Small bonsai and accents

After reviewing my photos of smaller trees and accents at Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 31st annual show, I’m reminded how easy it is to overlook smaller trees in a room full of large bonsai. These shohin and small-sized trees deserve as much attention as the large and medium sized bonsai they share tables with. Here they are with some of the more intriguing accent plants on display.

Shimpaku

Trident maple

Cotoneaster

The prostrata juniper below came with a story:

I purchased this tree in Feb of 2012 at our annual Collection North fund raising auction. It was in a 21” pot and had long branches that extended out much further. I took it to a Ryan Neil workshop the following month and probably half of more of the branches were removed, and the remaining branches were wired and brought in for a more compact tree.
I later learned that the original owner, Burt Meyer of San Francisco had worked on it in a 1989 workshop with John Naka. He was kind enough to mail me the signed sketch by John.

Prostrata juniper – in training 25 years

Sketch by John Naka

The tree has come a long way since the 1989 workshop with John Naka. And considering the current silhouette, it’s clear that Ryan Neil has contributed greatly to the development of this bonsai.

While we’re on the subject of Ryan Neil, take a moment to look at his newly redesigned website, Bonsai Mirai. Ryan and Chelsea have done a fantastic job showing off the great work coming out of Mirai and the gallery in particular deserves special attention – be sure to take a look!

On with the exhibit:

Grape with tiny fruit

 

Procumbens juniper

 

Accent close-up

Accent

Accent

Japanese black pine

Shimpaku

Trident maple

Cryptomeria

Olive

Any guesses?

Ginkgo

Accent

Accent

Accent