- By Vijaya Rao
It was 2.30 in the afternoon. As the car curved into the gates of Defence Club, we saw some boys playing cricket in the open ground and there was so much chitter chatter heard….no no no it was not the boys but our enthusiastic club members chatting away to glory enquiring about the health of each other’s plants
Some kusumono /accent plants displayed were so cutely placed in pretty containers. One of them was the lid of a closet tank and another was a `chatti’ (a cooking clay pot) that had cracked and can’t be used for cooking anymore. Shall we call it an accentuated creativity?
 |
| The upturned lid of the closet tank |
 |
| The chatti that was and now a Bonsai |
 |
| Rumphi after repotting |
Single Tree Penjing - Then it was demo time and Dr.Yogesh explained Penjing style. While we were all ears and eyes, he very deftly pulled out a Ficus Jaquinifolia that had braids n braids of aerial roots and very artistically placed it in a tray along with rocks and soil. We learnt that there were 3 types of Penjing where either the plant or the rocks/soil or the water is dominant. Whatever the dominancy is, we should make sure that all the 5 elements (space, water, tree, rock and earth/soil) are present. The Japanese usually had a scroll placed behind to depict the season. To maintain this Penjing we need to spray water regularly and apply rose mix once in 3 months.
 |
| Single tree Penjing in the making |
Suseela then went chop chop around this over grown Fukien Tea plant that had its branches grow hither n thither while their boss Sheila was away for a few months. Will it be a cascade or an informal style and the later was decided by the owner. There needs to be some gap between branches for the trunk line to be seen. So then there was more chop chop chop while some members picked up a few thick twigs to try rooting them…..and VOILA….what a transformation into a slender curvaceous model.
 |
| Over grown Fukien Tree at the parlour |
Another plant that was worked upon was a Baobab of Molly Cherian. The unnecessary roots were sawed away and the cuts were to be treated with fungicide and allowed to dry for a day before repotting with a soil mix of sand, gravel and leaf mould.
Next Malini placed her Ficus Pilcan on the table pensively looking at Dr.Yogesh and all eyes were on doctors hands while he kept shifting this way and that way sculpting the tree into a Bonsai form.
 |
| Malini's Ficus Pilcan |
 |
| Huddled Together |
While we were mulling over the points gathered our hands held a cup of tea and a plate of yummy snacks. Tummy was full and brain activated, our green fingers were itching to go home and get soiled. We bid a hearty and content good bye, looking forward to our next meet ……
