Page 36 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q1

When choosing starter material, as we have said, it is ability to overcome climatic events that over time
advisable to check that the black pine does not have a can cause violent trauma. The black pine easily
reverse taper in the trunk and is an adequate size as responds with a severity that is a prelude to a long life
to harmonize with the length of the needle produced that will span centuries. Its great strength does not
by the individual tree. Having made these consider- exclude beauty and harmony, evident in its powerful
ations and applied the techniques suggested, we must appearance without frills, but appears well defined
remember to appreciate the natural character of the and set in its intended style. For this reasons we need
black pine and not focus too much on the length of to maintain a right balance in the amount of greenery
the needles, considering its peculiarity a merit, not for a particular style because the black pine is very
a defect. generous and the excessive vegetation produced by
Without applying extreme techniques that may result the passing of the seasons will have to be thinned out.
in the weakening the tree to the point of losing it, we We can consider the black pine a silent companion,
must accept that this species produces slightly lon- who with reassuring presence follows us on our bon-
ger needles and attempts to obtain a needle size that sai journey, inviting us to overcome the difficulties of
clearly thwarts its nature will be difficult to sustain everyday life with the same strength of character.
all the time.
The beauty of the black pine is its branch-trunk-
foliage aspect that expresses a great strength and an

Pinus nigra 2013, Photo by
Fabio Vigezzi.

34 | BCI | January/February/March 2014