Articles

Terry Bertozzi The digital version of the the 2026-2027 calendar that you can load into your phone or computer calendars so you never miss a meeting or workshop again! These calendars list the same events as the regular paper calendar, including: There are two versions of the calendar, so make sure you pick the right…

I always seem to be banging on about soil. The reason is that poor soil, more precisely poorly draining soil, is usually at the heart of problems with growing plants. Most plants die as a result of being overwatered, and I’d suggest that this is very much true of bonsai. If the least you can…

Sandra McKenzie I recently had the privilege of participating in three workshops at Pembroke School with Marcela Ferreira. Marcela is the Secretary of the Victorian Native Bonsai Club and her area of expertise is Australian Native Plants as Bonsai. We can read books, watch YouTube videos and watch demonstrations ad nauseam. However, there is nothing…

Marcela Ferreira’s demonstration at the August meeting offered excellent advice for working with our native trees and most significantly in creating bonsai. She argues that styling natives should reflect the natural growth habit of the species. This means it is important to work with the tree rather than working in a way that doesn’t reflect its preferred growth…

Our Club brings together people from all walks of life who share one common passion – and that’s the ancient art of bonsai of course. The thing with passion though is it grows in meaning when it is shared with others. Which is why we invite you to share your passion with South Australians next…

Now is the perfect time to repot deciduous tress so this was the focus of the demonstration at the August meeting. Matt made it clear that repotting is the one chance we have to check the way roots are growing and to ensure they move outwards from the trunk in a radial manner. Root pruning…

Tony Bebb Worksop – July 2022 The SA Bonsai Society recently hosted acclaimed bonsai artist and demonstrator Tony Bebb for a series of weekend workshops, a club presentation and individual one-on-one sessionsin July.I was fortunate to secure a place at the Sunday workshop, and enjoyed a fantastic day of learning as Tony moved between participants…

The focus of Tony Bebb’s demonstration (SA Bonsai July 2022) was on the cascade style which happens to be one of his favourites and one that he took to heart early in his bonsai journey. To better understand how the cascade originates he recalls when he first had his driver’s license and ventured to a…

In preparation for our move from temporary residence in Commonwealth Park up to our existing facility within the National Arboretum, we increased our holding of bonsai and penjing from around 30 trees up to a number over 100. In order to do this, we relied heavily on the bonsai community to increase their loans and…

The bonsai pictured below is believed to be the oldest living tree in Australia to have been grown and designed specifically for bonsai. It was kindly donated to the National Bonsai & Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA) by Dorothy Koreshoff and was originally grown by her late husband Vita. Vita arrived in Brisbane, Australia, from…

Don Gillis As a novice I’ve been quietly improving my skills, knowledge and trees to be able to eventually have them to a standard where I felt they were worthy of public display. I was somewhat humbled to be invited to participate in this year’s exhibition, even if it was just topping up the ‘weeds…

The peppercorn (schinus molle) is a native of Peru and prefers rich, well-drained moist soils in an open, sunny position. An evergreen tree, it is drought resistant but frost tender. The stem is erect and twisted, with rough, blackish bark. In the Mediterranean climate of South Australia, peppercorns flourish and well established ones have stunning…

I decided to join the Bonsai Society in February 2021 and a very big thank you for making me feel welcome. Thank you to Janet and Luke for hosting workshops in their homes and the many other members who have selflessly added their words of wisdom in advice for me It’s pleasantly relaxing to listen…

In 2015 I moved to live in Pt Augusta and became a Friend of the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden. At that stage I had two bonsai; a fig and a juniper. Seeing a rock fig (Ficus brachypoda) I wondered if it would live in a bonsai pot … and was pleased when this was…