#101 EspritBonsaiInternational - 49In
DetailPreparing
a tree for a
demonstration
Ideally, one should prepare a
yamadori some years before
an anticipated demonstration.
When the day comes, one can
then shape the tree without taking
risks and devote a maximum of
time to explanations.
Author: François Jeker
Here is a yamadori such as dreams are
made of. It was love at first sight for this Scots pine.
Its two trunks seem to be the strokes of a master
calligrapher with alternating strong straight lines,
gentle curves and extraordinarily energetic move-
ments – not to mention the old crackled bark. In
order to style this tree, I had to forget all the rules,
habits and routines and try to put myself humbly
at the service of the tree to enhance a creation of
nature. And in complete freedom, show the maxi-
mum of imagination.Faults to correct
Despite its quality, this pine has many faults
which must be corrected starting this spring in- The tree has no visible nebari and lacks sta-
bility, especially as the trunks lean very strongly to
the left. So the so one must scrape away the soil’s
surface to find the large lateral roots. This is not a
dangerous operation, particularly in spring. Most of
the rootlets can be found under large roots, and the
few that are above, can be removed. •••
An unusual Scots
pine: an excellent
subject for a
demonstration,
which must be
well prepared.