The entrance gate to one of Vaughn Banting’s bonsai courtyards. Come on in…
Vaughn Banting
Vaughn Banting was an artist, an adventurer and a friend to many people around the world. He was famous in Louisiana bonsai circles (and circles well beyond) for his passion for bonsai. He was both a professional and an avid enthusiasts that devoted much of his life to bonsai, from his teenage years to his untimely passing in 2008.
Comprising a life
You can visit Vaughn’s website for a journey through his life and work. In addition to photos of Vaughn’s bonsai (his nursery and his private collection, parts of which appear here), and his friends and travels, there are some very telling before and after photos of Vaughn’s nursery that depict the ravages of Katrina.
Spring. You can tell by the azalea blossoms.
Still spring…
Summer.
Winter. Notice all the trees hidden under the benches. If only it were that easy here in Vermont.
Bird’s eye view. You can see some bonsai peeking out above the fences. You can also see that Vaughn actually had two bonsai courtyards.
Vaughn with a Water elm (Planera aquatica) that he collected and styled.
What about your backyard?
Send us photos, and who knows….?
Pirates
At least one blog has been pirating our posts, lock stock and barrel; but without our links and without any attribution to bonsai bark, or Stone Lantern. If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated. Please visit us at bonsaibark.com. Thank you.
I was privileged quite some years ago to attend a presentation by Vaughn in Johannesburg. I will never forget how he stretched out his arms, slightly forwards, bent towards the audience and stated that this should be the posture of the bonsai. It was the master of the house welcoming the guest. In my thirty years with bonsai, that is the biggest moment of understanding the art I ever saw. I consider that statement each and every time I design a tree, because it can be incorporated each and every time. Ek salueer jou, Vaughn!
Thanks Pieter,
Great story.