Posts categorised: General Interest

Bonsai in November

Hopefully all your bonsai trees are now being protected for the winter and here is a quick generic guide to bonsai in November as the colder weather has now arrived in the UK.

Autumn colour

Autumn is an amazing time of year as the colourful display of the leaves on the trees can be stunning. This process is complex but in short leaves contain Chlorophyll hence appear green, and when this is no longer produced the leaves change colour. The key triggers are light levels, weather and chemical reactions.

Xylosma japonicum

The Xylosma japonicum was another first for me at the Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) Convention exhibition. This was a first to see the Xylosma (柞木属 zuo mu shu) up close and also used as a bonsai. According to Wikipedia is tan evergreen flowering shrub from the Salicaceae family. It is commonly known as brushhollies, Xylosmas… Read more »

Zanthoxylum nitidum

Zanthoxylum nitidum (Shiny-leaf prickly-ash) 花椒属 hua ciao shu, is a species of flowering plant in the Citrus family and is found in South China, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. It is prickly in foliage and also aromatic and the flowers have yellow-green petals and the fruit are red-brown. For more information visit Flora of China and there… Read more »

Figs in Memorial Park, Guangzhou, China

Within the grounds of the Yat-Sen’s Memorial Hall Park in Guangzhou were the most majestic mature figs and these are the ancient and celebrated trees of Guangzhou City. They are none other than Ficus microcarpa from the Moraceae family and are in excess of 150 years of age. They are protected trees within the city… Read more »

Guangzhou Haizhu district Peihong Primary School

As part of the Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) Convention we got to visit Guangzhou Haizhu district Peihong Primary School (广州市海珠区培红小学), South China Bonsai heritage base. It was a fantastic field trip and we were met to an audience of the children who sang a greeting and provided us all with a range of gifts and… Read more »

Bonsai Shohin Passion

This book has gained a lot of attention since it began production, and deservedly so. One of very few books available targeting specifically smaller shohin sized trees, and an intermediate to advanced audience – it covers a series of case studies of Roland’s own trees through many years of development. His writing style is both… Read more »