Garden Express Garden Forums

by **taffyman** » Fri May 28, 2010 8:18 pm

This huge Fig is the first tree you see when going into Leong Kwong's Bonsai Nursery in Caringbah, Sydney.
It is a Ficus Microcarpa var: Formosana.

Leong has been cultivating it for forty years, and it really is a credit to his talents in growing and styling trees. If anyone has his book: Ficus Bonsai in the Temperate Climate, this one is on the front cover - but in a rectangular pot. I think the oval pot it's in now really enhances the tree. This oval pot is over a metre wide, so that'll give you some idea of just how big this tree is.

I had the pleasure of meeting him while I was in Sydney. He's an amazing man - very unassuming, loves Bonsai with a passion, doesn't belong to any club and doesn't attend the annual conventions - oh, and he will never say a bad word about anyone! He also supplies nursery stock to other Bonsai nurseries in Sydney - 3000 rooted cuttings to one nursery in particular last year.

Disclaimer:
Leong gave me full unreserved permission to photograph all of his magnificent trees - and to post them wherever I wish. He actively encourages people to take photos and post them - it's good advertising for him, so I'll be posting a lot more of his trees here.

by **guzzigirl** » Sat May 29, 2010 2:16 pm

that is to die for!

by **dolicus** » Sat May 29, 2010 7:57 pm

MAGNIFICO

by **DrDuncs** » Sat May 29, 2010 8:15 pm

Wow, that's awesome. It looks so healthy.

by **Getafix** » Sat May 29, 2010 10:45 pm

dolicus wrote:MAGNIFICO

Shouldn't that be magniFIGo, or maybe maybe magniFICUS?

by **guzzigirl** » Sun May 30, 2010 10:26 am

Getafix wrote:
dolicus wrote:MAGNIFICO

Shouldn't that be magniFIGo, or maybe maybe magniFICUS?

definitely magnificus! :lol:

by **taffyman** » Sun May 30, 2010 10:16 pm

Oh yes - definitely Magnificus!

Leong never 'finishes' a tree, they are always 'work in progress' and this one is no exception. If you have a close look at the bottom right branch, inline with the awning pole behind it, you can just make out a turn-buckle. That's to pull the branch down a bit further. There were also a couple more up in the tree, but the foliage is covering them.

That's one of the beauties of Bonsai, they are living art and as they grow and age, improvements are always possible.