AusBonsai

Hello all,
Last week I visited the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia again, for the first time since it opened in September. It was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion and I was thrilled by the trees, they looked so good and their condition was just superb. I took quite a few photos that I'd like to share with you. First up is the boss, Curator Grant Bowie. The second photo shows him at work together with a volunteer. They are wiring a giant cedar; it was flat-topped and is now gradually getting a more suitable rounded grown.

Enjoy!

Lisa

Well, the pictures landed in the wrong order, but never mind.
Here are some more.
I never knew that the Catlin elm had such spectacular bark!
And there's a hello to Pup from his Melaleuca raphiophylla.

Lisa

Here is a corner with two vry beautiful bonsai, one being a tanuki Shimpaku and the other a Jade. The latter is on olan from Queensland, where it will return in a few weeks' time to escape our wintry conditions. That Jade is really stunning, so I'm also showing it solo. Close by is a tall Atlas cedar, which was in flower. When you gave the pot a small shake, a cloud of yellow pollen flew off! Grant took a phto of it, maybe he has the time to show it?

Lisa

I haven't had time to process all the photos, so I'll end today with two that are quite special, I think. There is a view of part of the Collection with the imposing Montezuma cypress group, and the Japanese white pine raft on its beautiful deadwood. One can't help being moved, and the visitors we talked to were certainly very impressed. They stayed, looking round, for quite a long time, I noticed.

Lisa

lovely photo's lisa

that jade was not there when i was there, at the opening...

any hello's from the olive setting

Oh shoot! I can't find any photo of it from this visit, sorry! But I can tell you that I stopped by it and said to Grant that I thought it had done so well; even that nice underplanting is looking great. For those who don't know what bonsai we are talking about, here is a photo taken on Opening Day.

Lisa

I like the little catlin elm, its got great form and nice bark.

Any idea on the artist?

Asus101 wrote:I like the little catlin elm, its got great form and nice bark.

Any idea on the artist?

G,day Asus it is not that little its about 70 cm from memory.
It was one of my favorites also.
Hello back Rhaph some thing wrong with people that talk to tree's Pup

Thanks Lisa for a terrific post and good quality pictures too. I look forwards to seeing the rest of your shots.

I would like to pass on my congratulations to NBPCA Curator Grant Bowie, for the excellent work he is doing for our National Collection. The health and condition of the tree's is second to none, so is the presentation of the surrounds. Full credit to Grant and all the volunteers who assist at the collection. Well done!

Congratulations and thank you also to the owners and donors of the bonsai in the collection. Without your generosity and bonsai skills, there would probably be no collection.

Regards,
Steven

Pup wrote:

Asus101 wrote:I like the little catlin elm, its got great form and nice bark.

Any idea on the artist?

G,day Asus it is not that little its about 70 cm from memory.
It was one of my favorites also.
Hello back Rhaph some thing wrong with people that talk to tree's Pup

As we all know pictures can be very deceptive. For instance in real life I am much better looking than in the photos and like me the trees are bigger, taller and more youthful.
In actuality the Catlin Elm is 115 cm from the bottom of the pot to the top of the tree. The tree is on loan from Leigh Taafe. For security reasons many of the atrists have chosen not to have their names on display.

Also the trees in real life have a presence that cannot be appreciated from photos so come and have a look at the collection yourself.

Grant