Intern. Bonsai Academy in Kastela, Croatia 2013 #16

Past weekend the International Bonsai Academy 2013 took place in Kastela near Split , Croatia. There we have Mediterranean climate. This means no frost in winter, palm trees on the beach. The climate is similar to southern California and northern Florida. Therefore everything can be done on the trees right now, like repotting, cutting, styling, collecting etc.. End of November is a very good time to repot there. Warning: most things can NOT be done now in colder climate.
Marija and Andrija have this mazing collection there and do everything together. During the seminar without much ado we take one tree after the other from more than 100 specimen bonsai and do whatever can be done at that moment. We do a lot of subtle artistic corrections. First thorough tree discussion among there people who have strong opinions. Then a consensus. Then hands on doing what has to be done.

#16: wild olive, Olea europea sylvestris, collected five ears ago. This tree is now in the final refinement stage. The overall image is meant to look like a real tree and absolutely not like a typical bonsai. This olive was featured in Bonsai Focus magazine in five languages around the world. It was prepared now carefully to be presented to Noelanders Trophy 2014 in January in Belgium. This tree will also be shown at the Split Bonsai Art Exhibit in the Diocletian Palace in April 2014. The Diocletian Palace is around 1,800 years old. We will report of the event, of course.