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october
02-19-2009, 09:18 PM
Here is something that some of you might find interesting. It is another one of my passions (besides exotic animals). It is Bonsai. Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) is the Japanese art of creating small versions of trees that resemble large scale trees in forests, on cliffs or mountains. Bonsai basically means shallow tray plant. I am not Japanese (French and Irish). However, the art struck me so hard even though I am a westerner, that I have been involved with it for about 9 years now.

Bonsai is close to 900 years old. Basically the premise of the art is to make the viewer feel like they are looking at a full size tree in nature. Bonsai are usually anywhere from 4 inches to 30 inches tall on average.

It tends to be a very misunderstood art. It takes years to master the art. A tree needs to be trained to become a bonsai. Wire is used to set and form the branches to pre-planned styles that have been in place for decades/centuries. Also, constant trimming of the tree and its roots will keep it small.

Although it is called an art. Bonsai is actually made up of many pre-set rules and principles. In other words, you don’t just get a tree and style it to look good. Bonsai has 5 main styles. These being Formal upright, Informal upright, slant, Semi-Cascade and Cascade. There are also many sub styles. Basically, a tree has to subscribe to one of these styles for the tree to be considered highly credible or show worthy.

Upright style bonsai are basically in the shape of Christmas trees..The large outdoor trees like pines you see growing on hills.

Informal upright is a tree with a slight curve to the trunk. Essentially a subtle S like shaped trunk.

Slant style is a tree where the trunk is leaning toward one side.

Semi-cascade is a tree that overlaps the edge of the pot, but does not go below the base of the pot.

Cascade is when the tree grows down further than the base of the pot.

Basically, any species of tree can become a bonsai. However, some species are better suited for it than others. You can use juniper, pine, cypress, maple, ficus, hemlock, azalea etc…

Usually in Spring, I will check out all the Lowes and Home Depots. Once in a while, you will find a tree, just a regular landscape tree that you would put in your yard, that could become a good bonsai. However, even if you find one, which is maybe 1 or 2 out of their entire stock. It probably will take about 3-5 years just to get it looking good.

The first thing you do is find a tree that you think would lend itself to one of the styles, then you spend anywhere from 2-20 years training the tree to conform to that style. Yes, sometimes it takes close to 20 years to train a tree. This does not encompass the age. Many bonsai are 200-400 years old and still alive today. The prices of these trees are astronomical, that is, if they are for sale.

As far as training a tree. You would wrap wire around the branches and bend them according to the style you are creating. You can also wire the trunk, if the tree is young enough to get some nice curves into it. Also, since you are trying to create an old looking tree. There are certain techniques that are employed. One is, if the style calls for it, is to wire the branches so they swoop down. In nature, tree branches are so heavy and carry so much weight, that they begin to hang. We try to mimic this in bonsai.

Carving a tree is also a good technique. If you are familiar with a trees anatomy, you can actually carve quite a bit on a tree. You can use knives, chisels, power tools etc. One carving technique is to strip the bark off a branch. It is called jinning. This technique is used to represent old, weather beaten trees. If you have seen very old trees in nature, sometimes, the bark has been stripped away from certain parts of the tree due to the harsh elements over several decades.

Here are some of my bonsai. They are listed by species, style and appox. height. I hope you enjoy them.

Rob

Shimpaku juniper, Informal upright, 12 inches

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_48511.jpg


Shimpaku juniper, semi-cascade, 11 inches
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_4722.jpg


Shimpaku juniper, Literati style, 24 inches
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_3590.jpg


Japanese garden juniper, Informal upright style, 11 inches tall
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_5620.jpg


Hinoki cypress, Informal upright style, 14 inches tall

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_5582.jpg

Pyracantha, Informal upright/semi cascade, 5 inches tall
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_1488.jpg


Arborvitae, Literati style, 14 inches tall.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_54412.jpg


Chinese elm, Cascade, 4 inches

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_5033.jpg

Shimpaku juniper, informal upright/literati style, 7 inches tall.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_3111.jpg


Azalea, Broom/informal upright style, 4 inches tall.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_2694.jpg

Shimpaku juniper, Literati style, 11 inches tall.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj58/rcarreau/IMG_4984.jpg

BoxTurtle52
02-19-2009, 11:06 PM
Nice. I like nature!

