age or kill Buttonwoods. Avid, Conserve and Talstar work well for the control of most pests. Nematodes are also a concern in collected trees. Look for ‘knot’ like galls in the root system upon repotting and remove them when seen.
Buttonwoods may be trained into any style the tree tells you. Depending on root structure, attitude of the trunk and overall size it lends itself to many styles. One style popular among tropical bonsai artists is the literati. Also known as a very Avant garde style, the literati is considered to be the most advanced bonsai style. Having originated as far back as 206 AD with the Chinese, the term “literati” is derived from a word used to describe the intellectual elite of the society of that time. This group of people were skilled in the traditional arts of philosophy, literature, music, painting and poetry. The bonsai this culture created were tall and slender, and their abstract beauty could be compared with calligraphy. These creations exuded a complete freedom of expression. About 200 years ago, a famous Japanese artist Hiroshige painted the first Japanese version of the literati concept. The Japanese version of the literati style is known as “Bun Jin”. True literati bonsai can only be created once all the rules of traditional bonsai styles has been mastered.
Guidelines for creating the literati style
· The trunk is regarded as the single most important feature of the style.
· Although the trunk is slender it must have strong rhythm and line movement. The curves are very prominent and must taper towards the apex.
· Single Line VS. Double Line
· Branch line Movement. Symmetrical VS. Asymmetrical
· Round containers are mostly used because the tree looks good from many sides. Handmade work great.
· Not as much emphasis placed on the roots.
· Branches are few in number and not too long.
· Foliage is sparse to suggest the struggle of the tree as it is found in nature.
· 2/3rds of the trunk is generally free from branches.
Possible variations in the style could include formal upright literati, informal upright literati, slanting literati, extreme slanting literati, semi cascade literati, double trunk, twin trunk, triple trunk literati and pierneef literati.
“The style that has no style, the style that has no rules, the style that breaks all the rules. It is the style you try only when you have tried all the other styles. It is the ultimate style”