Dorothy Koreshoff

[Jamie]

thats a great way to learn bodhi, and ontop of that making great mates!

[Kigawa]

i have heard that name somewhere before bodhi, im not sure where but i have... would love to see some of his trees! a shohin lover like myself!

You might have heard of Bodhi Tree Ficus religiosa, which is used for bonsai.

[bodhidharma]

i have heard that name somewhere before bodhi, im not sure where but i have... would love to see some of his trees! a shohin lover like myself!

You might have heard of Bodhi Tree Ficus religiosa, which is used for bonsai.

Sorry Kigawa, i think you have missread the thread somehow. But, i do agree, i am growing a few Religiosa to see how they perform in the Central Highlands.

[LLK]

A friend of mine here in Canberra, who is in her seventies, started bonsai as a young mother with two babies. She had read an article on bonsai in the Woman's Weekly by Stirling Macoboy and being bored with having to stay at home so much, decided to take it up as a hobby. That must be at least 45 yrs ago, as her eldest is 50. She still has the cut-out article (I've seen it), but sold her original bonsai collection some years back. With the second lot going, she still is one of our local bonsai VIPs.

Lisa

[dennismc]

Hi all

There is no question at all about Ron Anderson and the Koreshoff's influence on Bonsai in Australia. I support all of the comments made here on these and others in this thread. Dot's influence on my development as a Bonsai-ist is substantial (especially with working with Pines). While I never met Ron Anderson I remember learning a lot from him through his involvement with the now defunct Bonsai Down Under magazine.

However, the influence of Len Webber cannot be denied in bringing Bonsai to the masses. He with his wonderful wife Eaddie taught at TAFE in NSW for many years and there must have been more than 2000 students that learned to love Bonsai through these classes. Len was also instrumental, along with the Koreshoffs, in establishing the Bonsai club scene here in Australia. Len could be difficult (he did not bear fools lightly) but so many Bonsai-ists myself included will be forever in his debt for the love of Bonsai he instilled in us. Indeed he personally encouraged me to go University to study for a Degree in Botany as a way of pursuing my desire to develop techniques for growing natives as Bonsai. For this I will always be grateful.

There surely are many un-named individuals that have contributed to developing Bonsai in Australia and we are forever indebted to them.

regards
Dennis Mc

[Kunzea]

Hi Matt
I'm fascinated by your report:

I am a plant nut in general and for a number of years was heavily into collecting early australian gardening ephemera, catalogues, advertising, labels etc There are numerous mentions of bonsai mentioned for sale from approx 1898 onwards. More usually listed under decriptive titles such as "Bizarre Miniature Japanese tree" rather than as bonsai. I no longer hold the collection but will try and get copies of relevant material for you if you are interested. I am sure the new owner would be willing to share for the greater good.

If you can give any details of name of some of these publications, I'd be very interested in chasing them up. I may be able to find them in the National Library. I've not heard of these references to bonsai from that period and would be delighted to see them.
Cheers
K

[Kigawa]

I noticed that in this discussion Vitaliy Koreshoff is referred to as Vita or Vito. I think to the history of Australian Bonsai he should be known by not by a misspelled short name, but by his full name.

The Name on the three books co written with Dorothy are ( VITA ) for Vitaliy so I believe that is why he is referred to as Vita, that his wife and friends used that also.

It was never my intention to use it, in any other sense than with Praise for the Man.

Yours in Bonsai Pup

'Vitaliy' is how Deborah Koreshoff referes to her father in her book "Bonsai Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy". This book was published when her father was still alive.

[Pup]

Yes Deborah does use that reference to her father, his widow however in all conversations I have had with her refers to him as Vita.

As I have said I never met him, but I do have the utmost respect for the man and his work. If you persist in trying to put us down that is your perogative.

I have said and stated what I believe to be praise only. Thank you my last words on this subject.

Pup

[bodhidharma]

I noticed that in this discussion Vitaliy Koreshoff is referred to as Vita or Vito. I think to the history of Australian Bonsai he should be known by not by a misspelled short name, but by his full name.

