Category: Builds

I seem to be getting more into the traditional style of bonsai now. While I love the look of penjing, especially that of my new dual-planter Douglas Fir penjing, I’m also getting into the smaller pot and single tree style of bonsai. I also want to try and make my focus on the native trees of the Pacific Northwest, both for the regional identity and a way to set myself apart from the typical style of bonsai I’ve seen.

I decided to go with this Western Hemlock for a couple of reasons: it met my budget of $15 and it looks unique. The bend that occurs in the middle of the tree really makes this one stand out to me. The pot was given to me by a dear loved one, Katie, whose support I’ve come to rely on. She has encouraged me greatly in learning this amazing art. Thank you, Katie!

Western Hemlock, or Tsuga heterophylla, grows from southern Alaska down the western coast of the US, through the Cascade gorges of Oregon, and to the northern California coast. It is classified as a climax species, meaning that left alone the Western Hemlock would dominate the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Interestingly, the Western Hemlock is the state tree of Washington! They can grow over 200 feet tall, live over a thousand years, and tolerate both shade and sun quite well.

I have not yet begun any training or pruning on this tree. I want to make sure it will survive the coming winter before I put any additional burden on it. I’m already in love with this one!

We recently experienced a heat wave that pushed temperatures over 100 degrees for almost a week! During this time many of my trees were unfortunately killed by the weather. Saddened by the loss of the trees that had become a regular fixture in my garden, I also learned a number of valuable lessons. Next time there is a heat wave, I’m dragging my penjings and bonsai indoors, or at the very least, moving them to the shadiest spot possible and giving them plenty of water. These shallow planters can dry out very easily, and I believe that’s what led to the death of my penjings.

Two of my penjings were completely wiped out, including the first one I ever made, and another that housed a Korean Fir and Mugo Pine. I’ve decided to reuse the planters and start over with a new design. For the trees in the new penjing, I chose some Douglas Fir saplings I’ve been growing for the past few months.

I’ve always wanted to create a little village scene, like those seen in model train landscapes. I decided to leave plenty of room to place miniatures, allowing me to create a small village on the edge of a forest. Since I had two planters to fill, I connected them with a bridge, imagining the empty space between them as a river. To emphasize this even more, I added a small boat that can be seen sailing under the bridge.

Going forward, I plan to add more figurines, especially people. I’d also like to include paths and walkways throughout the village. I already added a few animals for the town, including cows, llamas, wild horses, and a fox hiding out in the woods.

This winter, I plan to remove all the miniatures and cover the pots with Douglas Fir bark to protect them from the elements, giving me the opportunity to redesign the village next year. With the lessons I’ve learned over the past year, I hope to keep this two-planter design around for quite some time!

It’s incredible what you can do with a sudden burst of inspiration! This past Thursday, I came home from work, took a step out onto the porch to view my garden, and saw the broken pieces of concrete that used to be in the bottom of a pot in which I grew cannabis. I also saw the old milk crate, some other pieces of stone, a container of soil, when suddenly I got hit with creative energies from the cosmic beyond. I turned some curved pieces of concrete on their side, and noticed it looked sort of like a pathway, sort of like a sidewalk in the city or around a park coming together with a lovely little circle in the center. I got right to work designing a new penjing!

Not thinking this is where the day would end, I was amped up with energy to use my creative potential. I lined the entire bottom of the green crate with a large piece of window screen to keep in as much dirt as I could. The screen is held down into place by the weight of the concrete. I’m unsure what these curved pieces once belonged to, but now they make the winding paths of Urbanite Penjing Park. I packed in the soil to keep it from spilling out the holes in the side, and then I covered each of the outside holes with grassy moss to help keep everything inside. Everything was seeming to stay in place. We’ll see if it survives the rain!

A few rocks of concrete would make a mountain for the display. Initially I stacked one rock on the other, but decided to take it down to the one piece. I added moss on the rock to give it a finished look. I also laid moss carefully along the edges of the “sidewalk” and throughout the whole project. Other smaller rocks make a small monument in one of the park sections.

I decided that I would only put items into this penjing that I can acquire for free. I found one plant in the display growing in the sidewalk near a convenience store around the corner from me. Some Japanese Maple seeds were planted in the center of the three smooth stones. Other areas for plants have been marked by small beds of gravel. I’m hoping to find a few ferns in my travels to add to the exhibit!

If I could start over, one thing I would do is place a piece of wood down under the crate to help move the display around. It feels too flimsy to do so at the moment.

This is definitely one project that is going to change and grow over time as I find things I want to add to it. I’m looking forward to the possibilities that lay ahead in landscaping this miniature urban park. Patiently away the new growth!