African Bonsai Association
African Bonsai Association
Member Region of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation(WBFF)
Our mission to promote and diffuse throughout Africa, a living art that can be appreciated by all peoples actively exchange knowledge, technology information, etc., related to the art of bonsai among countries of Africa, thus advancing international friendship and goodwill.
FORBIDDEN BRANCH TROPHY 2021
History
History
The Trophy
The Trophy
Pinus thunbergii, Age 26 years old. Height 43 cm high and 18 cm wide at the base. Pot It is planted in a brown imported Japanese ceramic pot. History I bought the tree many years ago from Len Redfern who rescued it after it was very neglected by it’s previous owner. The first three years was just spent trying to nurse it back to health before any mayor work could be done.
Japanese black pine
Pinus thunbergii,
Age 26 years old.
Height 43 cm high and 18 cm wide at the base.
Pot It is planted in a brown imported Japanese ceramic pot.
History I bought the tree many years ago from Len Redfern who rescued it after it was very neglected by it’s previous owner.
The first three years was just spent trying to nurse it back to health before any mayor work could be done.
Species: Juniperus chinensis Style: Literati Years in Training: since 2010 Height: 70cm History: Started from XL 100litre nursery stock purchased in Johannesburg the intention was to create an imperial sized multi-stemmed umbrella style juniper but upon relocation to Cape Town the tree was severely compromised by a Phytophtera infection and came within inches of dying. It’s recovery and subsequent restyling started in 2015.
Chinese Juniper 2010B
Species: Juniperus chinensis
Style: Literati
Years in Training: since 2010
Height: 70cm
History: Started from XL 100litre nursery stock purchased in Johannesburg the intention was to create an imperial sized multi-stemmed umbrella style juniper but upon relocation to Cape Town the tree was severely compromised by a Phytophtera infection and came within inches of dying. It’s recovery and subsequent restyling started in 2015.
Tree 1 - The George Juniper Species- Juniperous Chinensis Height- 80cm Tree Age- 50 years Years in Training- 12 years Father in law planted the tree on his Farm in George as a sapling 48years ago. Since then it was left and often neglected.It has survived a veld fire and on top of that was often driven over by the Tractor . All this has added to its character and struggle to survive. Over the last 12 years, after digging it up,
Chinese Juniper 1 Front
Tree 1 - The George Juniper
Species- Juniperous Chinensis
Height- 80cm
Tree Age- 50 years
Years in Training- 12 years
Father in law planted the tree on his Farm in George as a sapling 48years ago. Since then it was left and often neglected.It has survived a veld fire and on top of that was often driven over by the Tractor . All this has added to its character and struggle to survive. Over the last 12 years, after digging it up,
Chinese Juniper Back view
Chinese Juniper Right view
Chinese Juniper Left view
Species- Juniperus Chinensis Height - 70cm’s Tree Age- Approximately 25 years old Years in Training - 14 years History of the tree. The tree was purchased as rough stock in a black bag from Bishopsford Bonsai nursery in 2007. It has been in training ever since.
Chinese Juniper 2 Front
Species- Juniperus Chinensis
Height - 70cm’s
Tree Age- Approximately 25 years old
Years in Training - 14 years
History of the tree. The tree was purchased as rough stock in a black bag from Bishopsford Bonsai nursery in 2007.
It has been in training ever since.
Chinese Juniper Back view
Species : Celtis Africana. Height: 340mm (from lip of pot) Width: 500mm Years in training 6 years The precise age of the tree is unknown but it was as far as I know originally collected somewhere one the early 2000s. I have been her owner since 2015 She was (as I’m told) growing under a palisade fence and a portion of the tree hit the lowest bar, creating the separation between the bottom branches and apex. It did however create a few issues that I have been able to grow out. She went into her first bonsai pot in 2017 and has continued to flourish and astound me with her unique characteristics and “gnarled” look since day one. It has never been wired with the exception of a small wire added to the very bottom branch last year so I consider this tree lingnan hence it’s very natural growth and natural angles.
White Stinkwood
Species : Celtis Africana.
Height: 340mm (from lip of pot)
Width: 500mm
Years in training 6 years
The precise age of the tree is unknown but it was as far as I know originally collected somewhere one the early 2000s.
I have been her owner since 2015
She was (as I’m told) growing under a palisade fence and a portion of the tree hit the lowest bar, creating the separation between the bottom branches and apex. It did however create a few issues that I have been able to grow out.
She went into her first bonsai pot in 2017 and has continued to flourish and astound me with her unique characteristics and “gnarled” look since day one.
It has never been wired with the exception of a small wire added to the very bottom branch last year so I consider this tree lingnan hence it’s very natural growth and natural angles.
Species: Acer buergeranium Style: Tree on rock Years in training: Since 1996 Height : 60cm History: Bought as a starter bonsai in 2001. Changed the pot and added in a rock that seemed to have a similar profile to the trunk
Chinese Maple
Species: Acer buergeranium
Style: Tree on rock
Years in training: Since 1996
Height : 60cm
History: Bought as a starter bonsai in 2001. Changed the pot and added in a rock that seemed to have a similar profile to the trunk
Species: Acer buergeranium Style: Tree on rock Years in training: Since 1983 Height : 60cm History: Bought from a collecction 2015. Changed the pot, changed the canopy.
