On June 11, 2014 the Northumberland Master Gardeners welcomed Joan Greenaway to their meeting. Joan Greenaway is a founding member of the Matsuyama Society of Durham Region. Joan gave an interesting and informative power point presentation on Japanese Bonsai, a complex and exacting procedure aimed at creating a potted and shaped miniature tree that reflects a mature tree in its natural form. Ideally, the viewer should recognize the location and the setting portrayed by the creator of the bonsai.
Joan outlined the traditional Japanese bonsai forms through her photos and the examples she brought. She emphasized choosing the appropriate pot to accompany the tree, encouraged us to locate a good bonsai specimen in the rejects at the landscapers or in the wild, and described how to further shape the tree branches with wire or pruning.