More Bonsai -- Photography and the Quest for the Perfect Tree

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Articles & Lessons >> Green Topics >> Series: Bonsai >> Bonsai Lesson>> my fascination >> photo quest for perfectly shaped tree>> more on perfectly shaped trees >> Tips on Growing Bonsai from Windowbox

Why a Photo Safari?

After giving my preK-3 grandsons a $25.00 camera for Christmas, I discovered the joys of photo safaris. My friend Joe Sterling, who took the photo of the duck above, has contributed to my photo album, has taken my grandsons trekking, and has allowed me to photograph trees, animals, and flowers on his property.

My fascination with bonsai and their shape found purchase in my new awareness of the aesthetic form of trees both natural and pruned. I now observe trees wherever I go. With a digital camera, I record my favorites. I modify the images with photoprocessing software. Many images I use in presentation templates. A hobby has been born! Get tools for a photo hobby. ...Get tools for a bonsai hobby.

When I explored fotolia.com looking for images for this site's science essays, I discovered that I am not the only one fascinated with trees. (I encourage you to submit photos, too, of your fascinations. Join our network and add to the photo album!) This page offers some of the images I dearly love and comments about my experiences with shaping bonsai, begun in a biology lesson, along with a few more bonsai products -- including seeds to plant -- for achieving the perfect potted tree. For more bonsai photographs and products, see the lesson and my collection of bonsai factoids. ...Read disclosure.

Bougainvillea
(bougainvillea ¦glabraª)
From: Bonsai Boy of New York
A Hobby
with Potential Value

Just as an aside, three hobbies that seem to be a source of potential wealth are art, photography, and horticulture. Care to see what this mature bonsai goes for? Check out the bonsai below.

Rhododendron (sambuscus thunder)
- $ 150.00
First cousin of the Azalea. Our small leaved cultivar offers pink buds with many delicate small white blooms with a hint of pink in May. Evergreen and quite cold hardy. 16 years old. 16"x15"x23" tall. Potted in a 12" ceramic green oval container as shown. Suitable 14.5"x10.5" humidity tray is recommended. To purchase add $11.95. Shipped via UPS Ground - $59.95.

Japanese Andromeda (pieris japonica 'valley valentine')
- $ 175.00
If you think pieris flowers come only in white, we have a surprise for you.'Valley Valentine' produces an abundance of beautiful deep reddish pink flowers that brighten as they mature. They open from maroon buds that decorate the tree through the winter and are presented against lustrous deep green leaves. 16 years old. 17"x14"16". Potted in a 12" ceramic green oval container as shown. Suitable 14"x10.5" humidity tray is recommended. To purchase add $11.95. Shipped via UPS ground - $39.95.

Notice that the price range is broad. Did you look at the Bougainvillea at the Bonsai Boy of New York site? Wow! Yet the tree to the right is only about $25.00 from the same people, and the seeds are less than $5.00. Some seeds and the "Karate Kid Juniper" are pictured with the Bonsai Factoids.

An idea for a Teachable Moment is to show the movie Karate Kid (1, 2, or 3) along with the teaching of a bonsai lesson. Get it from Netflix.com Of course, you can show just segments. In that case,

Willow Leaf Ficus-Small (ficus nerifolia/salicafolia)
- $ 24.95
Also known as Mexicana Ficus. Elongated, light green leaves have a striking resemblance to the popular weeping willow tree. This tree does particularly well indoors in low, moderate or high lighting conditions. 4 years old 5" - 8" tall Suitable 4 1/2"x 6 1/2" humidity tray is recommended. To purchase add $3.50. Shipped UPS 2-3 days - $10.95.

Photos of Beautifully Shaped Trees

During my photo safaris I often see beautifully-shaped or unsually-shaped trees. These inspire me as they have done the bonsai growers for centuries.

Also, before pruning and wiring a bonsai to develop its shape, you must decide what you want the tree to eventually look like. For making this decision, it helps to study the natural growth of trees.

Hence, I have collected these pictures.

	This bonsai was carefully shaped to look this. The trunk was wired when the tree was only months old and bent a little each week or month until the desired curve was achieved. The shape of the foliage was also carefully planned and nurtured. The shape of the bonsai is maitained throughout the life of the tree with careful pruning. But, is this shape natural?
© Nicholas Rjabow - FOTOLIA "Bonsai"
Follow the links of each picture to see (or buy) the actual picture in true size.
Yep, trees do grow leaning over. In nature, a frequent, strong, prevailing wind or seedling that sprouts in shadow and grows towards a sunnier exposure will lean. What kind of root structure is needed to maintain the center of gravity? Do the densities of sections of the trunk keep the tree in balance? What does hold the tree up? © Galyna Andrushko - FOTOLIA Another leaning tree example is a photo by me. See it below. Feel free to copy it. If you post it, please link back and credit me. Just copy the link below the photo. It links to this page -- so don't click it now.
	My favorite shape of tree in nature is more symmetrical. However, when a tree is bent in an interesting way it has real character. When it is placed near water or over a boulder it becomes a beauty. Bonsai growers shape trees to be this interesting, and use large rocks or fountains to complete the artistic image. Roots are even trimmed and placed over rocks, covered and grown for weeks until the roots are old enough to be exposed. Obviously the trees of such intricate shape and artistry took years to develop and much care.
Tree over Pond in LA © Valerie Coskrey
Take a look at this example of special shaping of roots for a forest effect. Willow Leaf Ficus - Forest (ficus nerifolia/salicafolia) Read more about this bonsai. Here is another sample of a bonsai with an interesting twist to the trunk. Ligustrum-Medium (ligustrum lucidum) Read more about this bonsai. A grower must be flexible enough to accept that what was originally conceived might not be the end result. The actual growth of the tree will alter the design. Another factor in the final shape of the tree is the grower's insight in changing his design as he grows his tree. Producing the work of art known as a bonsai is a truely satisfying hobby. The books and products below and listed in the lesson will instruct the beginner inthe hobby of growing these beautiful bonsai works of art. (See also bonsai, part 2 & and tips for growing Bonsai. ) Continue reading about my photo safari in search of the perfect bonsai shape.

My Bonsai Mini-Store

featuring products from Bonsai Boy of New York

Bonsai Trees Under $30

Bonsai Sales & Discounts

Dawn Redwood
(metasequoia glyptostrobides) -
$ 250.00
From: Bonsai Boy of New York
More about this bonsai.

Special Trees

Accessories

Special Stuff

Bonsai Seeds
Bonsai Soils

Bonsai Fertilizer

Bonsai Humidity Trays

Bonsai Tools & Wire

Gifts

Background image is my modified version of a photo by © diademimages - FOTOLIA Follow the link to the actual photo of azalias in a woods. See it on my site.

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Take your kids on a photo safari.

Continue this photo safari.

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Disclosure: I am an affiliate of many merchants. Even so, the opinions expressed are my own, and I do not speak for the merchant. Being an affiliate, however, does mean that the possibility of compensation does exist. --Valerie