Chinese Maple 1
Species: Acer buergeranium
Style: Tree on rock
Years in training: Since 1983
Height : 60cm
History: Bought from a collecction 2015. Changed the pot, changed the canopy.
Species: Olea sp african Style: Informal Upright Years in training: Since 2003 current owner Height : 70cm History: Bought from John Lynch in 2003. It had 5 trunks. Trunks were eliminated down to 1 apex. It is very old.
Wild Olive 9
Species: Olea sp african
Style: Informal Upright
Years in training: Since 2003 current owner
Height : 70cm
History: Bought from John Lynch in 2003. It had 5 trunks. Trunks were eliminated down to 1 apex. It is very old.
Species: Juniperus chinensis Style: Literati Years in training: Since 2010 Height (width): 70cm History: Ex nursery stock that had been grown too close for conifers and as such the long bare stems were inherited and leaned towards this style. Originally intended to be an upright literati style but to create interest this was planted at an extreme angle.
Chinese Juniper A
Species: Juniperus chinensis
Style: Literati
Years in training: Since 2010
Height (width): 70cm
History: Ex nursery stock that had been grown too close for conifers and as such the long bare stems were inherited and leaned towards this style. Originally intended to be an upright literati style but to create interest this was planted at an extreme angle.
Common name : White Olive Style: Fallen tree Years in training: Since 2002 (current owner) Height (width): 55cm x (120cm) History: Collected tree. Bought as an upright bonsai in 2003, from Hank Miller, but it had only one side. The otherside was eaten by termites. The trunk has just had a make over, the rot removed and dead wood sealed
Buddleja Saligna (indigenous)
Common name : White Olive
Style: Fallen tree
Years in training: Since 2002 (current owner)
Height (width): 55cm x (120cm)
History: Collected tree. Bought as an upright bonsai in 2003, from Hank Miller, but it had only one side. The otherside was eaten by termites. The trunk has just had a make over, the rot removed and dead wood sealed
Species: Olea sp Africana (indigenous) Style: Landscape Years in training: Since 2010 Height (width): 55cm x (120cm) History: Rocks collected locally. Trees grown from seed. Tray is made from kitchen top granite.Mud hut from the SPCA.
Wild Olive Landscape
Species: Olea sp Africana (indigenous)
Style: Landscape
Years in training: Since 2010
Height (width): 55cm x (120cm)
History: Rocks collected locally. Trees grown from seed. Tray is made from kitchen top granite.Mud hut from the SPCA.
Species: Portulacaria afra Common name : Porkbush, Spekboom Style: "floating" raft Height: 39 cm In training: 19 years History: The tree was taken as a cutting on 1 May 1995. Bonsai styling began in 2002. It was planted in its signature pot, created specifically for it by Jacqui Jansen van Vuuren in March 2012.
Porkbush, Spekboom2
Species: Portulacaria afra
Common name : Porkbush, Spekboom
Style: "floating" raft
Height: 39 cm
In training: 19 years
History: The tree was taken as a cutting on 1 May 1995. Bonsai styling began in 2002. It was planted in its signature pot, created specifically for it by Jacqui Jansen van Vuuren in March 2012.
Height 10cm History: Made from beach stone, sea shells and washed up coral. Picked up along the beach.
Bonsai artist
Height 10cm
History: Made from beach stone, sea shells and washed up coral. Picked up along the beach.
Species: Schotia Afa Age: Unknown Height is 85cm and the base is 51 cm. Container: Japanese brown ceramic pot. History: I got this from a friend many years ago who just grew it wildly in a container. Started training it seriously about 10 years ago.
Huilboerboon
Species: Schotia Afa
Age: Unknown
Height is 85cm and the base is 51 cm.
Container: Japanese brown ceramic pot.
History: I got this from a friend many years ago who just grew it wildly in a container. Started training it seriously about 10 years ago.
Height : 50cm Grower : Hennie Reynecke History : Started as a cutting in 2000, it grew a few long shoots like cotoneasters do. I just left it for a few years to grow. Then I picked the best branches and wired it into shape. I cut the rest of and concentrated on the ones that were left. The tip of the cascade grew until it reached the ground where it rooted an that is how the bottom pads developed. I then cut the rooted piece off and the tree developed into the tree it is now.
Cotoneaster
Height : 50cm
Grower : Hennie Reynecke
History : Started as a cutting in 2000, it grew a few long shoots like cotoneasters do.
I just left it for a few years to grow.
Then I picked the best branches and wired it into shape.
I cut the rest of and concentrated on the ones that were left.
The tip of the cascade grew until it reached the ground where it rooted an that is how the bottom pads developed.
I then cut the rooted piece off and the tree developed into the tree it is now.
Style: Root over rock Botanical name: ficus Height: 66cm (from base of pot) Years of Training: 12 years History of the Tree: Rock collected in 2007 near Kuruman and small fig planted on it in 2009.
