This style is modeled after trees that grow over water or down the side of a mountain.  Hiding within the crevices of the mountain side allow for many pad layers to develop as the tree keeps growing and reaching for space and light.  This is one style that is overly used when trying to style a tree, when in doubt people try to make it into a cascade, but the opposite should be taught.  In Japan and around the world high quality Cascading trees are very rare, as it is very hard to create an attractive balanced composition with a tree that moves out, away, and downward from the pot.

Advantages of Kengai

Include images of art that are very beautiful.  We love to see a flowing image with movement that seems it came right off the side of the mountain into a bonsai pot.  It allows us to incorporate the idea of a harsh landscape, a struggle to survive, and power to hold to its position.  Cascade style allows us to open our imagination and pull fun interesting characteristics from the materiel.

Disadvantages of Kengai

Is that it can look very sloppy.  We want downward facing branching with upward facing foliage.  The idea of creating pads is very important but it must be balanced with the composition.  Keeping rules of slanting and windswept in mind, we want implied line in cascading trees, pick a side of the pot to create the image.

• Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora)
• Black Pine (Pinus nigra)
• Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
• Juniper (Juniperus sp.)
• Spruce (Picea sp.)
• Ficus sp
• Olive (Olea sp.)
• Conifers
• Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
• Wisteria sp.
• Oak (Quercus sp.)

 

Stefan Rausch was born and raised in Colorado, growing up hiking, hunting and fishing dominated most of his time ingraining his love for the Rocky Mountains. He started working with all types of plant material at an early age working his way up to a full time position in horticulture at one of Colorado’s most premier country clubs. His brother saw this interest and soon invited him to a local bonsai show, this is where for the first time he saw the possibilities and artistic expression of bonsai and what could be done with local Rocky Mountain material. He is truly passionate about the progression and future of Bonsai as an art form, especially here in the United States. Stefan has been lucky enough to learn first hand from some of the best Yamadori collectors and Bonsai Artists such as Larry Jackel and Harold Sasaki.