Page 40 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2015Q2

SECOND DAY, SAIKEI WORKSHOP:
Witch Mountain Fantasy Arrangement

On the second day, our challenge was to create a
“Witch Mountain” saikei interpretation of thin, tall,
soaring pinnacles of fantasy landscapes. We switched
to taller extended root trees that had been pre-trained
in three different ways: One, in restricted media for our
1:10 Project using shallow saucers that are 10 times wider
that their depth; Two, those grown in cut-down 2-, 3-, and
4-inch nursery pots; And three, those that had been wired
to Plexiglas hexagons with holes to have limited media
but able to stand upright.

Using the same oval tray and wood disc used The two upper trees were secured into As sections were built out, we applied
on the first day, Jay taped plastic pipe extensions position with fine tie wire in positions that would cornstarch keto-tsuchi to surfaces to blend
to the two tallest 8-inch rocks so they would be hide the support pipes as much as possible. The things in place. A half cup of cornstarch was
28 and 26 inches tall. The pipes were taped to cardboard centers from paper towel rolls were mixed with 1.5 cups of water, stirred vigorously,
nails in the plywood disc. The wood disc fitted slipped over the pipe extensions and filled with and cooked while stirring until it becomes
into the oval tray and allowed us to rotate and lava gravel to fill-out create sturdier columns. clear and thickens like gelatin. After cooling,
adjust the position of the rocks. A funnel was used to quickly fill the cardboard the starch is mixed with equal parts of moist,
For other rocks, quarter-inch diameter holes cylinders. long-strand sphagnum moss and fine volcanic
were drilled in the center of the bottom of the As each new rock was added, the support pumice and coco-peat that goes through a one
rock and heavy 3.0 mm wire was cut to the extension was taped to the initial ones and the eighth inch screen. If a stickier mix is desired,
desired length. The wire extensions could be vertical structure became more solidly stable use more cornstarch. For a stiffer mix, use more
held in place in holes drilled into the wood disc and compact to preserve the “thin and tall” fine pumice and coco-peat.
or taped to nails in the wood disc. illusion. I prefer to use Java Moss which forms sheets
By using “extensions” it was possible to From time to time, crumpled newspaper that adhere to the cornstarch keto-tsuchi. At the
created the very thin, tall rocks needed for filled empty areas. Aluminum foil shaped and finish, if the moss does not cover completely, a
this fantasy landscape. It would be possible to compactly wrapped sections with tape holding little sticky keto-tsuchi is applied and fine bits of
adjust the height of each rock and to use “fillers” all together. The idea was to make the section Kyoto moss is pressed in place. By using these
and plants to hide the supports. below a bit thicker than the section above it; but and other forms of moss, the moss variety that
to maintain it as vertical as possible. best adapts to the specific area will flourish and
spread.

38 | BCI | April/May/June 2015