John’s trip to New Zealand and Australia October 2009 - Part Two « John Hanby Bonsai School & Newstead Bonsai Centre

John’s trip to New Zealand and Australia October 2009 - Part Two

Saturday 24th October - AM - Juniper Demonstration

The hard work was done, everything was in place and the Convention got off to a bright early start just after 8.30. I introduced myself to the audience by means of a short PowerPoint presentation outlining my bonsai history and philosophy together with pictures of the Newstead nursery and some of my trees. As most of you know my passion and hobby is Chelsea Football Club, hence the football shirt, and this was a significant part of the introductory presentation.(Can you believe my host in New Zealand was a staunch Manchester United fan!!!)

The tree I had selected for the main demonstration was a Juniper of the Gold Coast variety. It was a good medium size with a really nice natural shari that could become a focal point in the design of the tree.

I introduced the tree to the audience and explained my plans to extend the shari by making some existing large live branches into jins and to select/lighten useful branches prior to totally wiring the tree.

I am grateful to Dale for helping me complete the wiring. He was like a stage manager over the weekend and did a first class job.

After the styling came some explanations. I could have taken a lot more foliage off this tree. I could have pruned it and pinched it very tight, to produce a much neater almost exhibition type image which would have been brilliant for the final picture and for the applause. But then the tree would have struggled to recover, maybe sulk for a full season, and possibly die! This is not my style; for me this is not what bonsai is about. By leaving all the strong growing tips in place this tree will recover and grow as if nothing has happened. Greater density will ultimately be achieved in the foliage clouds much more quickly. The desired shape can be reached with minimal risk to the tree’s health.

Carrying out a demonstration solely for the final image looks very impressive but sends out the wrong message to the viewing public who may then try this routine on their own trees at home. For me a convention demonstration is not just about entertainment but more importantly about education.

12.30 was rapidly approaching…..time for an excellent lunch outside in the early summer sunshine.

PM - Shohin Demonstration

The shorter afternoon session was about shohin bonsai.

A brief introduction was followed by some basic pruning of deciduous material.

For the main demonstration I had been supplied with a small but stocky Blaauws Juniper. I gave the audience a choice……did they want a small single tree or a small raft forest?…can you believe the voting was split 50/50 - it seemed that this decision would take longer than the demo itself. Eventually we decided on the raft and I have to say that for me this was the best use of the material. This type of material is capable of providing new roots and a convincing forest planting very quickly.

The method was explained and after some pruning, wiring and replanting the material was totally transformed. The beauty of this is the simplicity, the result, and the fact that it was easily within the capabilities of everyone present.

It is fine working on fantastic yamadori or old imported material but most of this material is beyond the vast majority of people doing bonsai. I think it is much better and more satisfying if you can do something that people can almost immediately try at home. It is all about encouraging people to get their hands dirty, to do something practical, to successfully create their own bonsai!