HGTV.comHGTV.com

The Art of Bonniwa

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1606 -- More Projects »
The ancient art of bonsai could be described as "one tray, one tree, one harmonious blend of nature and art." However, bonniwa is a relatively new art form that takes bonsai to an entirely different level.

"Bonniwa is a whole landscape or a whole scene, and a bonsai is typically a single tree," says landscape designer and nursery owner Hiro Matsuda, who invented this type of bonsai. "Bonniwa is a miniature Japanese garden or a vignette of it."

The ingredients of bonniwa
A bonniwa landscape consists of the following items: container, soil, plants, rocks and tsukubai.

PHOTO

Figure A
PHOTO

Figure B
PHOTO

Figure C
PHOTO

Figure D
PHOTO

Figure E
  • Container: Unlike bonsai where the container significantly enhances the overall look, bonniwa focuses the eye on what's in the planter. Therefore the container is simplistic and flat (figure A) and serves only to hold the miniature landscape in place. "The reason it is flat is because it is not the integral part," explains Matsuda. "It is just to house the overall presentation, so if you make it thicker, then that becomes the main part." Matsuda makes his own trays out of concrete, complete with drainage holes.

  • Soil: The soil used in your bonniwa should be adapted to the climate. In Matsuda's case, temperatures range in his area from the low teens to a hundred-plus degrees Fahrenheit. So he developed his soil for the worst conditions in the middle of summer. He plans to water his once a day.

    The basic soil recipe he uses consists of three parts compost, one part crushed lava rock and one part sand (figure B), but you can personalize it for your region. Your local bonsai club is a good resource for soil amendment suggestions.

  • Plants: For bonniwa plants, don't worry about breaking the bank. Matsuda recommends using three- to five-year-old specimens and dwarf plants (figure C). "You can take relatively young plants, and they will quickly look great."

  • Rocks: Rocks are essential to the art of bonniwa, and there is quite a selection available. "Rocks make up one-third of the presentation. The rocks, plants and the mounding or the grade make up the whole presentation."

  • Tsukubai: These are the humanizing elements, like a house, Japanese lantern or other evidence of human life within the miniature landscape (figure D). Matsuda makes his own tsukubai, but you may be able to find miniature teahouses and water implements at Asian import stores.

    After all of these have been collected, the following tools are needed and consist of your basic bonsai fare: pruners, sharp scissors, wire cutters, tweezers and chopsticks (figure E).

    The construction of the Bonniwa
    To begin, decide which side of the container is the front. Then place screens over the drainage holes to keep the soil in place. Secure with wire pins.

    Select the key plant, which is the largest within the container. Here Matsuda uses three trident maples together because they look like a miniature forest. Japanese gardens are rarely flat, so to recreate miniature, rolling mountains, Matsuda adds mounds of soil surrounding the root ball of the trident maples.

    The secondary plant should be at a lower elevation than the key plant, and here Matsuda uses dwarf Hinoki cypress. "At this point, it's only a rough fit. It might change as I get to the next step. I'll more soil so that when I get done here, it's going to look very natural and continuous."

    Bonniwa uses much more soil than bonsai, which translates into less maintenance. "This will go much longer without having to be repotted than your typical bonsai."

    • PHOTO

    Figure F
    PHOTO

    Figure G
    To add a sense of water in his Japanese garden, Matsuda uses lightweight lava rocks to create the borders of a meandering stream (figure F). There is no right or wrong here. "When the rocks are just right, you'll know it."

    Rotate the container, looking at every angle of the miniature landscape. No one view should look the same. To soften the landscape, Matsuda adds a few strategically placed clumps of dwarf sedge grass.

    Once the plants and rocks have been placed, add time-release fertilizer. The fertilizer package instructions list the recommended application rates. Spread it evenly throughout the garden.

    Next, start placing moss over the soil. Matsuda uses moss harvested from all over his nursery to blanket the exposed soil (figure G). "When you have large pieces of moss, save it for the most extreme slope. Try to get the big pieces so the soil won't run off."

    Photo

    Figure H
    Photo

    Figure I
    PHOTO

    Figure J
    To better display the stream previously created with lava rock, Matsuda adds aquarium gravel (figure H). He incorporates the tsukubai into the container (figure I). With each addition, the entire miniature landscape comes together. The stream brings the landscape to life. The water basin, lantern, spigot and bridge make it look like people have lived here forever (figure J).

    Pruning the bonniwa
    Just like bonsai, bonniwa requires pruning which will give age and definition to the young plants. Matsuda prunes the trident maples to look like a mature miniature plant. He suggests that with many bonniwa plants you have to prune the top parts much heavier than the bottom. When in doubt, prune it out. He also says that it's fine to add wire to help shape plants.

    Note: Don't forget to water as it is essential to achieve the bonniwa's full potential.

    The best tip Matsuda has for aspiring bonniwa artists is to sit back, relax and create the miniature masterpiece of your dreams.

    Guests
    Hiro Matsuda
    Matsuda Landscape & Bonsai Nursery
    Newcastle, CA
    Website: www.hiromatsuarts.com/
    Also in this Episode
    Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1606
    •Spring Freeze
    •The Process of Making Garden Pottery
    •The Art of Bonniwa
    •The Natural Lawn
    HGTV.com
    Services Popular Content About
    Our Sister Sites

    Comparison Shop for Home Decor & Garden Tools at Shopzilla & BizRate

    UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services.

    © 2008 Scripps Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.