This Japanese maple, Acer palmatum, is from seed, not a cutting, graft or air layer of any special cultivar. It was grown in a field for about 8-10 years, then container grown and trained for about 30 years. The mature bark is an indication suggesting age.
The original oval blue container is a bit small and too deep for my taste. The tall feet, positioned awkwardly, centered too close together bothered my sense of design for a slanting style upright deciduous species. The feet lift the body of the container a bit too high off the display table and allows too much negative space underneath. It does not present a stable feeling.
Although I prefer outer rim containers for deciduous species, the original container rim is a bit too heavy and prominent for my taste. Also, the sides of the original container are slightly curved a bit too much and presents a deep feeling. The new, contemporary Chinese container, made for the Japanese market, has a less prominent outer rim which is in proportion to the entire container presentation and the sides are more straight presenting a better balance. Both containers are blue and very suitable for deciduous and broad-leaf species. The new light blue container is not as prominent as the dark blue and presents a fine-refined taste. The dark blue is fine, and I have many bonsai in that bold color. But I was looking for a different container which fits the taste I have been developing for over 60 years. Selecting the perfect container is difficult. I have specific tastes for containers and purchase them when available, and if affordable, even though I have no idea what to plant in it.
About ten years ago we were transplanting a maple because the pot was too small. So, we visited my special collection of pots on the second floor of my studio. We found SEVEN “perfect” containers which would all be suitable for the bonsai. In fact, I photographed them with the tree in the old pot and asked members on Facebook which one they would choose. My son Christopher, who does not do bonsai, but has an appreciation and knows how to train them, selected the same container that I did! So, I had seven containers which were all suitable, because I collected them because of my specific standards and tase and had them on hand. The since all seven were suitable I began to study the craftsmanship of the ceramic potter looking for imperfections, quality, glaze, clay body and color (even on the inside where it would not be visible), design and if the pot was damaged or sits level and the thickness of the pot. Beginners and hobbyists usually do not practice bonsai on this level and do have the experience to even notice subtle things, but these small details are necessary when creating masterpiece bonsai.
I was fortunate to be invited to Puerto Rico for their Tropical Bonsai Symposium a few ago. There, just looking around was the perfect container waiting for me at the Jardin Seleto Garden Center of Carlos Morales. I did not even have to measure the size, I just knew it would fit. Matching containers to bonsai for over half a century presents one with the experience and knowledge to accomplish things very few people would ever even think of.
So, I purchased the container and with some help packed it for the trip home. There was even a handle so I could carry it with one hand while my cane was in the other. Since I’m usually one of the first to board the plane, I found a friendly and kind flight attendant who helped me. Although it would have fit in the overhead compartment a flight attendant found a better and safer location in a closet.
The container and I both arrived home in one safe piece. Then a few days later, with the maple if full leaf, we transplanted the tree, even using a Sawzall to shorten the root mass. Yes, it was not the ideal timing since all the leaves would drop in a few short weeks, but we will be giving it special care during the winter and next spring. Transplanting bonsai out of season is common in my garden, but we provide extra special aftercare.
The Japanese maple now looks better in its new home. We put the newly transplanted tree back in a full sun environment where it could be carefully watched. One day I noticed only one half of the foliage was turning yellow, so we immediately rotated it so it would receive sunshine evenly all around the tree. We got lucky and all the beautiful autumn colors developed, and we captured its beauty on film, no, electronically. This worked and we were able to enjoy and share its new beauty with many others in its new home for about two weeks.
