Until recently, I’ve known Yaupon Holly by its less appealing botanical name, Ilex vomitoria. I took it for granted that the tree produced berries that were better left to the birds. Not so – turns out Native Americans made tea known as asi or “black drink” from the Youpon berries that were used in male-only […]
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Balance
There are few concepts more central to bonsai than “balance.” The California buckeye below strikes me as a well-balanced composition. The foliage, ramification, trunk, pot and stand all work well together. California Buckeye – Aesculus californica The photos here are from the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show. Like so many good exhibits, it […]
Accent plants
More from Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show – accent plants! Ajuga, fern, sedum I’ll note the varieties I recognize – corrections welcome. Rabbit foot fern in antique roof tile Grass in hand-made pot Fern and moss Fern-ish Sedum and fern Quince and moss Sedum and fern Lamium et al. See more accent plants […]
Bay Area Bonsai Associates 28th Annual Show
This year’s BABA show (Bay Area Bonsai Associates) focused on bonsai display. Great care was taken with trees, stands, scrolls, and accents, and the results were quite pleasing. And because the show took place later in the year than last year’s show, there was plenty of color in the room, best typified by the wisteria […]
Bonsai stories
What to do when a big branch in the front of the tree blocks your view of the trunk? Layer it and make a new tree. Last weekend’s Bay Area Bonsai Associates (BABA) show featured both halves of a boxwood created by Ned Lycett. Here’s a shot of the main tree. Boxwood bonsai And here’s […]