Page 102 - Tài liệu Ebook cây cảnh Bonsai and Penjing

Water-jasmine (Wrightia religiosa), a tropical tree widely used for bonsai in

Southeast Asia. The Museum’s Water-jasmine bonsai was a gift from Dr. Tang
Quoc Kiet in 2002 and was imported from Vietnam. Its common name reflects
its need for water in tropical heat and its blossoms’ sweet fragrance.
Many are surprised to find a Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) among
the museum’s bonsai collections because it is a vine. In fact, most any plant with
a woody trunk can be a bonsai. The Bougainvillea has been in training since
1985. Bougainvillea plants are native to South America. They are evergreen in
rainy climates and deciduous where there is a dry season.
Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa) trees are popular for use as bonsai as is
another ficus, the Willow-leaf Fig (Ficus salicaria). The latter is an adaptable
plant, thriving indoors anywhere. Because it grows quickly, it is a good tree for
bonsai beginners. The museum’s clump-style Willow-leaf Fig bonsai has
multiple trunks emanating from a single base. Styled by Helen C. Souder, a
student of John Naka, it has been in training since 1974.
Speaking of things “far afield,” the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
enjoys broad support among the national and international bonsai community.

The Nippon Bonsai Association’s essential role in the Bicentennial Gift of 1976
that made the museum possible has evolved into an ongoing relationship,
invaluable to maintaining the high standards established by the original gift.
Many Americans have supported and encouraged the museum from its earliest
days, including bonsai experts and enthusiasts as well as commercial
establishments. The National Bonsai Foundation is the umbrella organization
that garners support for the museum from around the world. It sponsors exhibits
and symposia to broaden awareness of and appreciation for bonsai and related
arts, such as the pot competitions that promote expanded possibilities in bonsai
containers.