Fig Tree Root Over Rock
Style: Root over rock
Botanical name: ficus
Height: 66cm (from base of pot)
Years of Training: 12 years
History of the Tree: Rock collected in 2007 near Kuruman and small fig planted on it in 2009.
Species: Portulacaria afra Style: informal upright Height: 63 cm In training: 34 years History: The plant was taken as a cutting from the perimeter hedge of the DHPS high school, Windhoek, Namibia in 1985. Bonsai training began in 1987.
Porkbush, Spekboom
Species: Portulacaria afra
Style: informal upright
Height: 63 cm
In training: 34 years
History: The plant was taken as a cutting from the perimeter hedge of the DHPS high school, Windhoek, Namibia in 1985. Bonsai training began in 1987.
Olea sp Africana Height: 86cm (from base of pot) Years of Training: 13 years History of the Tree: Collected at Mhlopeni in Muden in 2008
Wild Olive002
Olea sp Africana
Height: 86cm (from base of pot)
Years of Training: 13 years
History of the Tree: Collected at Mhlopeni in Muden in 2008
Common name : Juniper Style: Informal Upright Height: 37 cm In training: In SA since 2016 History: The tree was purchase from the Bowtown Nursery from Paul Liao in Taiwan and flew back in a suitcase.
Juniperus Itoigawa
Common name : Juniper
Style: Informal Upright
Height: 37 cm
In training: In SA since 2016
History: The tree was purchase from the Bowtown Nursery from Paul Liao in Taiwan and flew back in a suitcase.
Schotia afra var. angustifolia - Pierneef Height: 75cm incl. pot Pot: H: (14cm) B (52.5cm) W (82cm) Age: Purchased in 1996 – age 22 years Years in training: 25 years Actual age: 47 years
BOERBOON
Schotia afra var. angustifolia - Pierneef
Height: 75cm incl. pot
Pot: H: (14cm) B (52.5cm) W (82cm)
Age: Purchased in 1996 – age 22 years
Years in training: 25 years
Actual age: 47 years
Tamarix usneoides Field collected - 12 August 2006 Training started - 10 February 2007 Approximate age - 19 years Height of the tree - 40 cm Width of canopy - 50 cm Pot made by - Carola Lorck Ceramics Size - 30 x 25 x 9 cm
Tamarisk
Tamarix usneoides
Field collected - 12 August 2006
Training started - 10 February 2007
Approximate age - 19 years
Height of the tree - 40 cm
Width of canopy - 50 cm
Pot made by - Carola Lorck Ceramics
Size - 30 x 25 x 9 cm
Species: Pyracantha fortunea Height: 220 mm Years of training: 5 Form: Informal upright Sturdy trunk, branches. Cut back (with difficulty) from nursery sprawl. Sprouted prolifically, but branchlets harden quickly, thus shaped largely by cut-and-grow. Leaves (when present) reduced nicely in size over the years. Lovely blossoms, followed by cheerful orange berries – thus placed in a small round feminine pot despite the rugged masculinity of its growth pattern.
Firethorn
Species: Pyracantha fortunea
Height: 220 mm
Years of training: 5
Form: Informal upright
Sturdy trunk, branches. Cut back (with difficulty) from nursery sprawl. Sprouted prolifically, but branchlets harden quickly, thus shaped largely by cut-and-grow. Leaves (when present) reduced nicely in size over the years. Lovely blossoms, followed by cheerful orange berries – thus placed in a small round feminine pot despite the rugged masculinity of its growth pattern.
Portulacaria afra Cascade Height: 100cm Pot: H: (26cm) B (42cm) W (42cm) Age: Estimated 20 years – when collected – 1988 – Loerie area Eastern Cape Years in training: 33 years Actual age: 53 years
Porkbush
Portulacaria afra Cascade
Height: 100cm
Pot: H: (26cm) B (42cm) W (42cm)
Age: Estimated 20 years – when collected – 1988 – Loerie area Eastern Cape
Years in training: 33 years
Actual age: 53 years
Tamarix usneoides Field collected - 10 July 2016 Training started - 15 January 2017 Approximate age - 32 years Height of tree - 49 cm Width of canopy - 80 cm Pot made by artist himself with cement, using a sand mould. Size - 48 x 28 x 8 cm
Tamarisk2
Tamarix usneoides
Field collected - 10 July 2016
Training started - 15 January 2017
Approximate age - 32 years
Height of tree - 49 cm
Width of canopy - 80 cm
Pot made by artist himself with cement, using a sand mould.
Size - 48 x 28 x 8 cm
Olea europaea subspecies africana Height: 92cm Years of training: 51 years History: Yamadori collected in Hout Bay
Wild Olive2
Olea europaea subspecies africana
Height: 92cm
Years of training: 51 years
History: Yamadori collected in Hout Bay
Olea europaea subspecies africana Height: 85cm Years of training: 51 years History: Yamadori collected in Hout Bay
Wild Olive1
Olea europaea subspecies africana
Height: 85cm
Years of training: 51 years
History: Yamadori collected in Hout Bay
South African Bonsai Association