Book report:BONSAI:Techniques, Styles, Display Ideas by Peter Warren

BONSAI:Techniques, Styles, Display Ideas by Peter Warren DK Publishing 2014

    Impressive at first glance and even better with each subsequent perusal, this authoritative volume has the makings of a definitive reference for a new bonsai hobbyist.  Similar in format to Harry Tomlinson's The Complete Book of Bonsai, and reminiscent of Herb Gustafson's intro books,this particular book is heavy on images, which is the modern trend, but text is specific with facts and directions when needed.

    I had not heard of Peter Warren before reading this book, and the jacket bio blurb is  short and modest.  Web investigation reveals that he spent 6 years in Japan, studying there with Kunio Kobiyashi.  Interestingly, he is credited as both "an author and translator,  featured regularly on the radio and television and is a well known face in the Japanese bonsai community".  I have no knowledge,first hand or otherwise, of the Japanese media, but if Warren was featured regularly he must be very impressive indeed to be accepted as an expert.

    DK Publishing is based in Britain, and the text and care recommendations reflect that geographic bent. William Valvanis is credited as U.S. consult, and his influence in the obligatory care guide organized by species is apparent. This volume is obviously aimed at the widest possible market, reflective of the fact that bonsai is an international pursuit. The wide focus is evident in the obligatory feature all books such as this have: a run down on possible species for bonsai complete with care information and photos.

    The species  guide is grouped by tree type, and though not exhaustive is meant to give a good idea of the wide choices available for bonsai material. I was interested to see Tamarind and Lipstick Ficus in the "Local Heroes" section, recognition that where ever you are in the world there are local plants that will make great bonsai as these tropicals emphasize. Also in this section is Blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa) also called sloe. Warren is one of several English bonsai authorities who write enthusiastically about this thorny shrub native to the British isles, praising its hardiness, three season interest and styling possibilities. I keep my eyes open when ever I am at a nursery looking for one.

    Leafing through this tree section (pun intended) many of the images are familiar.  There  must be a spirit of cooperation among bonsai writers, because I recognize Harry Tomlinson's majestic English Oak featured in his on book, a Sageritia and Japanese Maple by Peter Chan and a California Juniper and spectacular Coast redwood from Ryan Neil.

    Sandwiched on either side of this rogue's gallery are a section on bonsai basics and on bonsai creation and styling. Warren's coverage of bonsai history and design is compact and accessible.   The way he covers pots and pot selection gives some real, solid advice for a subject that can be very esoteric. Surprisingly there is a page about soil ingredients and that's all the coverage potting mixes get. Soil mechanics can be an admittedly difficult and mystifying subject for the casual enthusiast, but only covering the 'what' of soil and leaving out 'how' and 'why' seems like short changing the topic.

    Warren breaks down styling and bonsai creation into projects.  This is a smart way to cover these ideas, ideal for a new bonsai hobbyist who has no other instruction or guidance.   Simple projects like styling a garden center juniper progress to rock plantings, forests and bonsai from seed and collected material.  Each project has step by step photos which make the processes involved clear for a newbie, and are a great refresher and inspiration for more experienced practitioners. 

    Warren's book would be a worthwhile addition to a bonsai library and would certainly be the new book of choice to give or recommend to someone just starting their bonsai journey.

    

 

Much more about...ERODIUMS ( or is that Erodia?)

     After the Erodium grouping that I entered in a recent Columbus Bonsai Society annual recent show attracted some favorable comment, our program chair Ken Schultz, ever alert for a meeting topic, asked me if I would be interested in doing a program about these delightful little plants. Part of his motivation may have come from the comments of one show goer who had trouble keeping Erodium alive.

Seen at a nursery in a standard grow pot, Erodium shows off it's
pretty blossoms, but the potential for bonsai may not be apparent.

     Every bonsai grower has at least one kryptonite species-a type of plant that they just can't keep alive even though, other growers, web site and guide book says it is easy to grow. I certainly empathize with any grower who feel a particular species of plant has turned against them. But it is a surprise to hear an Erodium mentioned as the trouble maker. Most reports of this plant are that it is a tough, adaptable customer the performs well under many varied conditions.
     Erodiums are part of the family Geraniaceae, which also includes Geraniums and Pelargoniums. This kinship is evident in leaf shape and general form. Linneaus grouped all three of these now separate genera in one genus, Pelargonium. They were later given their separate classification based on the number of stamens in their blossoms. This change in nomenclature is the reason that those popular red flowered plants that invade garden centers and front porches every spring are commonly called Geraniums, though they are properly grouped as a Pelargonium.
     There are about 60 species of Erodium, native mainly to the Mediteranian basin and western Asia. They are often given the common names stork's bill , heron's bill or crane's bill, because their long, narrowly pointed seed pods resemble a bird's beak. This resemblance is echoed in the scientific names each of the related genera bears: Geranium for the crane ( geranos in Greek), Pelargonium (Greek for stork) and the heron (erodios). From my point of view these three bird have what seem to be identical beaks, and this similarity may account for the fact that the three common names are used interchangeably for members of all three genera.
     This indiscriminate name use reflects how similar in appearance most of these plants are, and how closely related. The plant we use for bonsai is frequently sold as E. reichardii  and also as E. variable. The name E. variabile was suggested in 1980 by Dr. Alan Leslie of the Royal Horticultural Society to describe an intermediate species between E. reichardii(synonymous with E. chamaedryoides) native to the Pyranees of Northern Spain, with E. corsicum native to Corsica. Though attempts to cross these species intentionally failed, apparently spontaneous hybridizations had been occurring in alpine gardens for some while before conscious selections were made for cultivation.

