8th National Exhibition of Aust Native Plants as Bonsai

[banksia]

MikeB!. Maybe a silly question, but is any wiring allowed to be left on exhibited trees? (photo submissions included)

Cheers!
Anthony

[MikeB]

Hi Anthony

Short answer - yes, it is OK to exhibit with wire on the tree.

Longer answer - it is of course important in the case of a wired tree on exhibition that the wiring job is a good one - wiring that you would not be embarrassed to show your bonsai peers. Part of the purpose of the exhibition is to inform the public about bonsai - and wiring is often a part of the process we use to achieve an artistic outcome.

We ask exhibitors to provide a 'description' to accompany a tree that we then print in a catalgue for visitors. The stytling outcome - the artistic outcome - that the wire is designed to achieve could be a part of that description.

Hope that helps ...

Mike.

[Roger]

Hi Anthony
Just an addendum to Mike's reply. I think you should think of the Exhibition in the way that you would any other bonsai display. With respect to wires on trees, having wire on the trunk or main branches is really not good form. Some wire on a few branches, discreetly applied so that it is not conspicuous, is OK. But remember that you are taking your tree out for public show, so dress it up, weed it, polish the pot, remove spider webs and dead leaves and remove all unnecessary wire. If Mike is talking about a special bench for beginners, then more wire is OK, but not really in the main exhibition.
Roger

[Will_IslandBonsai]

Thanks Steven for posting that stylish banner advertising the Native plants bonsai exhibition in Canberra, on the 19th and 20th March.

As well as the exhibition, there is also the symposium running at the same time......"STYLING INSPIRED BY AUSTRALIAN NATIVE TREES"
This mini-conference will delve into the ways in which we can bonsai, and do justice to our local flora, not just turning them into the likeness of little Japanese trees, but to try to capture the spirit of Australia with our creations.

It's a wonderful challenge, and should provide much food for thought and hopefully some inspiration!

The symposium commences on the Sat morning with a Q and A session, where lots of thoughts and concepts can be thrown into the ring, followed by a presentation on teatrees, a beautiful subject for bonsai, and their potential and design possibilities. The afternoon has a workshop (mainly teatrees and melaleucas) or a guided walk around the Botanic Gardens with a 'bonsai' eye. On Sunday morning there is a workshop on grevillea and banksia, folowed by an Aussie BBQ and afternoon gathering to discuss what we have learned.

An excellent weekend to learn more about bonsaing with our native flora, and a chance to observe and learn about the potential to bonsai with Australian plants using Australian styling.

For further information and to register to be part of this stimulating weekend, go to www.cbs.org.au

I'm looking forward immensly to meeting some of you at the symposium and exhibition.

Will Fletcher

[cre8ivbonsai]

Thanks Steven for posting that stylish banner advertising the Native plants bonsai exhibition in Canberra

Agreed very nice banner, definitely captures your attention

This sounds like a great event, wish I could make it Is this an annual event? maybe next year for a w/end road trip


Ryan

[cre8ivbonsai]

Thanks Steven for posting that stylish banner advertising the Native plants bonsai exhibition in Canberra

Agreed very nice banner, definitely captures your attention

This sounds like a great event, wish I could make it Is this an annual event? maybe next year for a w/end road trip


Ryan

[NBPCA]

Hi everyone,

The native show is coming on us quickly but there are a couple of other easons for visiting Canberra that weekend as well; and they are of course the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia in Commonwealth Park open 7 days 10am till 3pm; and the Festival of the Forests.

The Festival of the forests is held at the site of the future home of the NBPCA and that is nthe National Arboretum Canberra; see the future site of the NBPCA before the construction work starts.. Lots of things to see and do in canberra that weekend. I will update as more information becomes available.

STOP PRESS!. The official ground breaking ceremony for the start of construction at the NAC site is strongly rumoured/likely to be late March. I will post as more info becomes "official".

Grant

[Gerard]

After reading this post, I have had to check my calendar
I had the hope that this exhibition would coincide with the upcoming long weekend (Labor Day, Vic. March 14)
If 2012 is not yet set in concrete, a long weekend in Canberra would be nice!
For myself and surely many others who are within driving distance.

[MikeB]

Hi again everyone ...

The window for participation in the symposium or exhibition is closing fast and we are probably at the stage where we can only accept photo entries (but anything is possible if you ask !). This exhibition in collaboration with the Australian National Botanic Gardens is a great opportunity to show the public the range and quality of bonsai being grown and styled from all around Australia using Australian natives.

So, if you were thinking about entering a photo of a tree(s) but hadn't got around to it, please get cracking as we need a week or so before the exhibition to allow formating and printing of a catalogue. The following is what we require regarding entries.

• Scientific name
• Common name
• Number of years in training
• 50 - 100 words about the tree.

As the Symposium is about art in Australian trees, focus on this aspect in your words (description). For example, how do you feel about the way the tree looks? Does it evoke images or feelings you associate with some place or some tree you have seen? Is there a story that this tree tells. What do I like about my tree and what inspired its styling? Additionally you may describe how or when you came by it, its life story, any stying challenges you faced, a point of interest about it etc. But only 50 - 100 words ...

• In the case of a photographic entry – please provide the above information plus, by email to secretary@cbs.org.au – a 500Kb to 1Mb sized JPG format photo. These will be displayed using a digital projector.

It is intended that any or all of the pictures displayed, as well as photos taken of live trees being exhibited, may be used for publicity purposes of future bonsai events. Such images may also be displayed on websites such as that of the ANBG where previous display images have been included in a galley. If you do not want your photo, or a picture of your tree used in this way, you must contact the organisers (that's me) at secretary@cbs.org.au.

Hope you can join in ...

Mike.

[Bretts]

Hi Mike
I lucked out with a pass to Canberra this weekend and I was wondering if there was any workshop places left? (also workshop trees for sale?)
Also I am hoping I can sign up for the symposium on Saturday when I get there?
Looking forward to a great day finished off with fireworks

[MikeB]

Hi Brett

Sorry - not monitoring this post closely now ...

It's too late to order a tree for the workshops - but there is room to attend the Symposium and observe at the workshops - or if you have a suitable tree of the species in focus at each workshop then you could bring your own. Melaleuca/Leptospermum on Saturday and Banksia on Sunday.

Please complete the online registration form with your intended activities selected and email to secretary@cbs.org.au asap. The form is on the home page of the CBS web site - http://www.cbs.org.au . I'd prefer electronic payment - described on the rego form (less admin) - but you can also pay on Saturday.

Mike.

[Bretts]

Thanks Mike I would say answering questions in about 5 hours is great service

Bugger that stock sounded like alot of fun. No natives around my yard that are due for a work over either.

Thanks anyway

Anyone else going that has some native stock to sell?

[MikeB]

No one I know of ...

Not that this is much help - but coincidentally there is a native plant sale on at the Gardens on Saturday morning ... times clash with the Q and A and Will's Leptospermum talk ... The plants will only be small - intended for gardens.

Mike

[Bretts]

Thanks for your reply Mike I am sure you have enough to do at the moment other than organising trees for me.
I was hoping one of the members might have a tree they would like to sell. Worth a shot
See ya there
Thanks again

[Leigh Taafe]

Anyone been to see this? The wattle that Ray Nesci has on display is brilliant! Ray is highly underrated as a bonsai artist - this tree is awesome!