The magical appeal of forest-style planting

In Japanese, bonsai literally means "tray planting." It originated in Asia many centuries ago, but modern times and techniques have changed it into a whole new art form. In bonsai today, the tree and the pot form a single harmonious unit where the shape, texture, and color of one complements the other. Then the tree must be shaped. It is not enough to just plant a tree in a pot and allow nature to take its course. Every branch and twig must be shaped or eliminated until the chosen image is achieved. From then on, the image is maintained and improved by a constant regimen of pruning and trimming.This year’s 3rd PBSI National Bonsai Open Exhibition and Competition 2006 organized by the Philippine Bonsai Society Inc. was held from June 1 to 8 at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. More than 120 bonsai entries from all over the country, particularly from Central and Northern Luzon and as far as the Visayan region, once again captivated the viewing public.

As the premier and only bonsai organization in the country recognized by international bonsai federations, the Phil. Bonsai Society Inc. once again invited foreign bonsai masters, who judged and gave lecture-demonstrations. Headlining the stellar event were Prof. Amy Liang of Taiwan and Budi Sulistyo of Indonesia – two of the most respected bonsai artists in the world. They have shared much of their time and skills for the sake of the art.

As former president of the National Bonsai Association of Taiwan, Liang has provided leadership to this formidable group of more than 30 bonsai associations in Taiwan, and made Taiwan bonsai art synonymous with excellence – ranking as one of the world’s best.

As a respected professor of bonsai at the Seattle Pacific University and South Seattle Community College in the USA, she has done much to promote this art in the international world.

Her greatest achievement, aside from winning top prizes in bonsai exhibitions, was when her Chinese hackberry, boxtree, Fukien tea and black pien were chosen as stamp photographs for the Republic of China. Meanwhile, her book, The Art of Bonsai, is a comprehensive and classic reference published in English and Chinese for bonsai enthusiasts who want to know both the essence and technical aspects of bonsai culture.

Born in Magelang, Central Java, Budi Sulistyo is considered one of the bonsai pioneers in Indonesia and is currently vice chairman of The Indonesian Bonsai Society, as well as the chief of the board of judges. His devotion to the art has led him to teach bonsai in Indonesia and in many countries around the world. He wrote two Indonesian bonsai books in 1988 and 1994, and is a frequent contributor of articles of great interest to bonsai enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, in her lecture-demo on Forest-Style Planting, Liang demonstrated her skills in the arduous task of creating a forest arrangement. A forest-style group planting consists of three or more trees planted together in an aesthetically pleasing but natural manner to form a grove or a dense forest.

Elements of unity and harmony are emphazied in such an arrangement, with the materials arranged in an irregular triangle style. The general rule is that a conifer or evergreen can be used in order to create a scene in a forest accented by a winding path but no ornament, while broad-leafed trees may be arranged for scenery with the addition of undulating mounds to represent hills and plains, with rocks or ornaments as needed.

The trees should be of varying heights and trunk widths or sizes. Also, they should be of similar species and have similar branches, foliage, bark, and age to achieve a harmonious and unified look. Other points to observe include planting the thick focal and secondary trees in front and the short, small trees at the back. Trees on the right and the left should be arranged so that no tree conceals or hides another from view. Finally, to project a magnificent landscape, use shallow, wide containers, leaving enough space to depict a wide stretch of land.

On the other hand, Filipino bonsai artistry was ably represented by Romy Dino, known for his styling techniques and a two-time winner of the Best in Show Awards during past PBSI competitions. Dr. Oding Reyes gave an Introduction to Bonsai lecture that inspired people to understand and, more importantly, be drawn to the art. Fely S. Gupit conducted a very interesting lecture on how individual elements such as bonsai, rocks, trays, and ornaments can transport you to an imaginary landscape thru the art of Saikei. Members of the Pangasinan Bonsai Society, whose creations are widely admired, demonstrated bonsai styling and care using their favorite bantigue (pemphis acidula) material found abundantly in coastal areas. This material is currently a top favorite among bonsai growers owing to its dramatic trunk, gnarled roots, and small glossy leaves.