About Us
Bonsai Addicts is the most vibrant bonsai club in Gauteng. And as the name suggests, we are more than just fond of bonsai and trees. Boasting an enigmatic group of fun-loving hobbyists to serious horticulturalists, we grow more than just plants –we grow community. Everybody is welcome, whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned expert of many bonsai seasons.
Club meetings start with talks and/or presentations loosely following a 2-year curriculum that is designed to repeat the basics for beginners, keep the experienced curious and inspire newbies and oldies alike. Taking place in the club’s own bonsai garden, meetings dissolve into casual events were members work on their trees in a social setting. Visitors and new members can mill around or sit down to ask questions and learn at their own pace.
Bonsai Addicts meet every 3rd Saturday of the month at 64 Hugo Road Centurion from 13h00-16h00
We are committed to:
The Art & Spirit of Bonsai
The art and spirit of bonsai engenders patience, care, awareness, creativity, problem solving, self-expression and through the mutual practice of these virtues, friendship.
South African Bonsai Standards & Competitiveness
International standards in bonsai are always rising. Bonsai Addicts is committed to competing locally with the aim of raising our own club’s standards, to lifting South African bonsai standards ever higher and looking at the international stage as a goal that can be achieved.
The Promotion of Indigenous Species as Bonsai
South Africa has an immense diversity of tree species. Many of these are already popular as local bonsai, with some even more popular internationally than they are locally. Bonsai Addicts wishes to place our own tree species in the spotlight and explore the many other indigenous tree species that might be suitable for bonsai.
A Short History Of South African Bonsai
Local History
BY LIAM. M. O’FLAHERTY
The earliest account of bonsai in South Africa is in 1936. It is a catalogue of an exhibition held in Johannesburg. However, there is not much information or documentation about this event. It is therefor more accepted that South Africa’s bonsai beginnings are credited to ‘The mother of South African bonsai’, Becky Lucas. Becky Lucas, of Cape Town, started cultivating bonsai in 1939. Some of her bonsai can still be seen at the Western Cape Heritage Bonsai Collection in Stellenbosch. She went on to study bonsai in Japan in 1957.
When she returned to South Africa she began teaching others the art of bonsai and founded The South African Bonsai Society, in Cape Town, in 1960. She travelled to other cities in South Africa to teach bonsai and extend the reach of The South African Bonsai Society.
In 1965 The Transvaal Bonsai Kai was formed by Doug Hall, who had been receiving lessons on bonsai from two Chinese-South African brothers. Doug Hall went on to author the book ‘Growing Bonsai in South Africa, Southern book publishers, Johannesburg, 1988’. This book continued to inspire many new bonsai enthusiasts and serves as a valuable source of information to the present day.
The Pretoria Bonsai Kai was co-founded by Charles Ceronio in 1968. He went on to demonstrate bonsai nationally and internationally. He is credited for creating several African bonsai styles and authored the internationally acclaimed book ‘Practical Guide to Bonsai Styles of the World, 1999’.
In 1970 the Cape Bonsai Kai was formed and by 1974 there were bonsai societies in Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Zimbabwe and Johannesburg. Now, bonsai clubs can be found all over South Africa.
In 1980 the highly respected bonsai master, John Naka, visited South Africa. He was hosted at the first National Convention in Cape Town. This visit was very influential on the development of bonsai in South Africa and paved the way for many international guests to follow.
By now South Africa boasts a rich history in bonsai. There are many past events and significant individuals to be mentioned from all over the country. Several South African bonsai books have been published, and bonsai education continues to be active at club, provincial and national levels. There are several bonsai nurseries spread all around South Africa and almost every commercial plant nursery will stock bonsai or bonsai related products.
By engaging in bonsai, and particularly joining a bonsai club, you become part of a very healthy bonsai community with a rich past.
Bibliography:
Adam, R., Master bonsai, A practical and inspirational guide, Metz press, 2013
Pretorius, W., The best of South African bonsai… and a little history, Publishing World SA, 2014
www.saba.org.za
International History
by Bruce Carter
There is no clear record of exactly when the art of bonsai first started, where it originated from, and when exactly it found its way to Japan where the name bonsai was established as the world-renowned name for this fascinating art. The term bonsai is derived from the word bon-sai; bon being the Japanese word for ‘tray’ and sai being a loosely translated word for ‘aged plant/tree’.
It is generally believed that the bonsai art form originated in China and early Chinese artistic records of small, stunted trees in gardens support this theory. The planting of these trees into pots would have been the next step for the avid gardeners. Harry Tomlinson, the founder of Greenwood Bonsai, in his publication: The complete book of bonsai, indicates that trees grown in containers may even have been originally introduced to China by India. He goes on to say that Chinese influence in Japan was very strong in the eighth century, and it seems likely that this was when Japan first adopted the art form of bonsai. This is supported by Ken Norman, in his book, Growing Bonsai: A practical Encyclopedia, where he indicates that bonsai originated in China some 1,500 – 2,000 years ago and that there are only records of bonsai cultivation in Japan going back as far as 1,200 years.
Wilkinson believes that the introduction of Buddhism into Japan in about the sixth century, would have introduced the art of bonsai into Japan as it is likely that the Buddhist monks practised the art in their temples, before introducing the art of bonsai to the upper class, and then the general population.
The Chinese word for bonsai is penjing. The word penjing, literally means ‘tray scenery’ and this is what differentiates the Chinese style from the Japanese. The Chinese focus on creating a miniature landscape, while the Japanese focus on the tree as central point of interest.
The Japanese have certainly taken the art of bonsai to a very stylised and ornate level. This may explain why the Japanese are more famously associated with bonsai. It is the Japanese’s meticulous detail and extremes that they put into their bonsai styling, and the relatively small space in which they have to garden that have led them to create the illusion of a courtyard being an enclave within a huge forest, that has put them at the forefront of the art of bonsai. The emphasis on miniature trees creating this illusion of great big forest grown trees is essentially what bonsai is all about.
The Western world only became acquainted with the art of bonsai in the 17th century when trade with the Far East became popular. The first shows and exhibitions only started in the 19th century. Today the art of bonsai is enjoyed throughout the world. With this comes the misnomer of indoor bonsai. This concept is only applicable to the cold northern countries where tropical trees have to be protected from the cold snowy winters. Bonsai are however miniature trees and trees need sunshine to survive and thrive.
In conclusion, the history of the art of bonsai is that it has developed over many centuries, and has been influenced by many cultural, geographic, social and to some extent religious factors.
Now get away from your screen and get into the garden and enjoy caring for and styling your trees.
Bibliography:
Adam. R. n.d. Master Bonsai: A practical and inspirational guide: Mentz Press.
Norman, K. 2005. Growing Bonsai: A practical Encyclopedia. Lorenz Books. London.
Squire, D. 2006. Successful Bonsai. Struik Publishers. Cape Town.
Tomlinson, H. 1990. The complete book of bonsai. Dorling Kindersley Limited. London
Wilkinson, J. 1993. Bonsai Art and Techniques. Thomas C. Lothian Pty Ltd. Port Melbourne.
Zhao Qingquan. 2012. Penjing: The Chinese Art of Bonsai. Shanghai Press and Publishing Development Company.Ltd.