No Adornment Necessary 10/18/13

A prize winning Satsuki azalea from Bonsai -Matsuda Seishoen displaying it power, balance and tranquility.

Still stealing from the past. This post appeared back in April 2011 (now edited a bit from the original). It was titled Three Monster Satsuki Bonsai. It has been a while since we featured any Azaleas and even though Satsuki are renowned for their flowers and these aren’t flowering, still, they have enough muscle and character to show any time, with or without adornment.

A rare and wonderful trunk
The lower half of the trunk on this Satsuki azalea (above) is near perfection; thick and powerful with good texture, color and balance. Then there’s the great nebari that adds a fair measure of stability and character.

Japanese style
Some people say that Japanese bonsai are often overly stylized. If you are of that opinion, then you might think that the foliage pads on this tree are too neatly trimmed and perhaps too perfectly separated. I can see why someone would hold that view, yet to my eye, this tree is near perfect; both in its individual parts (including the perfectly chosen pot) and its overall effect.

Our Satsuki book
Satsuki Azaleas for Bonsai and Azalea Enthusiasts, by Robert Callaham and published by Stone Lantern, is the only Satsuki book available in the English language (that we know of, at least). If you love azaleas and you love bonsai, you’ll enjoy this excellent book.

Another powerful Satsuki azalea from Bonsai -Matsuda Seishoen. It’s not that often you see a trunk so short and yet so strong. Excellent nebari too.

This one is also from Bonsai -Matsuda Seishoen. It’s a little different than the other two; the trunk has a lot less taper, and the unruly nebari gives the tree a wilder, freer look.