Cork bark Chinese elm in full fall brilliance at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. You don’t see that many good Chinese elm bonsai. At least I don’t. I like this one a lot; its color, the heavy trunk with its corky bark, the handsome Tokoname pot. This photo and the others in this post are from the bonsai collection on the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens website.
I think the quality of the Brooklyn Botanic bonsai collection has been improving for a while now. Still not a world class collection, but getting there. Speaking of world-class collections, I think the U.S. lags a bit. There are some great trees in public and private collections here (one that comes straight to mind is The Kennett Collection) but we still have a ways to go.
I was reminded of the Brooklyn Botanic collection by three trees that were posted on facebook by someone called Bonsai Master. Unfortunately, two of the three trees that they attribute to BBG, are not from the BBG collection. This is not to criticize Bonsai Master. At least they try to attribute some of the trees they post, which is better than most of the bonsai you see on facebook.
Nice Crabapple. I particularly like the tree’s movement and the bark. And of course the beautiful flower buds. Maybe the apex could use a little work, but still, a sweet bonsai.
Wisteria bonsai are about the flowers and this one is no exception. Great old gnarly trunk too.
Nice old Shimpaku. The crown seems a bit heavy for the trunk and could be reduced a bit, but still, who wouldn’t want a tree like this in their collection?
Here’s the tree at the top, sans leaves. Not only does this photo allow you to see the fine ramification, but the gnarled old bark stands out more without the large canopy of bright leaves.
This Prunus mume variety is aptly name ‘Bonita.’ I took the liberty to do some radical cropping. Here’s the original.
All the photos in this post are from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden bonsai collection. Here’s their website and here they are on facebook.
Re: the wisteria…Nice chunky pot too, somber yet elegant. And weighty enough to stabilize the mass of color.
Hi Bruce,
Yeah. Good tree and nice chunky pot for balance. Glaze might work better, at least in Japan, though I tend to think most of their conventions are well thought out.
Potentially a very nice tree. The difference between a potentially nice tree and an actual very nice tree is often a little wiring. All those straight branches need to be made less boring, and the lower ones beefed up.
Thanks Terry,
Good point. Time to wire.
I think one of the problems with public collection is finding curators with high level bonsai skills. It may be getting better, but still a ways to go.
Lovit !!!!