Displaying Bonsai
We spend a lot of time cultivating beautiful bonsai, but very often nobody except ourselves see them. Bonsai are beautiful things and they should be seen by everybody.
Display bonsai at eye level.
Most bonsai that are under development live on benches that are about knee height. My benches are just a couple of cinder blocks with planks across. Benches like this are functional because they lift the bonsai off the ground. However, to be properly appreciated, bonsai should be displayed at or just below eye level.
Bonsai that are not seen get neglected.
I recently made a set of shelves for my small bonsai. I think they look quite nice. More importantly, I can now see the trees, whereas before they were almost lost in amongst a whole lot of other pots. Because they are more visible I give them more attention. They will all be a lot better off for it. Bonsai that are not seen get neglected.
Displaying bonsai is not rocket science
Displaying bonsai is not rocket science, but as always there are “better practices” and things to avoid. To begin with, not many bonsai are indoor bonsai. Bonsai need to be exposed to all the forces of nature that large trees endure, sun, wind, rain and bugs. The longest time that an outside plant can remain indoors is about a week. Any longer and it will begin to loose vitality. So, it is fine to display a bonsai indoors for a short while, or for a special occasion, but then it needs to go back outside into the weather.
A small area dedicated to displaying bonsai is called a Tokonama.
Setting up indoor displays for bonsai is a very special art. People can spend hours rearranging what might appear to be a couple of rather arbitrary plants in pots in a screened off area. It is very important to find just the right position for all of the elements. Suddenly the environment around the tree becomes an integral part of the composition.
This small display area is called a Tokonama. A tokonama consists of three main elements, a bonsai tree, and accent plant, and a scroll.
In Japan, the tables and hand-made trays on which bonsai stand are often older than the bonsai themselves.
The very best of bonsai stand on hand-made wooden tables and specially made stands to raise them to eye-level. In Japan, the tables and hand-made trays are often older than the bonsai themselves, just as famous and even more valuable.
Often a small accent plant or beautiful rock is placed next to a larger bonsai.
Kusamono refers to the practice of placing a small accent plant next to a larger bonsai, in a display, in order to achieve a visual balance. The accent plant is seldom a bonsai itself. It could be a small bamboo plant, moss or fern of some sort. Mondo grass is quite popular for this purpose. Often, in place of an accent plant, an interesting stone might be displayed. Appreciation of beautiful rocks is called Suiseki. People go on special trips to hunt for beautiful rocks to use in artistic creations. Stones that echo various aspects of nature, waterfalls or mountains are highly prized.
Whatever we do must enhance the bonsai tree, not overpower it.
The third feature in a well-considered Tokonama is a scroll, presumably with some Japanese or Chinese characters blessing viewers with good fortune. The most important thing when arranging a display of any sort, whatever we do must enhance the bonsai tree, but not overpower it.
Displaying bonsai outdoors.
There are many different ways to display bonsai outdoors. The most important things to consider, once again, are the weather conditions. The plant must get good sun, rain or dew, and wind. Beware of placing your trees under eves or overhangs. Bonsai get a lot of moisture from dew, depending on one’s location and time of year. Overhangs prevent plants from getting this vital moisture. One thinks the plant is getting more water than it actually is. In the picture my shelf is against the wall of my cabin, but there is no overhang, AND, I know that the rain comes from that side.
Use Monkey Poles to display larger bonsai.
Ideally bonsai should be displayed at, or just below eye level. A favorite method of displaying medium sized trees is by placing them on top of short gum poles. They are called Monkey Poles. The pole is buried securely in the ground. Then a piece of slate is screwed to the top of the gum pole for the pot to stand on. This method of display is very effective. Unfortunately I am unable to use this method, because we have real monkeys, and they love monkey poles.
Bonsai are best viewed against a plain background, not an easy thing to achieve in a garden. Monkey poles help because they at least separate the bonsai from the background to an extent. My set of shelves has a fairly uniform wooden background which is not bad, but a lighter colour would make the plants stand out a bit more. Perhaps, when my landlady is not looking I will get out a can of paint . . . .
