Penjing junipers on rocks

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

In 2000 Master Hu Yunhua from China visited Australia and a setting was created in a workshop utilising imported chinese "Reed pipe rock" and Juniper squamata prostrata. Four or five "pieces" were created by cementing together pieces of the "Reed Pipe rock" and then Juniper squamata prostrata were planted into the cavities; just one plant per piece.

JSP penjing1 - SG - 2000-9-30 - Copy.jpg

JSP penjing2 - SG - 2000-9-30 - Copy.jpg

As often happens the trees grew well and overpowered the rocks; so when we first saw the pieces in 2010 they were well overgrown and had been neglected due to poor health of the owner and his partner.

JSP Penjing at Sids pre workshop2 - Copy - Copy.JPG

JSP Penjing at Sids pre workshop1 - Copy - Copy.JPG

Along with a few other bonsai these settings were offered to the NBPCA but as they were so overgrown we had to do a quick tidy up of the settings at the owners house first; before our Bonsai Management Committee could get a good look at the settings and assesss their suitability for the collection.

There will be some photos to follow of the pieces we chose.

Grant

[NBPCA]

After a quick tidy up two pieces were selected and accepted into the collection for further work. A marble tray and spare pieces of rock also came.

When we take on a bonsai/penjing that needs plenty of work there is no guarantee that the piece will ever be fit to display; but we feel it has enough potential to proceed.

JSP Penjing1 start.JPG

Our two top guns got to work and did some trimming back, thinning and wiring

JSP Penjing5.JPG

We wanted to bring all the extended growth back in much closer to the rock and make it look like it was a series of smaller trees; rather then one overgrown tree per rock. And so this is just the very start of work that will eventually allow the setting to go on display

JSP Penjing8 finish.JPG

[Ash Barns]

It will be interesting to observe how this progresses Grant. Please keep us posted.

[LLK]

A generous gift to the NBPCA.... that has taken, and will still take, a lot more than basic bonsai knowledge to bring out the best. Hat off to you, gentlemen.

Lisa

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

We meditated for a few hours and we came to the opinion that the appropriate course for this setting would be, at least initially, a "Clouds(or mist) around the mountain peaks".

Thats the direction we are heading in.

Grant

[MattA]

A generous gift to the NBPCA.... that has taken, and will still take, a lot more than basic bonsai knowledge to bring out the best. Hat off to you, gentlemen.

Lisa

Yes, it will take a knowledge of Penjing....

I look forward to seeing these progress in the hands of the NBPCA in the hope that one day they may sit side by side with a bonsai, that way people might understand the differences.

Matt

[Glenda]

I love them! They look so natural. Good work, guys

Glenda