Tobie is a medical doctor in George, on the South Coast of South Africa. (George is situated about 450 km east of Cape Town). He started his Bonsai collection in 1998 and now has about 650 trees in his collection.
This is quite a big collection and Tobie employs a full time gardener to help with watering, weeding, feeding and pest control. Since starting bonsai, Tobie has become totally absorbed and has attended national and international congresses and visited bonsai gardens in Japan, China, Australia, Singapore, Bali and America. He is also very fortunate to be invited to do demo’s, lectures and workshops at local clubs in South Africa and Namibia.
My thanks go to Tobie for sharing some of his bonsai with us!
OLEA
EUROPAEA var AFRICANA
Age of tree>100 years, collected 2000
Started as Bonsai 2001
Height
97 cm
Width 72 cm
Base of trunk 35 cm
ULMUS
PARVIFOLIA
Age of tree±<30 years
Started
as Bonsai 1976
Height: 105 cm
Width 85 cm
Base of
trunk 15 cm
CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA
Age of tree±20 years
Started as Bonsai 2003
Height: 42 cm
Width 43 cm
Base of trunk 6 cm
LACHNOSTYLIS BILOCULARIS
Age of tree>50 years, collected 2001
Started as Bonsai 2002
Height: 52 cm
Width 50 cm Base of trunk 22 cm
WISTERIA
Age of tree±20 years
Started as Bonsai 2000
Height: 107 cm
Width 90 cm
Base of trunk 25 cm
This Wisteria was recognised among the 65 International Winners
at the BCI contest in 2005
PYRACANTHA
Age of tree ±15 years
Started as Bonsai 2000 Height 95 cm
Width 35 cm
Base of trunk 10 cm
Views of some of Tobie's bonsai benches in his garden
