09 / INSIGHT
BONSAI IN IRELAND: A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE PHOTOS BY: IAN YOUNG THIS EUROPEAN HORNBEAM WAS COLLECTED IN 1995 FROM A PARK IN BELFAST
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Bonsai cultivation is an often misunderstood practice, here Michael Guerin and Dr Karen O’Hanlon attempt to explain what drives the passion for little trees.
he literal translation of the word Bonsai is simply “tree in a pot” but it means so much more to those who enjoy the practice of the art or hobby. Bonsai entails the cultivation of trees in containers whilst endeavouring to make them look like they have the appearance of a mature example of their species, albeit in miniature. The aim is to apply techniques in the styling and cultivation process in a manner that becomes “invisible”, in other words the tree takes on a natural
appearance in terms of its trunk formation, branch placement and so on. The ultimate objective of bonsai culture is to create an aesthetically pleasing composition where a container and tree must form a single entity that will evoke a feeling in the viewer. In order to understand this evocation of feeling, you need to refer to Eastern aesthetic objectives. You will hear these spoken about frequently by bonsai enthusiasts in the west, but many can lack anything
Winter 2020 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED
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