Last week’s tour of satsuki bonsai in development at Kanuma’s Kobayashi Sangyou nursery didn’t hint at the general quality of trees there or at the scope of the operation. Most of the six or so greenhouses at the nursery were filled with well developed trees. The smaller, younger, trees were impressive in quality and in number.
Standing in a sea of azaleas
Half of one greenhouse at Kobayashi Sangyou
The rest of the bonsai on site were larger and older. Trunks like the one below were a common sight.
Interesting satsuki trunk
Some of these trees were still in wood boxes or plastic nursery containers. The trunks on these trees were in good shape but more branch work was needed.
Large satsuki in wood box
Satsuki in the branch development phase
Satsuki in plastic garden pot
The more refined trees were in bonsai pots.
Satsuki with large trunk
Trunk detail
Many of the azaleas took informal upright forms.
Yama-no-hikari
Medium sized satsuki – informal upright
Others had simple curves with alternating branches – a standard approach for the variety.
Gentle curves with alternating branches
On the other end of spectrum was an exposed root specimen unlike any other I saw on this trip.
Large exposed root satsuki
Some of my favorite trees at the nursery were conservative in form but with great trunks.
Medium sized satsuki with interesting trunk and branches
Medium sized satsuki azalea
Others took less standard forms.
Satsuki with strong flow to the left
Satsuki with strong flow to the right
After spending two days in Kanuma visiting satsuki nurseries, we headed to the main event – the World Bonsai Convention in Saitama. Photos coming up later this week!
Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight
New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday
Michael says
We didn t see any root grafting techniques or young specimen in early stage of development in ground with sacrifice branches etc..?
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Michael – different nurseries focus on different aspects of development. Kobayashi Sangyou tends to focus on larger, older, and more developed specimens. None of the nurseries we visited had more than a few young whips. Will have to visit the ground growers next time!
Mac McAtee says
That exposed root plant must be made up of several plants with the roots grafted together to form the pyramid. That is quite a spectacular bonsai, I’d love to see it in bloom.
Craig Schwabauer says
Wow!! Great looking bonsai!!! Thank you for sharing Jonas!