Some Penjing and Bonsai of China

[Grant Bowie]

Sorry,

computer problems for a while. The last few coming now.

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[Grant Bowie]

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Last of the photos.

In a new thread I will talk about my demo and the material etc.

[Grant Bowie]

some nice trees there Grant, were they all mainly large in size?

Almost universally (and except for the obvious minis) they were huge. The few smaller ones were usually not looked after as much.

In fact in Yixing(pronounced yee-shing) where you could buy superb quality pots you could only buy huge or minis. I wanted some pots under about 60cm in a certain style and they were not to be had.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hopefully this post should get people thinking as im a fan of large trees i really think you can get more out of them im not saying monsters but 80-120cm range ive got a few an love working them. Yeah a bugga to move or re-pot but with a few family or club members it wouldn't be to hard my brother got an olive an is not into bonsai but him an his wife going to use it as a garden feature. Many will say it takes forever to get a big tree to be good but i dont think so yeah you may not have the ramification or the appearance of age like these trees but you will get the basic structure to build on in 1-2 yrs i know i do

1-2yrs to grow some monster trunk to start refining!?!?!?! where do you live & what species are you working with because I have been working on some of my monsters for over 20yrs & still developing the trunks & nowhere near ready to start refining....

I agree that if you start with a big stump you may be able to get some basic structure within 2 years and then its all about refining. Chinese elm, Corky bark elm, Ash, figs, Olives would be obvious candidates.

Pines and junipers would take longer.

I have an elm stump I am going to trial. More later.

grant

[hoody6980]

Hi grant
Fantastic photos of some beautiful trees, thanks very much for posting!
The more I look at penjing in particular the deciduous trees styled by clip an grow techniques the more I appreciate these trees more so than the 'traditional' (dare I say it) bonsai of japan.
I feel they definitely have a more artistic side to them.
One thing I am interested in is how they create these hollows on the trunks and branches I have heard these are called horse eyes? Are these simply deepened pruning scars or are the strategically placed an hollowed out then let role over?
Thanks grant

[mq1742]

Hopefully this post should get people thinking as im a fan of large trees i really think you can get more out of them im not saying monsters but 80-120cm range ive got a few an love working them. Yeah a bugga to move or re-pot but with a few family or club members it wouldn't be to hard my brother got an olive an is not into bonsai but him an his wife going to use it as a garden feature. Many will say it takes forever to get a big tree to be good but i dont think so yeah you may not have the ramification or the appearance of age like these trees but you will get the basic structure to build on in 1-2 yrs i know i do

1-2yrs to grow some monster trunk to start refining!?!?!?! where do you live & what species are you working with because I have been working on some of my monsters for over 20yrs & still developing the trunks & nowhere near ready to start refining....

I agree that if you start with a big stump you may be able to get some basic structure within 2 years and then its all about refining. Chinese elm, Corky bark elm, Ash, figs, Olives would be obvious candidates.

Pines and junipers would take longer.

I have an elm stump I am going to trial. More later.

grant

It makes sense now, adding structure to pre-existing structure, thanks for quantifying Olivecrazy's statement.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi grant
Fantastic photos of some beautiful trees, thanks very much for posting!
The more I look at penjing in particular the deciduous trees styled by clip an grow techniques the more I appreciate these trees more so than the 'traditional' (dare I say it) bonsai of japan.
I feel they definitely have a more artistic side to them.
One thing I am interested in is how they create these hollows on the trunks and branches I have heard these are called horse eyes? Are these simply deepened pruning scars or are the strategically placed an hollowed out then let role over?
Thanks grant

I did not speak to anyone in china about the hollows but I believe its "Cut and Rot". The cuts are made, the affected area rots and disappears. The trees are grown on in piles of bricks, in a circle sitting on the ground, with soil in them. In effect a big pot on the ground. The roots can run as far as they like and the hollows roll over by themselves.

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[bodhidharma]

Thanks for keeping us updated Grant. What an amazing journey for you to see these beautiful ramified trees. I know when i toured Omiya i wanted to come home and burn my trees as it seemed i would never reach the standard of the trees i saw. But most of the trees are generational so i have vowed to finish them in my next lifetime. Just need to organise to lob back here to continue the journey. Thank you and keep posting the updates. I bet you would love to bring a few home with you

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks for keeping us updated Grant. What an amazing journey for you to see these beautiful ramified trees. I know when i toured Omiya i wanted to come home and burn my trees as it seemed i would never reach the standard of the trees i saw. But most of the trees are generational so i have vowed to finish them in my next lifetime. Just need to organise to lob back here to continue the journey. Thank you and keep posting the updates. I bet you would love to bring a few home with you

I don't teach much so I can keep my time and mind free to experiment. I will try to incorporate aspects of what I have seen in China into my existing and future bonsai. Could be an interesting mix but without the Mythologies and handicaps that go with toeing the line in each country.

I LOVE QUIRKY.

Grant

[Jb1]

Thanks Grant. Inspirational.
Regards
John

[alpineart]

Hi Grant very very impressive , and they say the Japanese refined what the Chinese began . Very natural looking material there ,, good to see Bonsai is still flowing in your veins , we're all the better for it .

Cheers Alpine