Have you ever broken a bonsai pot or slab and ended up throwing it in the wheely bin?
Many of us have.
Too many of us think that if a pot isnt "perfect" that it will never look any good with our tree in it.
Recently, I was asked if I had any broken/cracked bonsai pots that I was going to chuck out. Hmmm... strange question I thought. Normally people want solid unbroken uncracked pots-brand new.
On questioning him he was adamant they would definitely have a use. So I quite happily gave him a couple of rejects from my latest kiln firing.
I got an email from him recently with a couple of pictures of his latest bonsai creation using a slab that had broken during the high firing.
Now this bloke is obviously talented. To think outside the square and make use of these two pieces of pot and create a beautiful forest/group planting of beech is something to be proud of.
Here is a picture of the beech planted up on a "one piece slab" (broken one pushed together)
Looks great dont you think! But look below
In my opinion, I think this looks even better, two separate plantings but still with the one group.
The river/stream is imagined between them.
I managed to get him to agree to put his name to this creation....well sort of, he's about to start out his own bonsai venture and is going by the name of Fredric Bonsai. If you want to get in touch with him, I may be able to pass on any queries. Better still, I'll see if he wants me to add his email address!
So the next time the dog/kids/wind/rugby ball knocks over one of your trees and breaks the pot/slab, take a good hard look at it first before turfing it in the bin. Nature isnt perfect, after all, isn't that what we are trying to recreate?
