Bristol Bonsai Society members did not disappoint today and had a show stopper to boot with a stunning Taxodium distchum (Swamp Cypress/Bald Cypress) which won the public vote as well as a personal favourite of mine too.
The club members bonsai displays were set up along the lines of one table per display (Tokanoma style) with the majority of trees being a single tree with an accompanying accent tree or plant. The range of species, styles and presentations was excellent with some mature specimens that were developed. The show offers an opportunity for all the club’s members to show their trees for all to see which was an absolute pleasure.
John Trott of Mendip Bonsai, also a member of Bristol Bonsai was one of the traders and had bronzes, bonsai trees and other sundries for sale. He also did a good demo on a mixed Beech clump style which he originally field grew from a bundle of green, purple and Copper Beech which is now fused at the base with eleven trunks and is around fifteen-eighteen years old. He demonstrated the ongoing styling of the clump keeping the two larger trunks at the centre for height and fanning out the trunks to create a better clump style using guys initially, but will also add spacer blocks. He also talked through the stages of the future development of trunk thickness, branch thickness and placement plus the ramification over the next five years.
Dan Barton had his bonsai Cotoneaster hedge on display which came third in the public vote, the detail, craftsmanship and artistry is excellent. He and Celia were also selling their beautiful range of esoteric accent pots and there were again new designs to choose from. They never cease to amaze through experimentation and creativity.
It was a really friendly show with a great atmosphere and lovely to see old bonsai friends and Swindon members too including Terry Adams, Mark & Ritta Cooper and Mike Partridge, plus make new ones and discuss bonsai.
So a good day was had by all so thank you Bristol Bonsai Society for putting on a lovely club show which was superbly organised with good catering facilities and ran smoothly.
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