Trip to Kolathur

By Sheela Babu

As bonsai enthusiasts we often find ourselves searching for the perfect materials to bring our miniature landscapes to life. So Bodhi bonsai club decided to make a trip to Kolathur famed for its streets of aquariums, stones and driftwood stores.

We met up at 10:30 AM on the dot and began a search for the treasures we were looking for. It was no doubt a treasure trove of lovely smooth colourful rounded stones, while others were rugged and jagged, perfect for mimicking natural landscapes in a bonsai pot. We also explored for driftwoods, gnarled and twisted pieces of wood which where absolutely fascinating. Raw organic beauties ideal for creating striking aaccents or for tanukies.

We were like enthusiastic young kids, hopping from one shop to another hunting for pieces of nature. We where not disappointed at all. We loaded our cars with these beautiful elements of nature; stones, driftwoods, sand and even ornamental fish by some members

After the purchases, some of the members gathered at Aachie eating joint, while others returned home totally satisfied with their valuable picks. I would recommend this place for all bonsai lovers to draw inspiration from these natural beauties to enhance their art of bonsai. I am sure this won’t be our last visit to Kolatur.

Good Bye 2024 💐

 By Dr .Yogesh, George and Vijaya Chamundeswari

The year-end celebration of the Chennai Bonsai Association was truly an event to remember, brimming with fun, learning, and camaraderie. The day kicked off with stunning bonsai and penjing demonstrations, where members showcased their creativity and expertise in shaping miniature trees. The bonsai quiz program challenged participants' knowledge, sparking friendly competition and deepening everyone’s appreciation for the art.

The Bodhi Family flanked together

Suseela on Mame Bonsai

Penjing by Dr. Yogesh and Suseela

Another by Mohan and Sheela

Shantha Mathew our stand up comedian

Quiz time with thinking caps on

In addition to these educational activities, the event was full of engaging fun games, lucky draws, and surprises, ensuring that everyone had a blast. It wasn’t just about bonsai; the vibrant atmosphere and sense of community made the day even more special. A delightful lunch was enjoyed by all, further fostering connections among bonsai enthusiasts, and guests took home thoughtful gifts, including high-quality bonsai materials, garden tools, and elegant ceramic pots—perfect for enhancing their collections.

The three prize winners

Suganthi got the first  place  in Bonsai  quiz

Mrs. Molly wins a prize

Mr. Mahendran our champion for the day

Happy December babies

Feeding each other a piece of comraderi

The enthusiasm of the participants was palpable, with every moment filled with energy and excitement. As 2024 comes to a close, the Bodhi community is grateful for a year of shared growth, both in bonsai and spirit. Looking ahead to 2025, Bodhi is excited to host even more inspiring bonsai events, continuing to bring people together to celebrate and cultivate this beautiful art form.

By George from FaceBook

Just two FB comments here and more posts on FB

A Meeting with a Hearty Twist

By Vijaya Chamundeswari

There was so much cheer and laughter at the Children’s Park in Spurtank Road Chetpet. An array of plants brought by our members was reason enough. The plant of the month being Sea Hibiscus had colourful leaves that hung from their petioles. These heart shaped leaves quivered and shivered as the air gave them a breezy touch. Some had turned red, while some were a golden yellow. The entire tree was like a bunch of blushing brides.

Hmmm…..lets jump to facts from this romance. The Sea Hibiscus is a hardy plant and so flexible that it can be twisted and shaped to your fancy. Wonder why some masters like it to be bare without leaves (heartless!). With all its leaves plucked out from the petioles, it will still burst out into fresh foliage with the leaf hearts literally falling for you. Careful with die back as they love to have a good sun bath and at the same time balance it out with a love for water. Soil can be a well-draining one with akadama and pumice. Fertilize them with organic manure and repot once a year to keep them healthy. An addition of NPK can speed up the growth. Pests like Spider mites and Aphids can be controlled with a spray of neem oil. Having a botanical name - Tiliaceus and a common name - Cotton Wood, fisher folk use the wood to float their nets in sea. This interesting tree can be easily propagated by cuttings dipped in pure RO water for a week or so and with roots having formed, can be shifted to soil. Pick your plant from the varieties available – variegated, small leaf or large leaf and add them to adorn your bonsai collection. Mohan’s plant was admired by all as you can see in the picture.

Dr. Yogesh ready to work on Mohan's plant
while Mohan hides behind the screen guessing the outcome😄

Now lets rock and roll with literati style or Bunjin as the Chinese would love to call it. Twist the trunk and shake off a few leaves, knock off some branches and you have a dancing figure in a pot. Nature turns misery to mirth by accepting challenges and staying strong. Weather beaten or insufficient sunlight due to a near by hindrance makes some trees bend and twist and somehow survive disasters. Mostly the ones on hilly slopes bend over due to landslides, yet hold on to soil with a strong foothold of roots. This style is quite a challenge for bonsai enthusiasts to achieve for they need constant care and observation. The outcome is marvellously artistic. Thank you, Dr Yogesh, for the superb demonstration and points to remember. That was so inspiring.

Vandana's literati after the twists and turns💃🏻

As always, the youngest Harini did all the service, while we enjoyed our hot cup of coffee; chatted over some chat munching, and dispersed with chopped off branches as return gifts of our masters.

