Page 57 - BCI Bonsai & Stone Appreciation Q1 2025

deadwood and better emphasizes the dense foliage in
a cascade style. Many years and meticulous care were
required to invert the original root position by over 90
degrees and elevate the deadwood, which was initially
part of the roots, into a striking feature.
Springer made its public debut at a club contest
during the IBS Congress held in Trevi in November
2019. In May 2021, I managed to acquire it from its
previous owner, Master Zino Rongo, who had pruned
it significantly to encourage the foliage to back-bud.
After arriving in my garden and undergoing an acclima-
tization period, the plant began to grow vigorously. In
March 2022, it was worked on during its first workshop
with IBS instructor Francesco Forno. The tree responded
very positively, and over two years of proper cultivation,
it was worked on two more times, achieving remarkable
thickening and ramification.
In 2023, given the progress achieved, I commissioned
a Kurama—a “Moon Stone” pot—from a Spanish master
potter. In March 2024, the tree was gently repotted
in preparation for display at the 27th UBI Congress
held from April 26 to 28, 2024, in Arco di Trento,
where Springer received widespread acclaim. I then
decided to exhibit Springer at the 27th Bonsai and
Suiseki Exhibition of Sicily in 2024, where it garnered
significant recognition and was awarded the “UBI
President’s Plaque” by instructors Giovanni Mugnas
and Pietro Sampirisi.
After six months of targeted cultivation, during which
the foliage doubled in density—a remarkable achieve-
ment for this species—I decided to showcase Springer
at the 14th National Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition
held in Catanzaro from September 27 to 29, 2024.
On this occasion, in addition to receiving praise from
numerous artists, Springer was honored with the 2024
BCI Award for Bonsai.
Top right: The juniper pre-
collection.
Middle left: The juniper post-
collection in a training pot.
Middle right: The juniper
planted in its first moon pot.
Bottom: Sebastiano Villante
(left) presenting the BCI award
to Francesco Lo Piccolo (right),
and Aldo Marchese (center).
January/February/March 2025 | BCI | 55