Land/Water Penjing: A New Beginning

bonsaial1

Last year I tried my first land/water penjing. I throughly enjoyed the project and felt compelled to kick it up a notch this year.

During my search for suitable plant material the idea was brought up about a "triptic", a display made up of three parts but viewed as one composition. This was first seen in early printings of Yuji Yoshimura's book of bonsai early in the US. Subsequent printings of the book were missing the Penjing pieces and they have been forgotton and untried. Due to cost constraints, I have limited my foray into this world to a "diptic", a two tray composition that will encompass a mountain scene down to the ocean within two marble trays.

The marble tray is a duplicate of the one I purchased last year. It is 12" x 24". New rock will be used throughout the two tray composition to help keep it as cohesive as possible. I think alot of the charm of the piece will be the fact that the same rock will carry thru to each tray. the only deviation from the rock will be a subtle change of rock when it gets to the ocean. I want the ocean rock to look like ocean rock. I want the mountain rock to look like mountain rock. The mountain rock will be used throughout, but differences in texture as it gets lower will be seen.

Something new this time will be the addition of an extra species to the mix. the first penjing was done with elms throughout, but this diplay will incorporate two hackberries as well. The Hackberries will dominate the mountain area, while we get into the elms as the grade decreases and finish out with elms and grass at the ocean. The theme will incorporate a river/feature throughout the scene to make use of the "white" areas of the tray.

The hackberries are shown in their "as bought" form and after pruning. I tried to keep a windswept look to the one tree since it will help sell the "mountainside" while the taller upright tree will lend height to the mountain. The larger tree is about 12" tall and 1 1/4" thick. The windswept tree is much smaller at only 6" tall but wider and 1" thick at the base.

Attached Images

	DSCF0592.JPG (29.7 KB, 19 views)
	DSCF0588.JPG (38.3 KB, 24 views)
	DSCF0591.JPG (39.4 KB, 23 views)
	DSCF0585.JPG (37.1 KB, 33 views)
	DSCF0587.JPG (29.7 KB, 30 views)

__________________
A tree a day...thats all we ask.

Advertisement

bonsaial1

The photos above show the before stage. In this series I will show the hackberries pruned back for inclusion in the tray. I have also purchased a few more elms for the trays. I may not use them, but I want to have the variety that I need when I get all these trees bare rooted and not have to search all over hell's half acre to find what I need. The small elm with the hook in the trunk will be prunes hard to get rid of the hook. The small penjing elm with aerial roots would be a nice addition in there somewhere but we will see on the workday.

This project is still a few weeks away from the actuall barerooting of the old piece and putting together of the new piece. The old piece is a real mess. It is full of slippery looking gooh that will have to be "sprayed' out of the tray before working on it. I found out late in the season that these trays work best if tilted to the back to help get rid of the excess water out the back and keep the front dry and clean. At least I learned on a starter piece.

As I cut the rocks and glue them to the tray I will update this article about my work. As planting proceeds it too will be added here.

Thanks, Al Keppler

Attached Images

	DSCF0593.JPG (34.5 KB, 20 views)
	DSCF0598.JPG (24.2 KB, 17 views)
	DSCF0599.JPG (29.6 KB, 18 views)
	DSCF0596.JPG (44.5 KB, 19 views)

__________________
A tree a day...thats all we ask.

midwestbonsai

A two tray penjing comp.
Wow this could look really cool.
I like your idea of the species change as you get closer to the water, as this would happen in nature.
Cant wait to see the progress.
Thanks Al
-Paul

__________________

Aaron_K

Hi Al,

This looks to be a very interesting project and I am looking forward to seeing the updates as you progress. Thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

bonsaial1

For those that missed it last year, this is the first penjing. This is the one that will be redone to make two trays.

Attached Images

penjing.jpg (51.5 KB, 57 views)

__________________
A tree a day...thats all we ask.