The Name on the three books co written with Dorothy are ( VITA ) for Vitaliy so I believe that is why he is referred to as Vita, that his wife and friends used that also.

It was never my intention to use it, in any other sense than with Praise for the Man.

Yours in Bonsai Pup

'Vitaliy' is how Deborah Koreshoff referes to her father in her book "Bonsai Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy". This book was published when her father was still alive.

If we go to the book ..Bonsai with Australian natives..... Dorothy Koreshoff Uses Vito as his name.

[MattA]

Hi Matt
I'm fascinated by your report:

I am a plant nut in general and for a number of years was heavily into collecting early australian gardening ephemera, catalogues, advertising, labels etc There are numerous mentions of bonsai mentioned for sale from approx 1898 onwards. More usually listed under decriptive titles such as "Bizarre Miniature Japanese tree" rather than as bonsai. I no longer hold the collection but will try and get copies of relevant material for you if you are interested. I am sure the new owner would be willing to share for the greater good.

If you can give any details of name of some of these publications, I'd be very interested in chasing them up. I may be able to find them in the National Library. I've not heard of these references to bonsai from that period and would be delighted to see them.
Cheers
K

Hey Kunzea,

My first point for research used to be the Macquarie State library in Sydney. It can be frustrating unless you know exactly what you are after but they were always so helpful with advice on how to find the specific information or publication. I was there atleast once or twice a week at one stage.

I have emailed the new owner of the collection so now its just a matter of waiting for him to check his mail (could be tomorow or in 3mths dependant on if he is in the country or off on another plant collecting trip. Being our winter there is a fairly good chance he is in China searching for new varieties to add to his own collection.

Another plant person who's passion ispires me, some plants in his collection are the only ones in Australia, or he was the original source. Yet he is so unassuming & self deprecating towards his knowledge & talent (remind you of someone here? Pup your knowledge could advance the usage of native trees both here & around the world, get writing)

Will update with the info as soon as it comes to me.

Matt

[Kunzea]

Thanks Matt
Much appreciated.
K

[Kigawa]

If you persist in trying to put us down that is your perogative.

My apologies, did mean to offend anyone.

[mashby]

Earlier in this thread, Jon Chown said "While there is no doubt that Dorothy and Vito have had an enormous influence to many if not most of the Bonsaiists in Australia and of corse we must not forget their daughter Deborah who produced perhaps one of the finest Bonsai Publications - 'Bonsai its Art, Science, History and Philosophy' a veritable bible to any budding bonsai enthusiest.

There is another name that perhaps should be mentioned from that same era and that is Len Webber. Len wrote a book on Ficus which I seem to have missplaced for the moment but if my memory serves me correctly Len began bonsai on his return from Japan after WW2. His collection was handed over to the Ithica Tafe who I believe have subsequently given it to the City of Brisbane and it is held and maintained at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Cootha and well worth a look if anyone is up this way."

Jon and everyone else. I find this thread very interesting indeed. I have also been interested in the history of Bonsai in Australia, but in particular, the use of Australian Natives. Jon, I think the book you might be referring to, by Len Webber, is called "Bonsai in Australian Plants - From Rainforest to Bonsai". I have attached a photograph of the book's cover.

img003A.jpg

For those interested in finding a copy of the book it is part of something called the "Mount Annan Botanic Garden Plant Series", first published by Simon & Schuster in 1991. The ISBN is 0 7318 0237 3

I hope this thread will continue to be added to.

Thanks everyone.

[Robert J. Baran]

For those so interested in these things, the following biographical material sums up the various posts I've found here and elsewhere for a few Australian teachers of the past.

Dorothy Koreshoff, Jan. 28, http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/Days/DaysJan.html ;
Leonard "Lenny" Webber, Dec. 23, http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/Days/DaysDec.html ;
Max Candy, Dec. 16, http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/Days/DaysDec.html .

Your additional info on these and other teachers, such as John Lucas and Tom Cochrane, Max Leversha and P.G. Moore, is deeply appreciated by all of us and the future.

Robert J. Baran
Bonsai researcher and historian

[lindsay farr]

Wonderful stuff. Thanks Robert