Pretoria Bonsai Kai exhibition

The Pretoria Bonsai Kai (from Pretoria South Africa) had an exhibition the past weekend. The exhibition was held outdoors at a Garden centre. There was a total of 122 trees on display. Herewith some general pictures of the exhibition as well as some pictures of individual trees.





































Below: Acacia Erubescens (Blue thorn)



The above tree from the top.



Acacia Burkei



Celtis Africana



Celtis Africana



Celtis Sinentis



Acer Buergerianum



Erethia Rigida




Ulmus Parvifolia



Acacia Galpinii



Acacia Galpinii



Acacia Galpinii



Acer Palmatum



Commiphora Harvii



Dovyalis Caffra



Acacia Nilotica



Ficus Natalensis



Ficus Natalensis



Olea Africana



Olea Africana



Olea Africana



Ligustrum



Ligustrum

Very nice trees, loved them all. Thank you very much for sharing.

I like the show. My favorite is the last picture, the Ligustrum; very nice old tree!
Thanks for sharing your pictures! Salut, Todd

Impressive shape.
Shalom Luciano.

Great show. Thanks for sharing with us.
Jerry
www.bonsaihunk.us

Great show thanks for putting up the pics. Its really good to see so many of your native trees being used.
Craigw

Great trees!
its so nice to see trees designed by other regions that were inspired by their local environment. most of the trees have flat canopies and still looks old and matured and not the typical triangular top.its like trees found in the desert and savannah...thanks for sharing it personally help me in acquiring more knowledge.

regards,
jun

Thank you very much for the nice comments. Most trees displayed are indigenous to South Africa and many of the styles are inspired by the shapes/forms of our trees in nature.

Some lovely trees Jaco,

Sometimes I think we as bonsai practitioners in South Africa are too quick to think our trees don't compare to those coming out of the traditional bonsai spheres. Whilst I am the first to acknowledge the quality and stunning examples of bonsai to be had the world over, with our 40 odd years of practicing bonsai I think we are doing remarkably well. Sure, we don't have trees that have been in training for hundreds of years, but in true South African spirit, the practitioners have embraced the art and practicalities of bonsai and extended and grown it into something of their own, often ecoumpassing that truely unique african spirit. As someone relatively new to this obsession, I certainly do not count myself in this group, but they certainly do show a remarkable ability to create some magic little trees, and I feel as privaledged to learn from them as I would any international master!

Well done!

Andrew de Pomeroy-Legg

Oyama Bonsai Kai
Cape Town
South Africa

Jaco Kriek wrote:Thank you very much for the nice comments. Most trees displayed are indigenous to South Africa and many of the styles are inspired by the shapes/forms of our trees in nature.

yes indeed. very inspiring "other" style.

I got an acacia under training, Il probably shift the design adopting/ at least try to adopt "african savannah" style...for a change.

regards,
jun

Hi Andrew... well said and good to see you on the forum.

Jun, here is further inspiration:

Hey Justin,

Thanks, and likewise. These lovely photos you have posted show what is in my opinion the single biggest fault with out acacia bonsai locally, and that is that there is too much focus on a long trunk, and the branching does not start low enough down the tree. I have learnt from these and what was to be a sacrifice branch on my acacia is now going to be worked into the design of the tree.

Cheers,

Andrew

Absolutely Andrew, and in addition, where the main trunk extends beyond the low branching its thickness is most often fairly similar to all the other branches that carry the canopy.

There were eight folks from South Africa on the recent BCI Tour of China. It was interesting for an American to talk to them about their country and trees.

Hi Billy
Now that you know some folks here you can come visit and see our trees and country yourself. We welcome any visitors.
Regards

Hi Jaco/Andrew...
loce your country,will visit it next year,hope to meet you guys,exery region and person has its own culture and style,we have still much to leatn.
regards,
alex/ogie

Hi Ogie
Let us know when you are coming and where you will visit. Might have time to show you around a bit if in my area.
Regards
Jaco