yenling83
Omono
I have the book Bonsai Today Masters' series Pines. In the book Kusida Matsuo writes a great article about growing Black Pines from seedling. I was wondering if Kusida Matsuo ever sells his trees to the public?
At that time he was a somewhat frail with some medical problems.
These kinds of notes scare me. I hope there is a new generation of bonsai enthusiasts in Japan who are absorbing all they can from these masters so that they can create a lasting legacy...
I'm concentrating on black pine and tamarix and California juniper at this time. BonheI can be somewhat optimistic in this regard (though guarded optimism would be more appropriate). There have been many westerners who have travelled to Japan and have seen and even worked with some of these methods. Also, Japanese bonsai 'masters' have been more apt to share some of this knowledge in the last 20 years to the rest of the world. I am talking more about developing bonsai from seeds and seedlings and not talking about collected materials (which is a topic Walter has commented on more thoroughly)
I would even go as far as to say that there are a sizable amount of bonsai professionals in the West who could easily use these methods (ie. growing shohin black pine bonsai from seed in method of Matsuo-san) in other parts of the world. However, I don't know if the resolve, dedication and ability to make _some_ money at it, will discourage many from trying to do it. To me, Western bonsai-ists want to dabble in all different species and techniques but few are willing to dedicate their time to ONE (or just a few) specialty. Like most, I've spent the first 15 or so years of my bonsai life doing this. I have, in the last 10 years or so, decided to focus on what I've gravitated to - shohin bonsai and black pine bonsai. Others should try to focus on whatever they feel drawn to. This will just make better bonsai overall! If we had experts in Azaleas, Jap. Maples, etc. than students could gravitate to them and the knowledge could be passed on. I try to tell my students to not fall in the trap to learn something about everything but to focus on a few species to learn a LOT about. There are some, of course (Nick Lenz - the king of larch, Marty Schmallenberg and Pitch Pine are just two examples among many). This is hard to do - that is why I'm not totally optimistic. For most of us it is a hobby but to make a hobby out of focusing in on one to two species, techniques takes a lot of resolve and dedication.
Now to get some of us to just grow 100 black pines in collanders for the next 10 years, or twisty shimpaku or japanese maples that exhibit no wounds on them, etc, etc.
John Romano
Take heart...we have people doing what we all hope would be done....young'ns actually getting a college education to grow trees out for bonsai.
Our own Tom Gargano (JTGJr25) is pounding away at the books to get a degree in horticulture from UNC...with bonsai being the beneficiary of that degree.
Nice to see that our level of bonsai is ever growing on all fronts.
Unfortunately I won't be around to see the fruits of their labor.
Harry
Harry unfortunately sometimes we miss the best part of the ride. Still I am heartened at the fact my daughter will have an opportunity to see material like this in her life time and will know what to do with it when that time comes.
To me, Western bonsai-ists want to dabble in all different species and techniques but few are willing to dedicate their time to ONE (or just a few) specialty.
Harry unfortunately sometimes we miss the best part of the ride. Still I am heartened at the fact my daughter will have an opportunity to see material like this in her life time and will know what to do with it when that time comes.
We've been growing black pines in the Japanese tradition for several years.
Here's one that was lifted from the field a couple of years ago. The owner returned for a workshop this weekend.
The third photo is a view of the pine growing field.
We were lifting Scots Pine from the field today, and he thought you would enjoy these images.
Chris