Acacia longifolia. So sweet. The leaves are a little big, but that’s the nature of the plant. Otherwise, this bonsai has it all: gnarly aged trunk with a little see-though action and excellent fluid movement. Nice jin. Perfect pot. Great tree!
Australian Native Plants as Bonsai
I found this tree, the one below, and numerous others on the Australian National Botanic Garden site in a section entitled Australian Native Plants as Bonsai. Some are quite unusual, at least to those of us living up over. I couldn’t find the artists’ names anywhere on the site. Maybe someone out there knows.
Aussie friends
We have lots of friends and customers in Australia. My impression is that something vital is happening bonsai-wise down there. Any news, photos, gossip, whatever, from our Aussie friends is always appreciated.
Ficus rubiginosa. Here’s another good one. It’s got great balance, the semi-fused trunk has excellent taper and the wonderful pot looks like it might be old, maybe even antique. I tried to enlarge it to see more detail, but didn’t gain much.
http://www.ausbonsai.com
http://www.cbs.org.au/NBPCA/Index.htm
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for the entry and kind words re Aussie native bonsai. On 13-14 March we will be holding our 7th National Australian Plants as Bonsai Exhibition at the Australian National Botanic Gardens here in Canberra. Although we only display around 35 or so trees we are gaining greater awareness of the benefits of using our native species as bonsai. The ANBG site you referred to is where we put up photos of each year’s exhibits.
Regarding the Ficus rubiginosa you pictured, this tree is now in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA)and was the work of the late Max Candy from Sydney. Our national collection was opened to the public in September 2008 and is in a temporary location pending an eventual move to our new home at the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens site. This 250 hectare site, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, was previously a Pinus radiata (you may know it as ‘Monterey pine’) plantation which was destroyed in the January 2003 bushfires that struck the outskirts of Canberra and destroyed hundreds of homes. It is now rising from the ashes with the aim of planting some 100 forests of tree species that are considered threatened. Planting has now reached some 40 forests and the formal opening of the arboretum in 2013 will possibly coincide with the centenary celebrations of Canberra’s founding. Exciting times ahead – 100 forests and the national bonsai collection side by side.
regards
Frank Kelly
in sunny ‘Down Under’ Australia
Thank for the info Frank. It’s good to get a little more insight into what y’all are up to down there.
RE: Pinus radiata. I’d heard that groves of Monterey pine had been established in other parts of the world with like climates. Too bad about the fire and I hope new better forests can be reestablished. Another good one for the same type environs is the Monterey cypress. I’ve heard that you may have some of them down there too.