MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
This is a wonderful piece I picked up from Bjorn last year at the Nationals. It's a bonsai I knew well for many years. When I saw that he had it up for sale, I had to figure a way to get it into my garden. Simply put, I could not pass this one up!
This clump style Kiyohime bonsai has some history behind it. Originally it was a large nursery tree that was acquired by Bjorn and his father Tom back in 2001. Years later, in 2010, the top of it was air layered off to make a clump style bonsai. In 2013 it was then planted on an Ibigawa stone that Bjorn himself hand-carried in the plane on a trip back to the US from Japan. The following year, Tom exhibited this bonsai for the first time at the 4th US National Exhibition. That was the first time I had seen this tree and fell in love with it and its presentation. I anticipated that it would win "best deciduous" award that year. As fate would have it, my Sharp's pygmy Japanese maple took the prize instead, much to my surprise! @Brian Van Fleet can attest to that as he was sitting next to me at the awards banquet.
In 2016, this bonsai once again made its appearance at the Winter Silhouette Expo in Kannapolis, NC. Now seeing the tree for a second time, even more developed, it looked fantastic! Once again, I anticipated it would win either "Best Deciduous" or "Best in Show" that year. Instead, my Japanese beech forest snatched "Best in Show" while Tom's beautiful kiyohime maple got "People's Choice" award. Later, Tom joked with me that I had beaten him twice and he would seek revenge!!
The following year, Bjorn did a series of lecture videos with Bonsai Empire and used this bonsai as part of his curriculum.
Finally, last year, Tom and Bjorn decided to sell this wonderful bonsai. I am excited now to have the tree in my garden and take it forward in the years to come. Last fall, I studied this tree carefully and made some design decisions to take it one step forward while respecting the care and work that went into the creation of this bonsai as we see it today.
Below is the tree as featured in the 4th US National Exhibition catalogue. It had been exhibited in a beautiful copper suiban filled with water that added a peaceful atmosphere to the whole display.
The bonsai as it appeared at the 2016 Winter Silhouette Expo in Kannapolis, NC. (Low quality photo from the internet)
The bonsai as it appeared on Bjorn's Bonsai Empire lecture series.
As I studied the tree, one big decision I made in the process was to remove a large branch on the lower right side. It was too straight, with a distracting acute angle that prevented the eye from entering the composition and created a design that was too balanced in my view. The "offending" branch as indicated below was cut off.
Below is the tree today. Its silhouette will be further refined as I would like to continue extending out some areas. The ramification is extremely fine and delicate with leaves that are also very small and dainty. It was recently partially repotted, taking areas of the old soil out and cutting back some the roots without removing the tree from its rock. It became evident it was deeply rooted by now into the rock and quite difficult to separate. Perhaps I may need to address this in the future. I look forward to continue refining this beautiful Japanese maple specimen.
This clump style Kiyohime bonsai has some history behind it. Originally it was a large nursery tree that was acquired by Bjorn and his father Tom back in 2001. Years later, in 2010, the top of it was air layered off to make a clump style bonsai. In 2013 it was then planted on an Ibigawa stone that Bjorn himself hand-carried in the plane on a trip back to the US from Japan. The following year, Tom exhibited this bonsai for the first time at the 4th US National Exhibition. That was the first time I had seen this tree and fell in love with it and its presentation. I anticipated that it would win "best deciduous" award that year. As fate would have it, my Sharp's pygmy Japanese maple took the prize instead, much to my surprise! @Brian Van Fleet can attest to that as he was sitting next to me at the awards banquet.
In 2016, this bonsai once again made its appearance at the Winter Silhouette Expo in Kannapolis, NC. Now seeing the tree for a second time, even more developed, it looked fantastic! Once again, I anticipated it would win either "Best Deciduous" or "Best in Show" that year. Instead, my Japanese beech forest snatched "Best in Show" while Tom's beautiful kiyohime maple got "People's Choice" award. Later, Tom joked with me that I had beaten him twice and he would seek revenge!!
The following year, Bjorn did a series of lecture videos with Bonsai Empire and used this bonsai as part of his curriculum.
Finally, last year, Tom and Bjorn decided to sell this wonderful bonsai. I am excited now to have the tree in my garden and take it forward in the years to come. Last fall, I studied this tree carefully and made some design decisions to take it one step forward while respecting the care and work that went into the creation of this bonsai as we see it today.
Below is the tree as featured in the 4th US National Exhibition catalogue. It had been exhibited in a beautiful copper suiban filled with water that added a peaceful atmosphere to the whole display.
The bonsai as it appeared at the 2016 Winter Silhouette Expo in Kannapolis, NC. (Low quality photo from the internet)
The bonsai as it appeared on Bjorn's Bonsai Empire lecture series.
As I studied the tree, one big decision I made in the process was to remove a large branch on the lower right side. It was too straight, with a distracting acute angle that prevented the eye from entering the composition and created a design that was too balanced in my view. The "offending" branch as indicated below was cut off.
Below is the tree today. Its silhouette will be further refined as I would like to continue extending out some areas. The ramification is extremely fine and delicate with leaves that are also very small and dainty. It was recently partially repotted, taking areas of the old soil out and cutting back some the roots without removing the tree from its rock. It became evident it was deeply rooted by now into the rock and quite difficult to separate. Perhaps I may need to address this in the future. I look forward to continue refining this beautiful Japanese maple specimen.
More seriously, I like the extra empty space from removing that right branch. Looking forward to seeing where it goes in the future!
