meeting where she gave a timely talk on the care and maintenance of azaleas, one of her (and many others) favourite species for bonsai. In Japan special azalea bonsai festivals are organized around the time the trees flower. Azaleas are excellent for bonsai. Their
New Zealand mirror bush (Coprosma repens) is an excellent choice for bonsai for several reasons: Growing requirements: Styling tips: Maintenance: Mirror bush is particularly popular in New Zealand and Australia for bonsai and increasingly appreciated worldwide for its ease of care and attractive appearance.
Last month, BSA was lucky enough to have Marija Hajdic (Meleda Bonsai Studio, Croatia www.meledabonsai.com) as our guest demonstrator. Marija is well known internationally for her work with deciduous yamadori and broadleaf trees, so her choice of NZ mirror bush (Coprosma repens) from Tree Makers Design to work on, was only a brief surprise! This material
October has been a very dry month, with a few hot days, but some quite cool as well with a lot of wind. All your trees should be in active spring growth by now. This will continue in the coming months, and one must be mindful of keeping vigorous trees trimmed to encourage short internodes
Newcomers may shudder at the way we attack figs in October, cutting back hard and defoliating. The process actually traumatised one visitor some years ago but it is the way figs are treated. I was visiting a friend and saw a fig in a pot growing into the ground. It was about 1.5 metres high
Defoliation techniques for Ficus bonsai help refine the tree, improve its structure, and encourage balanced growth. An added benefit is that defoliation allows you to better see branch and trunk lines, enabling improved design assessment of what requires wiring, adjusting, or removal. Wiring is also easier to perform on a defoliated tree. To defoliate a
Jarryd has practised bonsai from 12 years old, completed an apprenticeship with Michael Hagedorn (Crataegus Bonsai) and now operates Montane Bonsai Garden (http://www.montanebonsai.com) on the northern slopes of Mt Wellington in Hobart. Whether refining advanced nursery stock, yamadori or unusual or difficult stock, Jarryd brings the best out of all material.
September had quite a few windy days, which have continued into October, so hopefully you’ve all been able to manage the demands of your trees to keep them healthy and thriving. I repotted several junipers last month, and it’s been challenging regularly spraying the foliage to increase humidity and prevent the trees drying out or
