grouper52
Masterpiece
Soon after moving to Baguio up in the mountains north of the Central Plateau of Luzon, the main Island of the Philippines, we drove down into the lowlands to the south on our way to Manila one weekend, and alng the way there was a road-side, front-yard bonsai collection of great extent and beauty. We got out, to look and were let into the completely packed front yard where we met the artist, Judy-Ann, and her Father whom she was training in the art, and who was carving on a gorgeous Bantigui (Pemphis) specimen. My wife saw a huge and gorgeous guava that day, which she eventually bought, and I eventually bought my own Bantigue from her a few weeks later, but spied it and discussed it with her that day. I learned later from her that she was impressed that I had a good eye due to my appreciation of the Bantigue, but she was also impressed that the only tree I wanted to buy that day was this gorgeous little Mulawin windswept that she had in a dainty little blue porcillain pot. She told me with pride that it was her own personal favourite, and was not for sale.
Besides her and her father, she also mentioned that her brother was a bonsai collector, and had gotten the bantigue with some collector friends of his up on Fugo Island off the north coast of Luzon, just before it became illegal to do so. She said I should go visit her brother sometime and see his collected trees,but a while later when we did so, it turns out a bonsai guy from Korea had bought almost everything he had just a few days before. But he then recommended we go - with his father leading us - to see his two collecting buddies down further south in the town of Urdaneta, Anthiony and Joel, from whom I've also gotten great trees that I've posted here. Eventually I gave each of them - Anthony, Joel and Anna - signed copies of my book, of which they were so appreciative that each repaid my gift with gifts of trees from their collection. Judy-Ann, recalling my interest in this Mulawin, made this her gift, which I greatly treasure. This little circle of artist/collectors here - whom I dub "The Pangasinan Gang" (Though Anthony calls them "The Black Fist Society" in artistic opposition to the overly and powerfully artistically stifling "Black Scissor Society" that rules the bonsai scene here in the PI.) I also - if I ever get my pet retirement project of publishing a book about the unsung bonsai artists and collectors here underway - hope to feature this talented group prominently.
Anyway, this little darling sits here in a new pot only 4 1/4" inches tall, to which I transplanted it soon after I got it. It sits off to one side for several reasons I don't need to go into here, but later it will be placed in a more aesthetically pleasing position in the pot. After a short recovery period following the re-pot, it is now pushing a great deal of dainty little leaves interspersed among its copious deadwood. I photographed it this morning during a monsoon storm befitting of its windswept styling, hence the mottled appearance of the otherwise nice pot.
Enjoy!
Besides her and her father, she also mentioned that her brother was a bonsai collector, and had gotten the bantigue with some collector friends of his up on Fugo Island off the north coast of Luzon, just before it became illegal to do so. She said I should go visit her brother sometime and see his collected trees,but a while later when we did so, it turns out a bonsai guy from Korea had bought almost everything he had just a few days before. But he then recommended we go - with his father leading us - to see his two collecting buddies down further south in the town of Urdaneta, Anthiony and Joel, from whom I've also gotten great trees that I've posted here. Eventually I gave each of them - Anthony, Joel and Anna - signed copies of my book, of which they were so appreciative that each repaid my gift with gifts of trees from their collection. Judy-Ann, recalling my interest in this Mulawin, made this her gift, which I greatly treasure. This little circle of artist/collectors here - whom I dub "The Pangasinan Gang" (Though Anthony calls them "The Black Fist Society" in artistic opposition to the overly and powerfully artistically stifling "Black Scissor Society" that rules the bonsai scene here in the PI.) I also - if I ever get my pet retirement project of publishing a book about the unsung bonsai artists and collectors here underway - hope to feature this talented group prominently.
Anyway, this little darling sits here in a new pot only 4 1/4" inches tall, to which I transplanted it soon after I got it. It sits off to one side for several reasons I don't need to go into here, but later it will be placed in a more aesthetically pleasing position in the pot. After a short recovery period following the re-pot, it is now pushing a great deal of dainty little leaves interspersed among its copious deadwood. I photographed it this morning during a monsoon storm befitting of its windswept styling, hence the mottled appearance of the otherwise nice pot.
Enjoy!
