Page 38 - BSAM 2016 Q2

Top left, middle left and bottom;
Creation of root-exposed juniper follows the same erosion principles that happen in nature.
Top right; Group E ort: students and Andrew Lo ground training junipers.
Middle right; Juniper, after removal from training and being planted on the ground to train in the root-exposed style.
Creation of Root-Exposed Juniper
e mountains of Taroko National Park Reserve, in Nantou County, are home to the natural Juniperus squamata that have served as inspiration to Taiwan- ese bonsai masters for decades. Displaying a rugged character and poetical twists, these magni cent speci- mens have an inherent natural beauty that has in nite shapes. Not only do they o er incredible bends and turns, but also their will to survive is accompanied by roots that, having been subject to snow, erosion, land- slides and events of exposure, still manage to sustain these old trees rmly to the ground. As we believe that roots are an important element of age in bonsai creation, the creation of root exposed juniper material is a wonderful way to honor our mountain teachers.
Creation of root-exposed juniper follows the same erosion principles that happen in nature. By carefully removing the juniper material from its training pot, we raise the soil line to expose the root ball. To en- sure survival, we can plant the tree in a larger train- ing pot or in the ground. Once the roots touch new substrate, the tree will naturally issue roots into the soil bed. Regular watering and progressive exposure to the elements will gradually erode the soil and re- veal the twisting roots, thus adding a new feature in our design.
36 | BCI | April/May/June 2016