Locust Valley Garden Club Presents the "Fascination of Bonsai"
By Dagmar Fors Karppi
The Locust Valley Garden Club recently presented a program on the ancient
Japanese gardening art of Bonsai.
Tom O’Connor of the Long Island Bonsai Society was the presenter and discussed “Saikei” - the creation of a living miniature landscape in an artform that includes plants, trees, rocks, and soil in a shallow tray or container to recreate a full scene from nature, such as mountains or forests.
“It was amazing seeing him create the scene, of a sandy beach, with trees and colorful rocks,” stated LVGC President Sallie McNeill Rynd.
Bonsai is the growing and shaping of miniature trees in containers, with a long documented history of influences and native Japanese development over a thousand years. Bonsai brings unique aesthetics, cultural history, and terminology derived from its long evolution in Japan.
The appeal of Bonsai, in the words of the society, is that Bonsai:
“Brings peace to a palace as it does to the most humble of homes, to the young as to the old, to the rich as to the poor..
“It invites us to live within the world it is unto itself, and we are drawn, as no words can express, to live within its shade.”
Bonsai is a living art that can last for generations - as long as you follow the rules for creating them and most importantly, nurturing them.
Similar arts to Bonsai exist in other East Asian cultures, including Korea's Bunjae, the Chinese art of Penjing, and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese Hon non bo.
Program Director Jane Benstock explained that Tom O’Connor talked about the scene as he worked. He said the first Bonsai he owned - unfortunately died, but that was a great incentive for him to then learn more about the living art.
A beautiful Bonsai display can be viewed at the at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC.
At the LVGC's next meeting, on September 16th, members will be makinge a Terrarium. If you want to attend, please call Larraine Tassis, membership chair at 516-759-5694.
Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month, at 10:00AM in the Community Room of the Locust Valley Library. A donation of $15 covers a program and buffet luncheon. If you have an interest in gardening, please consider attending. New members are always welcome!