Page 61 - Tạp chí bonsai BCI Q12011

The question about the removal of bark usually arises in relation to When an artist works a juniper for the first time, there are many details
juniper, but this can also apply to boxwood, yew, bougainvillea and to consider, large and small, which need to be within the parameters of
myrtle—all have unattractive bark that flakes off in patches and often proportion. The bark is one of those details. As you can see from the
is disproportionately scaled to the plant. A bonsai artist, while working photos below, large sheets or flakes of bark are out of proportion, ruining
on a bonsai, looks at all the ways to simulate a large tree in a small size, the scale of the tree and giving the trunk a messy look. Often large, scaly
and for this, he or she needs a variety of techniques. The artist carefully bark also obscures the lymphatic veins that feed the various branches. So
considers the smallest details, either during the styling process, or dur- for these reasons, cleaning the old bark from the trunk and veins of juni-
ing the years of cultivation, always trying to shrink and reduce the size pers highlights details and helps give the right proportions to the bonsai.
of the tree. For example, a root that is too thick, a branch too heavy in After two or three years, a second factor enters into consideration —
relation to the trunk, a jin disproportionate to the rest of the plant, leaves whether to remove old bark. Rechecking the plant’s previously cleaned
which are too large or needles which are too long, make it difficult to vein or trunk reveals the plant will again exhibit more mature bark that
scale the tree to a proper size. begins to exfoliate. In my experience, two probable scenarios arise: the

below left to right; The bark textures of boxwood, myrtle. bottom; two photos of juniper bark before the removal of the large bark flakes or patches.

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