Bonsai artist: Peter Hobbs (club member since 2014)
Species: Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi).
Source: Workshop with Bill Valavanis in Rochester, NY
Years in training: 4-5 years
Pot: Hagabon, GA
Story: Instead of “tree of the month”, the June bonsai was “trees of the month”, specifically nine larches grown in a beautiful forest planting by Peter Hobbs. Peter originally acquired the trees 4-5 years ago at a workshop put on by well-known bonsai artist Bill Valavanis in Rochester, NY, but they have their roots in the FLX bonsai club, quite literally—Peter potted them in a mix formulated by former club member and physicist Brian Heltsley, who takes a scientific approach to soil. Peter moved the trees to their current pot from Hagabon in Georgia two summers ago, and last year they returned to Rochester for the national show. However, Peter believes the planting looks even better this spring, covered in tiny cones for the first time. The trees were so green and vibrant that Peter actually started to pinch back some of the tips as we spoke, but a couple of months ago this planting would have looked very different; larches are unusual in being deciduous conifers, turning a beautiful shade of yellow in the fall before dropping their needles for the winter.
Species: Japanese Larch (Larix kaempferi).
Source: Workshop with Bill Valavanis in Rochester, NY
Years in training: 4-5 years
Pot: Hagabon, GA
Story: Instead of “tree of the month”, the June bonsai was “trees of the month”, specifically nine larches grown in a beautiful forest planting by Peter Hobbs. Peter originally acquired the trees 4-5 years ago at a workshop put on by well-known bonsai artist Bill Valavanis in Rochester, NY, but they have their roots in the FLX bonsai club, quite literally—Peter potted them in a mix formulated by former club member and physicist Brian Heltsley, who takes a scientific approach to soil. Peter moved the trees to their current pot from Hagabon in Georgia two summers ago, and last year they returned to Rochester for the national show. However, Peter believes the planting looks even better this spring, covered in tiny cones for the first time. The trees were so green and vibrant that Peter actually started to pinch back some of the tips as we spoke, but a couple of months ago this planting would have looked very different; larches are unusual in being deciduous conifers, turning a beautiful shade of yellow in the fall before dropping their needles for the winter.
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