Page 66 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q3

The Initial Arrangement
Below; Because some of the In the year 2011 and after improving their general Setting the main tree is often a challenge, as it regu-
planting angles were a bit health, five of the original eight trees brought to me larly commands the overall image and placement of
extreme, as commonly seen by Mr. Chen were finally selected as the material to be the remaining elements. Always having the natural
in nature, the use of guy wires incorporated within the group setting. As often is the images of high mountain junipers present, I chose
was crucial to keep the plants
situated. case, the trees needed initial preparation to be able to an uneven, off-center location for the principal tree.
enter the realm of the creation. In sum, unnecessary As I set the tree into place, the wild character of my
branches were eliminated, weak/immature growth mountain travels came to mind, suddenly remember-
was cut, bark and deadwood were carefully cleaned ing that nature has no presets. Wild junipers come and
and the roots were trimmed accordingly. go, twist and turn and have no regular rules. Like its
natural counterparts, the main tree flows to the left,
sometimes to the right, yielding a little, rising slowly to
the sky. Other characteristics and particularities that
came to mind were drooping branches and low trail-
ing limbs. In my opinion these are essential traits of
the wild alpine forests; elements that compulsorily had
to be integrated within the creation. After two and a
half hours of interplay between my mind, the material
and the images of the wild trees, the final placement
and the beginning of the trees as a group came to be.
Because some of the chosen planting angles were a
bit extreme, as commonly seen in nature, the use of
guy wires was crucial to keep the plants situated. Once
the location of the trees was concluded, the forest was
allowed to rest, resuming fertilization once the trees
anchored themselves and growth of the overall com-
position recommenced.

64 | BCI | July/August/September 2016