During my visit to Gordon Deeg’s garden, I was struck by how many shohin bonsai I found. Small conifers, broadleaf evergreens and deciduous varieties filled narrow benches around the garden.
Trident maple
Shohin bonsai
Knowing how hard it is to assemble a proper shohin display, I appreciated the sheer volume of little trees and the opportunities they afforded from a display perspective.
Coast redwood
Hornbeam
I also thought about how often shohin bonsai need water – up to several times a day – and repotting – typically once per year – and marveled at the effort that must go into these trees.
Satsuki azalea
Winter hazel
Hornbeam
Shohin pines
Satsuki azalea
Itoigawa juniper – great project tree
Thanks again to Gordon and to Sei Boku Bonsai Kai for the opportunity to join in the fun and marvel at the trees in Gordon’s collection. I’m looking forward to seeing these trees again in upcoming exhibits!
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paul says
I just purchased a nursery Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’ that looks similar to the Itoigawa in the last picture. Have you or have you seen a “Wiltonii” worked on as a bonsai.
I love the nabari on his trees.
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Paul – yes, I’m familiar with Wiltonii junipers, and they are somewhat similar. The differences are that the foliage is a bit more blue colored and not as fine as itoigawa foliage, and the growth habit is less upright.
Paul says
What impressed me the most was the size of the nabari on these trees.