Recently, a friend came by to pick up an antique Chinese pot I had sourced for a Kuromatsu for him, so, since it was still pretty close to the New Year, I used the opportunity to set up a shohin display using a scroll which was a gift.
The scroll depicts the foliage of pine, bamboo, and plum: symbols of strength, long life, resilience, and reawakening in the New Year. May be the only chance I have to use this scroll appropriately for a guest!
The trees are, top to bottom, right to left: Kuromatsu in a Suishoen Hekisui pot, Miyasama Kaede in a Bushuan pot, princess persimmon in a Chinese recent pot, Stewartia in an unmarked Chinese pot, root over rock Kaede in a Reiho pot, dwarf horsetail, Hosta, and local grass “volunteer” kusamono in a Haruyoshi pot, and Kishu Shimpaku in a cultural revolution era Chinese pot.
I grabbed what looked pretty decent out of winter display: not optimal, but I think it came out alright. There is a bit too much blue, in the containers, a bright yellow would really liven up the display if used at the second shelf, and the movement of a couple of the trees is off, but, as it was really a chance to show off the scroll, I’m okay with the flaws.
Just goes to show that creating a good shohin display takes a lot of planning ahead!
Japanese Bonsai Pots Blog 
Those are some awesome trees in there. Thanks for taking the time to put them together and snap a picture of great pieces. Stands, pots and trees.
Thanks Al! Means a lot! From your intense study of display you know better than anyone that I just grabbed whatever looked good off the benches to show off my old New Years scroll! How often do you get a bonsai guest in the first week of January!?
I hope your guest was sufficiently enthusiastic 😉
It is a beautiful display all around with some top-shelf material, and it was pleasure to meet you. Looking forward to the next visit!
Thanks again,
BVF
The guy I set the display for? No he was a douche Brian. Good thing you came by the same day and enjoyed it ;-). Looking forward to your next visit as well, and hopefully my visit to Birmingham. I’m thinking of bringing that black pine with the surprise deadwood for that other Ryan…what you think?
I am still working towards grabbing a nice shohin pine to put on top of a box stand. I am working on a few, hopefully one will turn out well.
Boy, that Bushuan pot is really something! Really pops but works great with the tree. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Edward, I agree, and that’s why I didn’t have any qualms when Harvey Carapella chose that tree for my logo!
wow it looks so nice, i love it. 🙂