This powerful Nea buxifolia by Nelson Hernandez won 3rd place in the 2013 World Bonsai Federation Bonsai Photo Contest. You don’t see too many Nea bonsai outside the tropics, though they do pop up from time to time. Buxifolia means ‘box leaf ‘or ‘boxwood leaf’ which seems suitable for a variety with such tiny leaves. This one is resides in Puerto Rico. This and the other two photos in this post are from the North American Bonsai Federation.
Third first? I’m not trying to make a statement by showing the 2013 WBFF photo contest third place tree first and the first place tree third. It’s just that the raw energy of Nea above caught my eye first. It reminds me of the towering Sugar maples that are so predominant up here in the nether reaches of the Northeast.
Speaking of reminding, the Casuarina equisetifolia below immediately brings to mind California live oak (Quercus agrifolia) groves that are so common in the coast range north of San Francisco (and elsewhere). The first place winner (bottom photo) serves as a reminder of just how many great Shimpaku juniper bonsai there are in Japan.
Second place. This raft style Casuarina equisetifolia forest seems to catch that precise spot between movement and balance. It’s by Eddy Sebayang of Indonesia.
The Grand Winner of the WBFF Saburo Kato Memorial Award. Another great tree from that vast Japanese reservoir of magnificent Shimpaku bonsai. The tree belongs to Naotoshi Takagi.
Our Masters Series Juniper Bonsai book. Not only will you find some of those magnificent Shimpaku junipers in this famous book, you’ll discover a wealth of valuable easy-to-follow how-to instructions.
First prize or not – I find the other two more interesting
Loved the third place tree until I scrolled down and saw the pot UGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Maggie,
Me too. It’s not that the place tree isn’t great, but just that Japan must have 10,000 (exaggeration) great Shimpakus. Both of the other are more unusual.
Hi Peter,
Yeah. I just ignored it because I like the tree so much.
Wayne, I fell honored with the 3rd price WBFF 2013 considering the large stock of high quality bonsai trees summited world around in the 2013 photo contest. I appreciate your post and comments about the Neea. About the pot it could be a personal taste matter altough I try combine my taste with the rules; it’s made in Japan. We have to play with the pots available in near markets.. always we are looking for the best tree-pot match. Next spring is comming up and I will repot in a new one.
Congrats for you BONSAI BARK.
NELSON HERNANDEZ
Thanks Nelson,
Great tree. It really grabbed me. I look forward to seeing it in another pot.