NBPCA and Floriade 2009

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Everyone,

The NBPCA (National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia) reopened its doors this morning at Floriade 2009 after being closed for two weeks for Floriade preparation of the Park in which we are located. By 12.30 we had 927 visitors and it is going to be a very busy month.

We have 9 new trees from Victoria on display including Ted Poyntons large Angophora costata and other fabulous bonsai from south of the border.

We are open 9am till 5pm for the month of Floriade (12th September till 11th October 2009). We then close for two weeks and reopen Monday 26th October.

Come and see us at Floriade if you can or anytime later in the year.

Grant Bowie

Observing the big Banksia integrifolia.JPG

Display of smaller bonsai.JPG

General view.JPG

[Matthew]

Grant,

Thays a sweet little shohin size back pine at the back what looks like its in a pat kennady pot? Hope to get down to see the display

[miyagiman]

great work grant, you do a fantastic job, keep it up & good luck with the remainder of floriade. miyagiman.

[Grant Bowie]

Grant,

Thays a sweet little shohin size back pine at the back what looks like its in a pat kennady pot? Hope to get down to see the display

Thats a new tree for this year from one of the website members John M. It has a lot of detail for such a small tree.And yes its a Pat Kennedy pot.

[Pup]

Sorry we can't make it this year Grant.
Looks like you are going to have a very busy fortnight ahead.
Are there going to be any lecture demonstration as there were last year?.
Those Shohin are very nice indeed.
Keep up the good work mate all the best from the West. Mrs Pup and me.

[Grant Bowie]

Sorry we can't make it this year Grant.
Looks like you are going to have a very busy fortnight ahead.
Are there going to be any lecture demonstration as there were last year?.
Those Shohin are very nice indeed.
Keep up the good work mate all the best from the West. Mrs Pup and me.

Hi Pup,

No demos this year as that was just for the official opening last year. Both the trees from last year are doing well; Arthurs Satsuki Azalea Osakazuki should be showable in a year and Lee Wilsons Black pine will be a longer process as there is more to do.

Both your trees are in robust health. I moved the Melaleuca to a sunnier spot this year as I think it will benefit.

Pups Melaleuca.jpg

[Pup]

Hi Pup,

No demos this year as that was just for the official opening last year. Both the trees from last year are doing well; Arthurs Satsuki Azalea Osakazuki should be showable in a year and Lee Wilsons Black pine will be a longer process as there is more to do.

Both your trees are in robust health.[/quote]

Funny you should say that Sue just asked when I told her about the amount of visitors.

How are the flower buds my one should be open for the Society show in about a month. If it stops raining and the sun comes out sooner
Thanks again keep up the good work is the little S^#t still there helping or hindering (Asus ) Pup

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Pup,

Your Callistemon won't flower here till late November. Last year it teased us for months thinking it was about to flower but the preciuos little pet wouldn't flower till it was WA Hot.
This is how it looked last 1st of December.

Summer flowering of Bottlebrush 1977 Derek Oakley.JPG

A few of the other WA bonsai on display today.

Alf Ds Melaleuca group.jpg

Arthurs Japanese Maple group.jpg

[Grant Bowie]

Teds Angophora. A large bonsai at 1.4 mtr tall.

We had to lower the stand just for it.

It is covered in new red buds and in a week should be covered in new leaves.

Teds Angophora ..jpg

Quentins English elm is about to leaf out in a week or two.

Quentin Vs English elm.jpg

[Bretts]

Now thats the stuff that gets me motivated. Great display

[Grant Bowie]

By the end of the first day of being open during Floriade we had 2,250 visitors and we are well on the way for similar figures today.

Everyone who saw and remembers the display last year says this year is even better.

Grant Bowie

[Pup]

By the end of the first day of being open during Floriade we had 2,250 visitors and we are well on the way for similar figures today.

Everyone who saw and remembers the display last year says this year is even better.

Grant Bowie

Fantastic keep up the good work

[Leigh Taafe]

No demos this year as that was just for the official opening last year.

Hi Grant,

Not as part of the NBPCA, however, there will be 4 bonsai demonstrations as part of Floriade, this Monday through to Thusday. Monday starts at 2pm - Tues/Wed/Thur will start at 1:30pm. These demos will be held in a separate location within Floriade to the National Collection.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[LLK]

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I was on duty at the NBPCA. It was thoroughly enjoyable, not only being among those great bonsai, but also communicating with the visitors. It was a quiet day, with 'only' about 1000 people coming through. One gets a lot of questions, and one thing that surprised me was that several people hadn't realised that bonsai are normal trees which, planted in the ground, will revert to their natural size and shape in a very short time. They thought that bonsai were 'born' as bonsai so to speak. One elderly lady came in with her guide dog; she was also partially deaf, but despite her handicaps she showed a lively interest and I had to explain several things in detail. She even took photos.
Aaron, I promised you an up to date pic of the olive grove, so here it is. That setting gets a lot of attention from visitors, and they all love the story that it was put together by group of 3 young people of "the bonsai of hard knocks".
I attach a couple of other photos, incl. my favourite among the new arrivals, i.e. a Banksia from Victoria, a well as the shohin Japanese black pine from the same State.

Lisa

[Bretts]

Thats the second picture of this Elm from that angle. I would swear that was the back of the tree. I would definatly like to see a picture from the other side if I can.