Page 26 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q1

The inspiration
Baines Baobabs is a magnificent group of baobabs
growing on the edge of an ancient salt pan in the Nxai
Pan National Park in Botswana. The trees were named
after Thomas Baines (1820-1875), a British artist, nat-
uralist and explorer. He painted the group of seven
Baobabs in 1862 while he and James Chapman were
on expedition to the Victoria Falls.
During a camping safari in May 2015, my wife Sandi
and I paid a visit to the famous Baines Baobabs. Walk-
ing around and photographing these beautiful giants
from all angles was indescribable. One could sense the
awe and inspiration Thomas Baines must have felt 150
years ago when he painted the Baines Baobabs. This
image from nature is surely worth replicating.
We also noticed five smaller and younger trees
growing in close proximity to their much bigger par-
ents. Hopefully more baobabs will germinate and
survive to join the other youngsters to compliment
and eventually replace the existing magnificent seven.
It was actually these younger trees sprouting close to
the major ones that influenced us to use eight smaller
trees with the seven big trees. The fore- and mid-
Top; The view of Baines ground would represent the historical arrangement
Baobabs from Khubu
island with Nxai pan in the of the Baines Baobabs and the background the eagerly
foreground. anticipated possible future.
Middle; Painting by Thomas (I have great faith and confidence in the Botswana
Baines in1862. government's efforts and intentions at conserving
Bottom; Photograph by their beautiful country, their flora and fauna, and of
Thomas Packenham 2006. course their precious Baobabs.)
Note that the fallen tree is still We decided to use this inspirational image of the
surviving but lagging behind
the others in size. famous Baines Baobabs as seen from Khubu Island as
Facing page; Baines Baobabs a blue-print to create our forest.
viewed from different angles. The next step was to plan and sketch the possible
The fallen tree (raft) in 2015 arrangement and position of the trees based on the
(facing page, middle left). Thomas Baines group.

24 | BCI | January/February/March 2017