Bonsai Forests

Similar to my earlier ebook Bonsai & Balcony, my central concept remains with three and four year old saplings.  On this occasion, I have demonstrated how you can use these mature saplings  to create bonsai forests. My examples range from the use of non-complex succulents, to fast growing (invasive) species with excellent trunking and foliage characteristics,  to forests of flowering azaleas that mimic the rhododendron forest of the Himalayas.  

The awareness of the process, and the exploration of design makes a bonsai forest both an interesting and challenging project.  Therefore every bonsai grower should endeavor to have at least two or three forests amongst their individual collection of bonsai trees.  The general aesthetics we expect to see in every bonsai  are insufficient when we think in terms of a bonsai forest, as the forest offers a new range of exciting dimensions to the art of bonsai. When it comes to aesthetics the layout of the trees becomes the most important factor. As this alone highlights the combined effect of each tree, the foliage of your complete forest, it’s colors and the landscape. There are many artistic and mathematical concepts that you need to know in order to make the most of a bonsai forest and enhance it’s  density, balance, depth and focal points. To explain these concepts I have reviewed how, with your forest, you can develop the illusion of perspective and how this can be integrated with some wonderful conventions and Chinese / Japanese cultural beliefs relevant to  number theories.  

Apart from my emphasis on forest aesthetics, I have not forgotten the vitally important issues of root pruning and planting, how to minimize transplant shock( the death zone), the importance of  clay muck, the essentials of  drainage and soil, various treatments to minimizing insect damage and the all important management of your bonsai forest over winter.  As a bonus I have added  “12 signs you’re obsessed with bonsai” - this is based on my observations of other people and scarily enough my own behavior.

Enjoy the read. I have packed together a huge amount of relevant and important material that will insure your bonsai trees live beyond your lifetime for the future generations of  family and friends to nurture.