Bodhi Bonsai Meetup with Mr.Ravindran

We had a very informative interesting and inspiring meetup with Mr.Ravindran at the Defense Colony Club house. 

Mr.Ravindran with our Bodhi members. 

The transformation brought about after a lot of observation and step by step shaping.

It was a different session with our members getting a critical appreciation and guidance on their Casuarinas

Ram, Dr.Yogesh,George and Maria

Photos  courtesy Vijaya  Chamundeswari.

Manure tips from Mr.Ravindran

By Gayathree  Krishna

Cowdung cake - mix with neem leaf,  subabul leaf  ( has high nitrogen content) and make a flat cup cake kind of structure with a rim  so that water can stagnate and help in dissolving nutrients from it slowly. 

Don’t use rice husk, you can make compost from it but not direct use. 

Don’t use panchakavyam because of the ghee content in it. 

You can use cow urine - dilute and use 

Filtered water of peanut cake is important for casuarina. Don’t use peanut cake directly as it might invite rodents and other unwanted elements.  

Preferably use only organic manure, casuarina does well in it. 

You can use NPK during rainy reason or 

DAP which has more phosphorus. 

Don’t manure during dry winter season November, December. In our weather condition we could translate it to December, January.

ZEN GARDEN IN A TRAY

By Vijay Chamundeshwari

While our living space grew smaller and smaller our creativity grew into miniaturizing everything from trees to pets to even an entire garden. We have done entire landscapes that can be placed on a table. We have played with the art of even visualizing a stone into abstract emotions and imaginative formations. This time our Bodhi Bonsai Friends have taken to a very serene and meditative state of mind – A Zen Garden in a Tray. 

Look at the creations and observe how peaceful it feels.......each creation can be gazed at for as long as your mind wanders into a state of trance.

Rocks, gravel, sand and a bit of calm imagination is all that is needed to create a dry zen garden.

Add some little plants or moss but keep it minimal.

Enhance the mood of the formation by adding a small statue that does not hinder with the space.

Get more creative and add a stone pathway that leads to where ever you want it to.....can be a little house or a tree or a statue.

The Japanese have categorized them into 3 types. Hill Gardens, Tea Gardens and Dry Gardens. Choose what suits your imagination with what you have in hand.

These gardens are generally dry but the element of water can be suggested with some coloured pebbles or gravel or glass.

Traditionally a stony pathway led to a tea ceremony and on either side were found beautiful rocks placed on gravel with spots of greenery here and there. Entering this tea garden would set you into a very serene state of mind and what followed was done with utmost humbleness. 

As with any art form Zen Garden too has a few principles to be borne in mind. The Zen masters have chalked out seven of them - Austerity, Simplicity, Naturalness, Asymmetry, Mystery or Subtlety, Magical or unconventional and Stillness We can bring in most of them if not all while making a Zen Garden.

The word Zen comes from the word Chan which meant Dhyana or meditation. Try making a Zen Garden in a tray and notice how meditative you become while you place the rocks so diligently and make waves and circles around them, either with your fingers or with a fork or stick. Keep changing the formations while you try to keep in mind the odd numbers and a triangle in mind. Maintain harmony and balance just like Mother Nature. Time just fades away and you get spaced out while you find yourself wandering or sitting in a Zen Garden......and there you will find...... PEACE.

SPIRIT OF NATURE

  By Vijay Chamundeshwari

This exactly is what we want to catch in our trays and pots and anything that we can put our hands upon – The Spirit of Nature. Bodhi Bonsai friends meet this time at the Defence Club in pretty large numbers to catch some creative ideas. We had our workshop on Penjing preceded by our President Dr Yogesh doing a PPT on the same that gave us an insight into facts like Penjing or Penzai as the Chinese call it being found in a Chinese mural in the tomb of prince Zang Huai as far back as AD 706! Tree Penjing pictures were very artistic and interesting. Penjing variants were seen with the Japanese and Vietnamese style. Modern day artists have become bolder in exploring styles which was seen in some of our very own displays. Even the container took us by surprise being the top of a TV Stand! by our Secretary Mr.Ramkumar. We had rocks for mountains and white sand or pebbles for water. Little terracotta chips made steps to a pretty little house. We had two men playing some game seated amidst natural surroundings by Suseela. Much more was displayed and here are some pics to feast our eyes.

Plant of the month being Carmona our senior member Molly Cherian did a Show &Tell presentation with a flat-topped Carmona, a Carmona mame and a Shohin. Lush green and beautiful were they all. While she said it was very difficult to propagate through cuttings and said we could be lucky if the fallen seeds germinated, George walked up to give us tips on how to make a cutting take root. This plant Carmona looked very interesting and all of us were inspired to get our hands working on one. We have a small leaf and a variegated variety too if prepared to take on the challenge.

Coming back to our miniature landscapes displayed – It was a pleasure to watch our members walk around clearing doubts and appreciating the art. Reminded me of Gulliver’s Travels making us all look like giants. Time for some chitter chatter while we had a penjing of snacks served along with fresh mango juice and tea. As I gazed at my white paper plate, the samosa looked like a hill and the cookie a flat rock. The plate was like water and the brownie a boat - my taste buds went a sailing.  Our defence club friends did take us on an interesting tour.