Bonsai News
The Bonsai Society is pleased to announce its first bonsai exhibit! After 5 years of fine-tuning the organization and its miniature trees, the time has come to share our experience with the community. The exhibit will be held at the Jasper Jenkins Expo Center on November 18 and 19, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. There will be everything from bonsai trees to bonsai supplies and classes for beginners. For those of you who may be interested but need more information, we have provided the history of bonsai as well as other interesting information. We hope to see you at the exhibit. If you need more information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (512) 275-3617.
What is a Bonsai?
A bonsai is a miniature tree or shrub usually grown in a tray or small pot. The goal of the grower is to create the feeling that an old tree is living in nature. It’s even better if you feel harmony and peace when looking at a bonsai.
The Roots of Bonsai
Most people think bonsai originated in Japan. Actually, it first appeared in China, where some say it’s been in existence for over 1200 years and other sources claim it is 1700 years old. To translate the word “bonsai,” you must divide it into two parts: “bon” means tray or dish and “sai” means little tree. The literal translation is “tree planted in a dish.” Originally the miniature trees were found and gathered in mountain and forest regions.
Bonsai began to appear outside China and Japan around the end of the nineteenth century.
Bonsai Styles
There are several styles of bonsai. Some of the most common are:
Ø Cascade style: Looks like a tree hanging off a cliff. The limbs of the tree reach down below the base of the container, which is typically a tall, deep pot. The trunk has a natural taper and looks as though the forces of gravity are pulling it down. The branches appear to be seeking light.
Ø Semi-cascade style: Looks like a tree jutting out over a cliff, river, or lake. The tip, like the plant, projects over the rim of the container but does not drop below its base. This style is great for junipers.
Ø Formal upright style: A single upright tree with the top perpendicular to the base. The trunk should be perfectly straight and larger at the bottom, narrowing to the top. The branches are symmetrical and should look this way from any angle. It is a very difficult style to achieve.
Ø Informal upright style: Allows freedom of interpretation of the formal upright style. There are no hard and fast rules for this one except that the trunk should bend slightly to the right or left but never toward the viewer. It is one of the most popular styles.
Ø Broom style: Represents trees often seen in nature. There is an upright trunk with a number of branches radiating out from the same level on the trunk.
Ø Slanted style: Resembles the upright style. The trunk is curved or straight but must angle to the right or left, never toward the viewer. It is a simple style and can be forced to slant by putting the pot on a slant.
Ø Forest style: A number of miniature trees (bonsai) of different heights positioned in a group. There is always an uneven number of trees.
Bonsai Tools
Growing a bonsai requires special tools. The most important tool is the concave pruner, which is used to remove branches in a way that promotes rapid, smooth healing of the wounds. Bud scissors are used for trimming leaves, buds, and small branches. The short blades and finger holes let you reach into the interior parts of the bonsai and trim with precision. Finally, when training bonsai you normally use wire to shape the trunk and branches. When removing the wire, you need bonsai wire cutters that have very short blades and are not likely to damage the trunk or branches.
Schedule
November 18
9:00: Opening ceremony
10:00: Beginner’s class; booths open
11:30: Judging (Cascade and Semi-cascade styles)
1:00: Beginner’s class
2:00: Judging (Slanted and Broom styles)
3:00: Lecture by Dr. Lee
4:00: Beginner’s class
6:00: Booths close
November 19
9:00: Judging (Formal Upright and Informal Upright styles)
10:00: Intermediate class; booths open
11:30: Judging (Forest style)
1:00: Intermediate class
2:00: Lecture by Mr. Zhang
3:00: Awards ceremony
6:00: Booths close