Beast
02-19-2009, 11:16 PM
wow october! those are some beautiful trees! i've been on/off practicing bonsai over at UCF in orlando, the guy that runs the arboretum has classes on saturdays. i'm absolutely captivated by this art, and cannot wait to get a house so ill have an actual backyard to keep them! where do you get your supplies and for how much? i have a few bonsai books but not the "essential" from the 'founder' (name? its a two parter..) its really cool to see someone who takes an interest in this art, especially someone who doesnt like it just to put mini crashed cars at the base of the trunk haha. how long have you been practicing?

txrepgirl
02-19-2009, 11:33 PM
8O those are some perfect trees.I wish I could do that.Every time I see a bonsai tree I think about the movie karate kid :lol: .

october
02-19-2009, 11:43 PM
lol........The mini crashed car thing kills me.....

I have been involved with bonsai for about 9 years now. However, I did not do it seriously for the first 4 1/2 or so. However, I have been studying, somewhat formally, with a teacher/teachers for the last 4 1/2 years or so. The best way to learn this art is by finding a good teacher. Take all the classes you can. Trying to learn from books can be difficult. Especially wiring techniques

It takes about 2-3 years to really get the basics down. Then a few more years of learning advanced techniques. Even after 9 years, I feel like a beginner sometimes. Especially since i lost the first 4 1/2 years by not studying.

I will post a part 2 to this bonsai email in this forum. It will be the creating and progression of one of the trees I posted.

Rob

Beast
02-19-2009, 11:58 PM
thats pretty cool, my teacher has been MIA but ive found ppl that have some formal training ive been talking to. ..besides home depot and lowes gardens, where do you find most of your trees? and what sites are the best to purchase equipment? ...and(sry, i know its a lot of questions im sure youre tired of answering) ..what would i buy that i absolutely NEED? im on a budget between this, school, and the tegu

october
02-20-2009, 12:12 AM
Thanks txrepgirl.......lol........Its really not like the Karate kid movie. However, The Karate Kid Part 2, kind of represents it. It takes years to become skilled in this art and it can take years, decades to train one tree for bonsai.

Hello Beast. I don't mind questions at all. I love talking about the art.

As far as ordering, I have ordered a book from stone lantern. I beleieve they sell everything bonsai related are are very reputable. Also, NE Bonsai Gardens, which is where I study, is a very friendly and great place. They have an on line store.

Also, I do cruise the Lowes and Home depots. I look at all their land scape trees for the season. Just for the record.. I look at the trees that you would put in your yard. NOT the little bushes glued into small pots that are masquarading as bonsai. bonsai artists have a term for these, "Mallsai". These trees have not been trained and are mass produced to die. Chances are, if you buy one of these trees, it is dead already. This is becasue of the glues surface substrate. The tree cannot get the nutrients it needs. Also, the lack of sun. Most of these "Mallsai" are the juniper species, which can look good for a month or 2 and actually be dead.

I get many of my trees at NE Bonsai Garden. I look for slightly trained pre stock. Trees that are not in bonsai pots, just plastic or terra cotta pots. They may have had some basic training. I just take them home and work with them for 2/3 years and get them looking good.

If you are going to get started in bonsai, you will need to invest in the basic tools. A good pair of clipper (scissors), a concave cutter, wire cutters, needle pliers, small saw, chop sticks, root cutters and various gages of wire.

p.s. I posted part 2 of the bonsai email, you may fing it informative and helpful with your studies.

Rob

txrepgirl
02-20-2009, 08:03 AM
Your welcome.Have you tried selling them ? I would buy one :D .

october
02-20-2009, 08:12 PM
I do not really sell them per-say.. However, I do trade and sometimes sell to the nursery where I study, NE Bonsai Gardens. I could not part with the real nice ones and/or ones I have been working on for years though. Also, some of the nicer ones in this post could sell for upwards near $300. Which, in bonsai terms, is not really that much. Just like training a tree for 3-5 years is not really that much time, when relating to bonsai training times.

Rob

corn-ball
02-20-2009, 09:51 PM
you are the freakin man, october

txrepgirl
02-21-2009, 12:30 AM
:D I'm with corn-ball.

corn-ball. :D thanks for using a the freakin word and not the other one :wink: .

october
02-23-2009, 09:40 PM
lol.....Not really the man........After many years, you learn to interprete what the tree is trying to tell you......You can study all the techniques till the cows come home..lol... however, until you can understand what the tree is saying (so to speak)..your bonsai will never be magnificent.

John Naka, Rest in Peace, was considered the Father of American Bonsai. Essentially regarded as the man who basically brought it into the mainstream in America probably 50 years ago.

I remember one of his quotes..... "When styling a tree..no talking, when tree talking, you listen"

Rob

txrepgirl
02-23-2009, 11:44 PM
:D I like his quote.