Piece 5: William N. Valavanis

Japanese Maple, William N. Valavanis. Seigen Japanese Maple. International Bonsai. Photo from William N. Valavanis.

    Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are the king of deciduous bonsai. They are showy in all seasons, even winter, which shows off the delicate twigging and branch color of certain species. They also require extra attention to their cultivation to keep them healthy. Valavanis has many Japanese maples of high quality. His attention to each tree is evident in their radiant health.

    This is an example of an informal upright style deciduous bonsai. Like the atlas cedar, the branches start at a downward angle to show weight. But, unique to deciduous trees, the tips of the branches angle upward, reaching toward the light. The blue color and round shape of the pot complement the color of the foliage and shape of the canopy, respectively.

    If the shallowness of the pot seems strange, it's not. Japanese maples, and maples in general, have shallow root systems. The shallowness also shows off the root base and helps that root base form. It's also important to note that the canopy of deciduous trees tend to be more rounded and less triangular than coniferous trees. This is usually reflected in the styling of both types of bonsai.

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