Bonsai Life Histories

by Treasure, Martin

• ISBN13: 9781552096178
• ISBN10: 1552096173
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd

Summary

Bonsai Life Histories is a detailed absorbing insight into the transformation of original plant material into exquisite bonsai trees. These 50 dramatic stories show how one bonsai expert has created "something out of nothing," recording the life histories of over 50 trees, both in photographs and descriptions that reveal the rewarding process of tending bonsai to maturity.This instructive and useful book also includes information on: origins of bonsai getting started what makes a good/bad bonsai bonsai style styling, pruning, refinement tools, repotting, watering, feeding training techniques finding suitable plants seasonal planner guide to pruning and maintenance tasks through the year bonsai in the garden displaying bonsai exhibiting bonsai pests and diseases glossary of termsBonsai expert Martin Treasure reveals a wealth of technical and horticultural knowledge and demonstrates his technique in bringing out the personalities of individual trees. Even non-enthusiasts will be intrigued by the stories.

Author Biography

Martin Treasure has been interested in bonsai since his teens, when he joined several bonsai societies and began attending exhibitions, specialists nurseries and gatherings of bonsai devotees. He was encouraged by many of the eminent names in the bonsai world, who recognized his talent, vision and individuality. Soon, his trees were to be seen at national and international exhibitions and at the Chelsea Flower Show, where in 1995 and 1996 he had a total of 12 trees on the Federation of British Bonsai Societies stand, which won a Silver Gilt Medal. He began giving lectures, all the while building a unique photographic record of the development of the trees in his collection, spanning over 15 years.

Table of Contents

introduction	6	(2)
getting started	8	(16)
bonsai sources	8	(8)
what makes a good bonsai	16	(1)
what to avoid	17	(1)
bonsai styles	18	(6)
care and training	24	(22)
watering	24	(1)
feeding	25	(1)
site selection	26	(1)
pruning, trimming and pinching	27	(2)
leaf pruning	29	(2)
wiring	31	(3)
bonsai tools	34	(2)
choosing pots	36	(2)
root pruning and repotting	38	(4)
pests and diseases	42	(2)
bonsai season planner	44	(2)
life histories	46	(84)
acer thick-trunked trident maple	46	(4)
acer root-over-rock trident maple	50	(2)
acer two hedgerow maples	52	(4)
acer parent japanese mountain maple	56	(2)
acer air-layered japanese mountain maples	58	(6)
berberis mature berberis	64	(2)
betula reclaimed birches	66	(4)
buxus ancient boxwood	70	(2)
cedrus a pair of dwarf cedars of lebanon	72	(4)
chamaecyparis false cypress group planting	76	(2)
chamaecyparis hinoki cypress trio	78	(4)
cotoneaster cotoneaster cascade	82	(2)
crataegus aged hollow-trunk common hawthorn	84	(2)
crataegus multi-trunk common hawthorn	86	(2)
fagus european beech	88	(2)
fraxinus naturally stunted european ash	90	(2)
ginkgo candle-flame maidenhair tree	92	(4)
juniperus driftwood-style needle juniper	96	(2)
juniperus juniper cascade	98	(2)
lonicera garden-hedge dwarf honeysuckles	100	(4)
lonicera ``large'' dwarf honeysuckle	104	(2)
lonicera ``small'' dwarf honeysuckle	106	(2)
picea root-on-rock `little gem' spruce	108	(2)
picea root-on-rock dwarf spruce	110	(2)
pinus large formal scotch pine hybrid	112	(2)
pinus literati-style scotch pine	114	(2)
pinus informal upright scotch pine	116	(2)
prunus rescued blackthorn	118	(2)
salix restored weeping willow	120	(2)
salix weeping willow cutting	122	(2)
styrax stately styrax	124	(4)
wisteria driftwood wisteria	128	(2)
display	130	(12)
displaying bonsai in your home	130	(2)
displaying bonsai at exhibitions	132	(2)
accent plantings	134	(2)
displaying bonsai in your garden	136	(6)
addresses and glossary	142	(2)
index	144

Excerpts

Introduction History Bonsai trees are often thought to have originated from Japan, but records over 2,000 years old show trees being grown in China as part of landscapes planted in shallow containers. Around 1,500 years ago, trees were first grown as individual specimens, many of which would have been collected from mountainous regions, and these can be seen in ancient Chinese line drawings. Several centuries later, the Japanese began growing and training trees in pots and have developed the hobby to its current level of sophistication. Chinese and Japanese bonsai are very different, with Chinese-style trees being more freeform and trained mainly by pruning, while Japanese trees are meticulously groomed and shaped, appearing more natural. The Hobby The growing of bonsai, which literally translates as "plant in a tray," is a truly satisfying hobby and combines both horticulture and art, creating trees that are often referred to as "living sculptures." Above all, it is important that the trees are kept healthy and in excellent condition, as with any potted plant. Pruning and shaping does, however, require a degree of artistic imagination to visualize the future development of the trunk and branches.Bonsai should embody all that is so wonderful about trees that naturally grow in such a variety of shapes and sizes. Large specimen trees, ancient trees with hollow trunks, trees that have been shaped by severe weather conditions or even small forests can all be recreated in the confines of a pot. By growing trees in this way, it is possible to have a mini arboretum of delightful, small trees in your own garden or even on a balcony, however limited in size.The timescale to create impressive bonsai is dependent upon the origin, general health of the tree and the species. Trees grown from seed or cuttings will invariably take longer to attain the images required than much older material, perhaps collected from the wild or obtained as nursery stock. It can be most rewarding to build a collection from a variety of different sources. Actual age, however, is not as important as the illusion of how old the tree appears -- a well-trained bonsai may look far older than it really is. Misconceptions A common misconception about the hobby is that it is cruel, with the trees being starved in order to dwarf them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Bonsai trees require regular watering, feeding and reporting to keep them in optimum health, and in many cases they are actually healthier than their counterparts in the wild, enjoying the same longevity. Some trees in Japan have recorded histories spanning several centuries and are often traditionally passed from generation to generation, keeping them in the same family during their long lifetimes. Root pruning is a widespread horticultural technique, used by many gardeners to produce better root systems on plants grown both in pots and in the garden, and is not just associated with bonsai training. This practice facilitates the growth of a well-developed, compact root system with many fine, fibrous roots that are vital for taking up nutrients, and does not restrict the overall growth. Various branch- and shoot-pruning techniques are the methods by which the tree is dwarfed, in the same way as trimming a hedge keeps it from growing into a line of large trees. Indoor or Outdoor? Many species of tree and woody shrub are suitable for training as bonsai, but if planted in the garden they would grow into full-size specimens -- there is no such thing as a special "bonsai species." Pruning and shaping are required to create and maintain the desired shape and size. Some trees are often used to achieve the appearance of different species; for example, a juniper can look very effective when trained in the image of a pine. Trees that would naturally grow outdoors must not be cultivated indoors, where they cannot flourish and wil