Erodium in various stages of development,as
as grown by Ken Huth, Ken's World of Bonsai.
Ken is well know for recycling beverage cans for grow
pots-waste not, want not.

     Soon after the hybrid status for E. variabile was described, Dr. Leslie's fellow enthusiasts began expressing doubts that it was a hybrid at all, but merely a variant-leafed form of E. reichardii. The issue was eventually brought before the Royal Horticultural Societies Advisory Board for Nomenclature & Taxonomy, and it was decided to spring for the cost of DNA investigation, which found that Dr. Leslie's surmise of spontaneous hybridization was indeed the case.
Although the question of identity is a tough one to unravel, it may not matter much since the plants in question require basically identical care and culture. Outside of bonsai, Erodium are popular as rock garden plants, and given their origins in the rocky hills along the Mediterranean Sea, that should be no surprise. Mediterranean climates are not just found around ˜The Med" but the South African Cape, Southern and Western Australia, Central Chile, and much of California are considered Mediterranean climates as well. This is an area where the familiar Rosemary , Lavender, Olive and Cypress thrive, and plants from this area are adapted to deal with a cool wet winter and dry hot summer. Many plants from the area go dormant to avoid summer heat rather than winter cold.
     I think this is reflected in the growth habits I've seen my Erodium demonstrate. Though they are probably borderline hardy, I have always taken them indoors over winter. They live from October to April under shop lights in the basement, then find a place on the bonsai benches over the summer. Outdoors, the small pots are grouped in sand trays, which means they can stand the all day sun they are situated in. The plants stay a healthy green and bloom freely over the summer, but the intense sun seems to encourage such compact growth (leaves and leaf stems are very small) that they don’t seem to grow much. I am convinced that not only are the leaf structures kept small by the sun, the internodal length-the space between each leach stem is kept small too, an ideal situation for maintaining a bonsai, though it can make for a lengthy process if you are trying to develop one.

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     I think this adaptation to a hot summer and cool winter makes it easy to take Erodium inside and use that winter break for real development as shohin bonsai. Erodium really show the result of what could be called the bonsai effect that is, being dwarfed by pot culture. In that respect Erodium really are ideal bonsai material, in that they already have a form and habit that are small in scale, and will reduce even further in bonsai culture.

The Erodium fact sheet

Scientific name/common name: Erodium reichardii ,Heron’s bill, also crane’s bill, stork’s bill, baby geranium, alpine geranium.

Native region: Pyrenees mountains of Southern Spain, and Mediterranean islands. In cultivation world wide.

Form and habit: Slow growing, mound forming perennial, growing 2-4 inches tall and eventually reaching 12 inch spread. Leaves are bright green, slightly fuzzy and basically oval, with slightly lobed of scalloped edges. Blooms year round in cultivation, plants are dioecious (separate male and female plants).

Care:     Soil-Prefers a moist but well drained soil, ideal mix should balance organic matter with grit, also prefers alkaline soil.

                Light-Can grow in bright shade to full sun.  Full sun will yield most compact growth and very short leaf stems desirable in bonsai,

                Moisture-Requires good drainage but moist conditions, care should be taken to assure that small pots do not dry out.  These plants are somewhat drought tolerant but caution is always advised. A sand tray or pot-in-pot technique will help moderate water demands in small containers.

                Fertilizer-Not a heavy feeder, use a balanced fertilizer. A low nitrogen, higher phosphorus feed will often bring on a wave of blooms.

                Propagation-Strikes easily from stem and root cuttings. Root cuttings should be completely buried in soil and kept moist, stem cuttings should be trimmed of all but a few leaves.  Even very small stem sections will root.

Recommended soil mix: Note that no sand or gravel is included; I feel that in small pots all soil ingredients should hold some moisture.

                                                Mulch fines

                                                Turface fines

                                                Coffee grounds

                                                Ground limestone

                                                Vermiculite

                                                “Moisture control” potting soil

                               

                

Book report-The Bonsai Bible by Peter Chan

The Bonsai Bible; The definitive guide to choosing and growing bonsai

by Peter Chan

Peter Chan is a well known name in the bonsai community. An Englishman of Chinese heritage, his first book on bonsai was published more than twenty years ago.  His most recent title is a small, photo heavy book that is obviously aimed at a few select groups: casual bookstore browsers, bonsai beginners and those gift shopping for  bonsai growers.

