Page 54 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q3

A Gift of Larches

Expo-Bonsai 2017

at Bonsai Gros-Bec

By Joan Greenway, Canada
Photographs courtesy Brian Greenway

early 500 people who travelled from the Ottawa Bonsai Club, at the entrance tables.
all parts of Quebec and Ontario Across from the tables stood traditional Japanese
to attend Expo Bonsai 2017 in July style nursery building with a large indoor bonsai
were rewarded with personal gift of greenhouse, maintained by Suzanne. She pointed
Na larch bonsai! The Bonsai Gros-Bec out the gravel road that leads to the “knowledge”
Nursery, built by the owners, Robert Smith, and house which is used for demonstrations and
Suzanne Piché, is located in Quebec’s picturesque information. Beside this house there is a dramatic
Lanaudière region about one hour’s drive north penjing garden containing a large black and white
of Montreal. ying /yang sculpture surrounded by the forest.
Bonsai Gros-Bec is situated in a forested out Further along, an outdoor display of very large
crop on Canada’s famous granite shield; some of and beautiful bonsai leads to the main bonsai
the world’s oldest rock to be seen at the surface. show in the green house at the top of the hill. The
Here, Robert and Suzanne, who are influenced by main display green house, held bonsai from the
both Japanese and Chinese art, settled at the site four Quebec bonsai societies, stones, and penjing.
35 years ago in a basic log cabin constructed by Guest bonsai from all over Quebec held pride of
Robert. Later they added a main entrance building place.
to accommodate a store, indoor bonsai nursery, Guest artists included Brian Donnelly, Daniel
and a place for workshops. These changes and LaFortune, and Matthiew Quinn. They held
expansions to the grounds have made the nursery demonstrations through out the week end in
one of most beautiful and unique in Canada. front of the entrance to a specially constructed
Expo-Bonsai 2107 was the coming together of dining area. The dining area was decorated with
four Quebec and one Ontario Bonsai Societies to white paper cranes hung as chandeliers over the
provide an opportunity to display their best and to round white tables featuring wonderful stone
create a movement to expand even further. centerpieces.
Our tour of Expo Bonsai 2017 began after The evening banquet included two presenta-
we met our guide Vianney Leduc, President of tions. Patrick Blandeau, president Société de

52 | BCI | July/August/September 2017