Bonsai at Kew Gardens

Bonsai II
Mary Beth Zeitz
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Two years ago, Kew Gardens, situated on the edge of London, acquired a collection of 50 bonsai plants, donated by Ruth Stafford-Jones, one of the most respected growers in Britain. Some were displayed during Kew’s Japan festival in 2001 and introduced many visitors to the delights of this intricate horticultural art. Now a selection of the trees will be displayed in a new custom-made glasshouse provided by Hartley Botanic.

The glasshouse, 13m long by 4m wide, opens to visitors with its new displays on 12th April 2003. Constructed in brick, powder-coated aluminium and stainless steel, with safety glazing, it replaces an old wooden glasshouse which was in poor condition.

The bonsai collection includes conifers, maples, a Japanese white pine, a rhododendron, beech and an oak tree. The smallest is a Cotoneaster horizontalis, just 10cm high, and the tallest is a Chinese quince standing around 60cm high. Like their full-size counterparts, bonsai are happiest living outdoors so the display will change each week, showing off different specimens throughout the year.

Kew Gardens is just 25 minutes from Charing Cross by District line tube and 20 minutes by overland train from Waterloo. Entry is £7.50 for adults, £5.50 concessions, children 16 and under are free. Free parking is available on Kew Road and Kew Green after 10.00am. Kew Gardens is open daily from 9.30am. Closing is at 5.30pm until 30 March, then 6.30pm Mon-Fri and 7.30pm weekends and bank holidays. For details about visiting Kew phone 020 8332 5655 or check out Kew’s website at www.kew.org.

Special bonsai courses for 2003
Bonsai for beginners

To celebrate the display of the bonsai collection, Kew has put together a new series of five courses.
The opening course is aimed at those who have little knowledge or are complete newcomers to the subject and the seasonal follow-ups are designed to help participants progress. For the four seasonal sessions, participants will be asked to bring along deciduous and coniferous bonsai subjects to work on (either their own or those purchased following advice from the tutor) plus a selection of tools. All other materials will be provided.
Tutor: Nobuyuki Kajiwara

Introduction to Bonsai
Thursday 20 March 10.15am – 1pm
A brief introduction to bonsai, describing the ultimate domestication of nature and how the joys of this form of cultivation can create diversity through various styles, materials and sizes. The course will also illustrate how the growth patterns of bonsai differ from their full size counterparts and the special techniques which transform the growth pattern.

Course Fee: £30 (£25 Concessions, Friends of Kew)
(maximum capacity 15 places)

Bonsai Seasonal Sessions
1. Spring Work
Thursday 10 April 10.15am – 4pm
This session will cover the theory and practice of spring pruning of the aerial part and roots of deciduous trees. It will also cover important points in the daily care of bonsai.

2. Early summer work
Thursday 5 June 10.15am – 4pm
The theory and practice of summer pruning for the new growth will be covered in this session, along with watering, feeding and protecting bonsai from pests and diseases.

3. Late summer work
Thursday 31 July 10.15am – 4pm
This session covers the pruning of new growth in deciduous bonsai, plus the theory and practice of pruning the roots of pine bonsai.

4. Autumn work
Wednesday 5 November 10.15am – 4pm
The final session covers the theory and practice of autumn pruning of deciduous bonsai and the styling of conifer bonsai, using wiring techniques.

Course fee (for all four sessions): £200 (£180 Concessions, Friends of Kew)
(maximum capacity 8 places)

Information about these and other Kew courses is available from Adult Education at Kew on 020 8332 5626, fax: 020 8332 5640, email adulted@kew.org