The copyright dates tell a story. Published in Great Britain in 2014, the text is copyrighted back to 2007, and some quite familiar. Granted, there are only so many ways to cover the material. Chan's publishers know the trick that several other eminent bonsai authors have discovered-recycling. A new title and a new format makes things look like a new book, even if the content is the same-most buyers wont notice until they get it home.

For a book with more than 300 pages, this has very little detailed or specific information. History of bonsai, differences between Chinese and Japanese types and the usual care and feeding are glossed over in the most brief and general way.  This may be an excellent way to introduce concepts for a reader just starting their bonsai journey, but only the truest beginner  will be satisfied with the amount of information they find here. Propagation-a topic that can be an entire book unto itself gets two pages. Wiring gets three.  Chan's Bonsai Bible might start a flame, but has little to keep it burning.

He certainly scores big points for including some advice about considering one's environment and conditions when choosing species for bonsai, that picking plant that grow well in your area will make success more assured. He also totally eliminates that useless feature of so many beginners books, the run down of the basic styles. Lately I've come to the opinion that beginners get too hung up on style rules and try to make their plants fit into a certain 'regulation' style, rather than let the plant do the deciding. 

The bulk of this little but thick book is given over to a compendium of possible bonsai species. Chan has organized these in an interesting way-outdoor conifers, outdoor broad leaf, outdoor flowering and indoor/tropical. Each two page spread shows a close up of individual foliage for identification as well as a 'finished' example. Required environment, watering and fertilizing tips an a warning about special things to be aware of are included for each tree.  The selection is extensive, featuring all the usual suspects plus some odd balls and plants used in just one part of the world.  The trees are not all Chan's work, and in his acknowledgments the author thanks "his bonsai friends around the world" for sharing images of their trees. The audience for this book-and for the bonsai hobby-is truly world wide.

This extensive section on plant material is the publication's strength, serving as a useful identifier  and a quick reference guide.  It's easy to page through the slick pages and use it as a  wish list as well.

Rocks and other stuff

Good to be back after a long winter's nap...though winter seems far from over.

Ken Huth talks erodium.

The February meeting of the Columbus Bonsai Society was a great time. Ken Huth, of Ken's World of Bonsai led an erodium workshop.  Ken has been a long time advocate for these adorable little plants. If they were technology we might call him an early adapter.  For me, erodium are ideal bonsai in several respects.  Small is an important part of bonsai in my bind, and these plants are happy and hardy at small sizes, something that can't be said for all species.

Apart from size, erodium as bonsai epitomize the artistic deception that all good bonsai have.  Erodium are not trees and are rarely what we consider 'old', but with a little styling these microgeraniums look like ancient trees.  Its a kind of magic or alchemy, which ever you prefer.

Ken thinks 'green' and is always ready
to recylce!

Ken brought along several flats of erodium starts that he had grown on and which needed potted in presentable pots. Ken is well known for using recycled um, beverage cans for growing containers, so the need for nicer, ceramic pots.  Workshop participants each potted up a half dozen or so plants , then got to keep their favorite to take home.

As well as all the raw stock, Ken brought along some 'finished' examples.  Several were root on rock, a really easy style to work an erodium into. Using the rock gives additional visual interest and gives a very impressive trunk base. I was inspired to take some of my erodium cutting out of grow pots and get them wedded to some rocks.

Erodium roots are fairly flexible,
so can be used for rock style plantings
more easily than many woody species,
which have to be wedded to their rocks
when the roots are young  and pliant. 

Like most bonsai practitioners, I have a collections of stones and rocks (what's the difference?) , but what I wanted was something craggy, textured and interesting. With nearly a foot of snow on the ground its, not a great time to go collecting.This being Modern America, if you want something, just go shopping. Since it was nearly 8;30 PM in Modern America, shopping involved the interweb.

Anything you want to buy, someone is selling, and the interweb makes sure all those buyers and sellers find each other. But Google can also be a surprisingly effective way to find out about worlds you don't often visit. Which brings us to a style of aquarium decoration based on design concepts from Japanese gardens.

The style is called iwagumi, and the lean spare aesthetic that shapes a Japanese garden that is mostly stones  has been translated to a fish tank  where the fish and plants take a back seat to the hardscape.  As with bonsai and many other Japanese influenced artistic pursuits, there are some precise and complex ratios and space/size concerns.  Minimal is far harder to do right, though it looks so easy!

The most prized stones used for this type of aquarium design of course come from Japan, most are expensive and hard to come by.   Just like items branded or marketed for bonsai are usually moe expensive, the same deal goes on in other hobbies.  Smart hobbyists soon figure out that there are smart substitutes or alternatives that work just as well-or better.

 I liked the look of the Japanese stone, and after finding that specialized aquarium websites charge a fortune to ship it ( no surprise to anyone who has bought akadama) I was surprised whena few posters in online message boards said that buying
from aquarium stores may be expensive, but bargains can be found in "your local bonsai shop or Japanese garden store"!!!
Not sure about you but I don't have a 'local' bonsai shop, as much as I wish that were true!