6 minute read
Bonsai on the Bayou
FEATURE
Bonsai on the Bayou
By Erin Cowser
There’s nothing more Louisiana than crawfish and bonsai. Wait. What?
The first-ever Bonsai Show & Crawfish Boil hopes to bring the two together for an artistically tasteful and also tasty event, aptly titled “C’est Bonsai!”
I dare say that most Northshore residents aren’t likely aware that there’s a bonsai nursery located in Folsom.
It’s Evan Pardue’s job to change that.
“It’s an obsession that has turned into a labor of love for me,” said the bonsai professional who came to work at Underhill Bonsai five years ago. “And there’s plenty of labor because we field-grow the plants and have to dig them up before I can begin to work with them.”
If you’ve ever driven over “the hill” on Highway 25 in Folsom, you’ve passed by the nursery situated “under” it. Founded by longtime Folsom resident Douglas Green, whose love of bonsai started in his backyard over 30 years ago, the name Underhill is a geographic reference and also reminiscent of Hobbit Hill from the Lord of the Rings. Green’s children are big fans of J.R.R. Tolkien lore.
For Pardue, it was another pop culture sensation that sparked his bonsai interest: The Karate Kid.
“Like every other kid in the 80s, I was introduced to bonsai by way of Mr. Miyagi,” Pardue says with a chuckle. “And, thanks to Cobra Kai and Covid-19, there’s been a resurgence of interest in Asian tradition and the art of bonsai.”
A resident of Hammond with relatives living across the Northshore, Pardue studied art in college and earned bonsai training in Portland, Oregon. “I took ceramics classes just so I could make bonsai containers,” he says.
He takes pride in representing Louisiana on the national “bonsai scene,” and adds that there are probably more bonsai enthusiasts in the state than one might think with clubs in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Acadiana.
How does he blend bonsai with The Bayou State? By utilizing local plant species such as cypress, sweetgum, and water elm.
“It’s a misconception that bonsai is a plant species,” he says. “It’s not. It’s anything you’d like it to be as long as you seek the aesthetics of capturing nature in miniature. You want your work to tell stories.”
He added that bald cypress is especially workable in bonsai culture because its leaves are compound with multiple leaflets attached to a central vein, which replicates well when miniaturizing. It’s also very forgiving as a species.
“Cypress has to fight for sunlight so the tops of the trees spread out to claim space and naturally have the ‘flat top’ that is indicative of bonsai,” he said. The trees grow horizontally so they can claim more real estate in the sun once they reach out of the shade.
While some bonsai practitioners feel Japanese species are better, Pardue has plenty of plants native to Southeast Louisiana to keep him busy. As a grow nursery, Underhill Bonsai grows bonsai material, not necessarily just trees. This includes seedlings and cuttings that he makes the decision to bend when they’re young, he explains.
“It’s a romanticized thought that the tree will outlive you. There’s a longevity to it,” he said. “What I love most is that it emotionally and philosophically presents a unique challenge. You are able to push the plants to their limits and you constantly learn as you do so.”
In addition to managing the nursery and working on peoples’ private collections, Pardue finds time to co-host a podcast about all things bonsai with Mike Lane and Carmen Leskoviansky.
With more than 60 podcasts recorded to date, there are all sorts of bonsai topics to choose from. “Little Things for Bonsai People” is appropriately named since Louisiana is “so small in the bonsai world,” he said. Pun intended.
Whether you want to explore the world of bonsai or you’re hankering for some good crawfish, you’re invited to the first ever Bonsai Show & Crawfish Boil on Saturday, March 30. Doors to the event at Underhill Bonsai, 80272 Highway 25 in Folsom, will open at 9:30 a.m.
There is no cost to attend and visit with vendors including bonsai potters and bonsai stand makers. The full grounds to the nursery will be accessible, including the store on site.
With a $20 admission, guests can attend lectures and demonstrations, which are scheduled throughout the day in the Exhibition Tent. They can also view the entries in the formal bonsai show, which will be sizeable with 50-60 entries. There will also be a suiseki, also referred to as viewing stones, on display.
With a $20 admission, guests can attend lectures and demonstrations, which are scheduled throughout the day in the Exhibition Tent. They can also view the entries in the formal bonsai show, which will be sizeable with 50-60 entries. There will also be a suiseki, also referred to as viewing stones, on display.
Advanced registration and additional fees will be required for evening workshops in which participants will be provided with trees and supplies for a tree styling session. Exact workshop themes and times are still being formalized.
To purchase tickets or for more information on workshop sessions, go to UnderhillBonsaiStore.com and click on Workshops or call 985.351.4797.
And, of course, tasty crawfish, as well as gumbo, will be available for purchase. We all know c’est bon means “it’s good.” C’est Bonsai is even better!
