[.ca] Creating Bonsai Landscapes: 18 Miniature Garden Projects (ISBN 1580174841)

A very small world:
The writer presents 18 miniature landscapes which, she says, "represent a very personal synthesis of the bonsai and penjing traditions". These landscape are made up of the usual tiny trees, moss and gravel, but they also contain intricate rocky "outcrops" which form the basis of the entire landscape. Her creations combine the delicacy of the tiny landscape with the ruggedness of rock and tree to unique effect. The writer gives detailed instructions for making each of the landscapes, including - I kid you not - how to make all the rocky outcrops yourself. Given patience, skill and delicacy of touch almost anyone could follow these instructions and make a very attractive table top landscape. The writer was born in Singapore and studied art in England. She is a judge in the bonsai category at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. She approaches her miniature landscapes from the point of view of a painter, and she incorporates the Chinese principles of Tao and the balance of yin and yang to create harmony in these beautiful miniature worlds.