Page 49 - BSAM 2016 Q4

Top; Where there is limited opportunity for large bonsai in city homes, Saikei, such as this Bougainvillea glabra, gives an almost instant result because it incorporates a ordable, small nursery-grown plants.
Middle; Stones and rocks play an important part in the art of Saikei and can help beautify a scene as in this Saikei of Serissa foetida, Serissa serissoides and Serissa foetida mini.
Bottom; The authors o er detailed explanation of how to create a root connected style like this Ficus jaquinifolia.
Not many books have been written on Saikei. e pioneer of this art form was Tokichi Kawamoto from Japan. His book is now a now a collector’s item. His son Toshio Kawamoto, author of Saikei: Living Landscapes in Miniature continued his father’s work supported by Tom Yamamoto, who both travelled, spreading this form of bonsai. ese, along with Qing Quan Zhao from China have been the main influence to the authors. I personally have had a passion for Saikei since visiting Kawamoto’s roof top studio in the mid eighties.
In the Beyond the Spirit of Miniature Landscapes the authors cover the principle of creating Saikei landscapes and group plantings.
e group planting section covers placement of trees and stones with detailed series of photos using sticks to explain the tree placement. ey also have a section on ra style with photo examples and detailed diagrams. Another chapter include root connected style.
They also give detailed explanation on the placement of stones and photos explaining stone and gravel placement to achieve di erent scenes such as river view, gorge and ponds.
The chapter on Water and Land Penjing gives details on plant and stone selection and step-by-step photographs of how to create the arrangement. ey also cover selecting plant material, stone selection— covering di erent types of stones—placement of trees and stones in the tray and container selection.
Other chapter cover the Care of Group Planting, Maintaining Forest Bonsai and Saikei, Container and Accessories.
ere is a philosophical aspect to the book which re ects the authors passion.
e author’s goal is “to share knowledge, expand the world of bonsai growers and spread joy through the art of making miniature tray landscapes.”
The book is a hard cover, has 80 glossy pages with clear photos, 24 cm x 19 cm and at $13.95 recommended retail price, I think it is good value.
April/May/June 2017 | BCI | 47