Would you say that this prize winning Ficus neriifolia by Ed Trout looks relaxed and sensuous (nothing like anthropomorphizing a bonsai)? Maybe, maybe not; but you’d have to say that it is powerfully stable with it’s wide flowing nebari and stout trunk. To my eyes it combines the traditional bonsai with a very natural uncontrived look. Almost reminiscent of an old live oak on California hillside. All the photos in this post are from Bonsai Mary.
Mary’s website
Mary Miller is one of genuine Florida bonsai mavens. Her years of experience as a bonsai teacher, author and grower come together very nicely in her website. One of the things that sets Mary’s site apart is the personal touch that she lends to her discussions of bonsai, of life and even to her experience (bad and good) with putting together her own website.
Mary’s Pixie bougainvillea.
You can find this beautiful Serissa (not really a tropical, but close) penjing by Qingquan Zhao at the the Montreal Botanical Garden (and on Mary Miller’s website). You can also find out how Zhao made it (and make your own) and much more in his excellent book: Penjing: Worlds of Wonderment.
An award winning Neea buxifolia by Christian Casellas.
I love Mary Miller and how she talks about tropical bonsai. She has historical perspective, keeps it simple and “down to earth”, has a great “eye”, and mostly encourages others to pursue this hobby.The latter is probably most significant for USA to grow like Asian counterparts. Yes Ed Trout’s Ficus Nerifolia(Salicaria now) conveys power and beauty. For me it conveys a lot of movement of eye thru tree. Dustin Mann
Thanks Dustin, and yeah I concur; Mary does good things for bonsai.