This Hinoki forest is from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 2009 Annual Show. It’s a very unusual planting and quite compelling in its naturalness. I’ve come across spruce groves while hiking in Vermont and New Hampshire that look something like this. You find them near the mountain tops, where the harsh climate causes the trees to dwarf and huddle together. These little forests of dwarf trees with their lush moss carpets and time worn rocks, can evoke a peaceful almost other worldly feeling when you stumble across them.
The photo and caption above are from a Bark post way back in 2010. A couple things I didn’t mention at the time are the canopy and the pot (the artist’s name also wasn’t mentioned, but that’s because it wasn’t on Redwood Empire’s site).
It’s hard to miss the canopy’s lush luminous emerald green color. This is characteristic of Hinoki foliage in general, but this variety (I suspect it’s a Chamaecyparis obtusa nana compacta) is particularly luminous. And then there’s the soft rolling texture and shapes that are also characteristic of the species and particularly this variety. All this comes together to create an overall effect that is both highly unusual and strikingly beautiful. Finally, there are the small holes that provide glimpses into the trees. Maybe a few more of these would have been better, but who’s to complain?
Then there’s the pot. Briefly, it’s expensive, beautiful and perfect for this planting. If I had to guess I’d say it’s unglazed with a burnished finish that is characteristic of at least one of the Tokoname kilns.
This photo is also from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 2009 Annual Show. It’s Jim Gremel’s now famous Blue Atlas cedar. Not surprisingly, it too has previously appeared here on Bark (though not with this scroll and stand).
Stunning Hinoki forest. Gee…I promised myself that I can’t have any more bonsai’s because my collection takes up a little too much of my scarce free time. But now after seeing this picture I really want one! I agree with your comment that it just might be better if there were a few more openings to show some of the branches or those nice rugged base rocks. Personal preference of course.
This planting could definitely benefit from thinning the canopy. The overly-dense foliage obscures the branch structure and trunks, which could become great features in the design. Perhaps a more masculine, “squared-off” pot would better suit the tree.
Hi SAm,
Yes. Agreed about the canopy.