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Small bonsai and accents

September 5, 2014 by Jonas Dupuich

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

Shimpaku

Trident maple

Trident maple

Cotoneaster

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 - 72 years

Prostrata juniper – in training 25 years

Drawing by John Naka

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

Grape with tiny fruit

Procumbens juniper

 

Procumbens juniper

 

Accent

Accent close-up

Accent

Accent

Accent

Accent
Black pine

Japanese black pine

Shimpaku

Shimpaku

Trident maple

Trident maple

Cryptomeria

Cryptomeria

Olive

Olive

mystery

Any guesses?

Ginkgo

Ginkgo

Accent

Accent

Accent

Accent

Accent

Accent

 

✕

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Filed Under: Exhibits Tagged With: Accents, REBS, Shohin

Previous Post: « More highlights from REBS’ 31st annual show
Next Post: Looking inside »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sam Griffin says

    September 5, 2014 at 4:26 am

    Jonas I look forward to your posts each week.

    Have you ever thought about putting together an iBook?

    I have looked in iTunes and there are no good bonsai books available. You’re posts are far more informative and insightful than the books currently available plus the example trees you post are varied and outstanding.

    I’ve made a number of iBooks for my work plus I have experience as a graphic designer and would love to help out!

    Sam Griffin

  2. Ed says

    September 5, 2014 at 5:45 am

    The one that you are unsure about looks a lot like my caryopteris. Thus, I say: it is a caryopteris.

  3. Sharman Munro says

    September 5, 2014 at 9:01 am

    Possibly that clump with heart shaped leaves is a lilac?

  4. Bruce says

    September 5, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    The tsugi is a seldom seen surprise.

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