Page 41 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q4

& a Mighty Yew

his recent work on a yew called il Nettuno

made of yew wood. In North America, indigenous potential. After he sent me the photos showing the Top row; Massimo applies a
people made strong and long-lasting canoe paddles work on this exceptional specimen, I interviewed him lime sulphur solution to the
from the mighty yew. by e-mail. Here is our conversation about this singular deadwood.
The yew in this article is a Taxus cuspidata, Japanese bonsai tree which he calls il Nettuno (Neptune). Example of treated deadwood
yew or spreading yew, native to Japan, Korea, northeast What is this tree’s story? How long have you in the crown of the tree.
China and the extreme southeast of Russia. Individual cultivated it? Calm and composed, Antonio
and Gigi’s pet dog Haiko
trees from Sikhote-Alin, a mountain range in Russia For some time I followed the collection of a dear helped set the mood for this
that is home to brown bears, reindeer and Siberian friend, the collector Antonio Villena della Spagna. In creative afternoon that was
tigers, are known to be 1,000 years old. 2011 told me about an old Taxus he was thinking of made warmer with friendship.
BCI Director and noted bonsai artist and teacher acquiring. The trunk shows an incredible age which Bottom left; The branch that
Massimo Bandera recently worked on a yew, and had I estimate between 500 and 600 years. After Antonio will be hollowed out and bent
to bend a heavy branch to realize the tree’s full aesthetic purchased it, I cultivated the tree for three years. to lessen its angle.
Bottom right; Reducing the
girth of a branch to create
better taper by stripping fibres
in the direction of the veins to
create more natural-looking
deadwood.

October/November/December 2016 | BCI | 39