by John Callaway

This year we made the six-hour drive to Olive Branch Mississippi for Brussel’s Bonsai Rendezvous 2004 over Memorial Day weekend. It was a wonderful experience and great time for experts and novice bonsai lovers alike.

The first night was a reception welcoming everyone to the new $2 million facility. Hors d'oeuvres were served, along with an open bar. Kenji Miyata gave a demonstration Friday night on a Ponderosa Pine. Kathy Shaner provided a humorous dialog and translation as Kenji worked. This masterpiece was transformed within two hours into a lovely specimen that a lucky raffle winner took home at the end of the weekend. All demonstration trees were raffled off throughout the weekend. Pictures of the demonstration trees can be viewed on the gallery page of the Greater Louisville Bonsai Society’s website at www.louisvillebonsai.org.

Saturday morning Guy Guidry delighted the audience by using such tools as a small Makita chainsaw and angle grinder to reduce an overgrown Dawn Redwood to a bonsai of half its original size. The transformation was fun to watch and we also heard many entertaining stories while he worked. It was also educational as he talked about bonsai and some of the problems that can occur and some tips in helping your trees grow. The rest of the day we wandered between all the workshops since we did not participate in any that day. Kenji and Kathy led two of the day’s workshops. Kenji and his “students” worked all day on needle junipers. Kathy’s class worked on wiring and cutting back some truly amazing Satsuki Azaleas. Other workshops going on throughout the day were Green Mound Junipers led by Brussel’s resident artist Dana Quattlebaum, Imported Shimpaku Junipers with Boon Manakitivipart, 15 tree Trident Maple Forest with Brussel Martin, and Imported Fukien Tea led by Guy Guidry.

After a Catered Lunch provided by the Cajun Cookers, we had a chance to go to the old property to two quarantine houses where many specimens will be housed until January 2006. Only trees brought in from Japan need to be quarantined for the twoyear period. You could tag as many as you were willing to buy, and there were even two Japanese Black Pines valued at $50,000 each that will be sent to the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. upon their release.

Saturday night Boon Manakitivipart demonstrated training of a Satsuki Azalea. His student, Jonas, was on hand to help out. Boon gave the crowd his full attention in answering questions while he and Jonas tediously wired the tree to perfection. The pictures truly show what a work of art this tree became in just a few hours.

Sunday morning Kathy Shaner was on hand to give a demonstration of a Shimpaku Juniper. She stated that while each demonstration tree turned out to be a truly wonderful bonsai, she would make this juniper appear to be the oldest. The tree already had some wonderful deadwood, so she used this to exaggerate its age.

We participated in two workshops Sunday. The first was a Shimpaku Phoenix Graft workshop led by Brussel Martin. The steps were fairly simple. First, figure out which way you want the tree over the driftwood and then cut a groove in the driftwood for the tree. We then nailed the Shimpaku Juniper into the driftwood and wired to get the shape we wanted.

That afternoon we participated in a Chinese elm workshop also led by Brussel, which was a little more work. The trees were all overgrown and in need of attention. Much of the time was spent getting the pads shaped and wiring and placing the branches appropriately. The root system on the tree we brought home is magnificent and really gives the tree an old look.

Other workshops going on throughout the day included Trident Maple whips over rock led by Dana Quattlebaum, Stewartia by Kathy Shaner, Ponderosa Pine conducted by Kenji Miyata, Large Trident Maple by Boon, and (mostly carving) Bald Cypress by Guy Guidry. Again the Cajun Cookers provided lunch. The afternoon workshops included Chinese Flowering Quince by Dana, Semi-Cascade Ito Igawa Shimpaku Juniper by Kenji, Shohin Ito Igawa Shimpaku Juniper by Boon, Sharpe’s Pigmy Maple by Guy, and Flowering Apricot led by Kathy.

Overall, this was our best bonsai experience yet. The food was catered and really high quality. The staff at Brussel’s was quite friendly and always greeted you with a smile. We have two great trees from this weekend as a reminder of what a good time we had. We have already registered for next year (registration will again be buy one get one free) and we hope you will join us for Rendezvous 2005.