Page 28 - BSAM 2018 Q4
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Top; Peter Wilson examines
an imposing aged Mountain Hemlock in the wild. It was not collectible, though certainly memorable. Photo: Lorraine Wilson.
Bonsai in the North
26 | BCI | October/November/December 2018
Peter Wilson
Self-Taught Vancouver Island Bonsai Artist
By Barb Round, Canada
“Don’t you want to go to Japan?” George Hefflefinger demanded, after Peter pooh- poohed the idea of entering a bonsai
contest George had recommended. Taking a moment longer to consider, Peter agreed, and in 2003 attended the American Bonsai Society’s second ever ‘New Talent Contest,’ held in Belleville, Washington, USA. Juried-in based on photos of their trees, participants were given 8 hours to style Mountain Hemlock, Tsuga mertensi- ana. Coincidentally, most of Peter’s own trees were Mountain Hemlock collected in the wild, so he got right down to business. Still, he was very surprised at the evening banquet to be named the winner. His prize was a place in a tour group, guided by Bill Valavanis, to attend Kokufu-ten, Japan’s leading bonsai show in Tokyo. Prior to the show the group visited many bonsai gardens in the Tokyo area, and Bill explained what to look for. This was a great learning experience for Peter who still considered himself new to bonsai.
