Swindon & District Bonsai -

Tonight the focus was all about accents, and everyone bought in a good selection of accents for discussion and one or two club members made up some accents on the night too. Paul had also bought some spare accent plants for anyone who wanted some to have a go at making their own plus some small pots for sale. He also had some used bonsai pots that had been donated by a previous club member for anyone wanting a bonsai pot or ceramic tray. We had a Cacti and Succulent display from the Chairman, Derek May of the Wiltshire Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS) too which was excellent. He was on hand to answer everyone’s questions about cacti and succulents and the forthcoming show this weekend in Melksham.

The next show date has been booked Sunday the 19th Feb 2023. Clubs/Traders & exhibitors will be by invite only.

After two years of cancellations, the ‘Bonsaï Vivarois’ finally succeeded in organising the French Federation of Bonsai show. Around 100 trees were exhibited during the event, pre-selected from all over France.

Show report credit: Nicolas Baleux
Photography credit: Sébastien Joubert

This year’s display in the Great Pavilion by David Cheshire Nurseries Limited was of Japanese garden plants, Niwaki, bonsai and choice plants. David’s display was awarded a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gold Medal and some of the species included Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), a wide range of Maples including Acer palmatum dissectum, Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) and Lilac (Syringa). There was a wide variety of ferns, hostas, moss and bark also used and a bonsai Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica).

Great to see the RHS Chelsea Flower Show back for 2022 and celebrations for Derbyshire Bonsai on their Gold Medal for their bonsai display at the show. Their display was on an oval stand design with separate viewing angles and the use of screens to provide a very clean backdrop providing a silhouette of the trees as well as framing each tree. Tree species included Japanese White Beech, Privet, Japanese White Pine, Japanese Maples, Japanese Yew, Azalea, Purple Beech, Ezo Spruce, Scots Pine, Chinese Juniper, Eleagnus, European Hornbeam, Carmona, Acacia, Chinese Elm, Hawthorn, Potentilla, Barberry and Field maple.

Congratulations to this years Federation of British Bonsai (FoBBS) team for achieving an amazing 12 point Gold Medal at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.

Spend an afternoon in the sun, [it’s been booked] wandering around a lovely Cotswold village while viewing a number of gardens, then maybe some home made cakes or a cream tea to energize you ready for all the plant sales. There is a marquee with a display of bonsai.