Saikei, A Summary of the Process by Norman Haddrick After my 'miniature landscape' demonstration, October 15, 2001, I had many nice comments from our membership, so I was happy for the opportunity to do a 'Saikei' demonstration for club members, on September 09, 2002. Please pronounce Saikei as "SIGH-KAY". The Literal translation of SAIKEI, from Japanese to English, is 'Living Landscape' so all of the points made in my article for the November 2001 TBS Journal, are still worth reviewing, and they compliment the following comments. Saikei combine rocks, bonsai soil, peat-muck, mosses and other miniature plants, with small trees, in a pleasing, natural landscape composition. A bonsai artist can enjoy a very creative experience in the design and assembly of such a composition. With all of the required elements gathered together, and a 9"X12" green-glazed tray donated by Dick Morton, we were ready for the presentation. At the last moment, as I was leaving home, I picked out a previously used limestone slab and a few limestone rocks, to show our members alternate choices for a planting. The limestone slab turned out to be the chosen base for this planting, which meant that the dark granite rocks, which I had chosen to use in the glazed tray, and had soaked in water all weekend, were now unsuitable for use on the limestone slab. I suggest that rocks be soaked for at least 24 hours prior to use in a planting. In this case, I could only spray the limestone slab and rocks. 'Trees' for Saikei can be rooted cuttings or small seedlings. They can be 'home-grown' or collected species. Trees that show little merit as individual Bonsai, can appear to be outstanding as part of a Saikei composition. To make this point, the 'trees' I had selected for this demonstration were 1, 2 and 3 year old rooted Grewia cuttings, 2" to 10" tall. The main point to be made, to those who attended the demonstration, is that these materials are easily obtained and inexpensive, putting Saikei well within the means of all members. The design possibilities for Saikei are endless, challenging, and very rewarding. In this case, I followed the rear-left to front-right movement suggested by the natural slope of the limestone base. On the high part, at the rear-left, I built a layer of peat muck on which to secure the first layer of small rocks. A second layer of rocks, on top of the first, created an open space, in which to fit the main tree. This space was filled with bonsai soil, and the tree was wired down into it. This main tree had had some previous work, and leaned out, following the movement down the slope of the slab. Other small rocks were fitted on and around, in beds of peat muck. My objective was to create a feeling of a large rock out-cropping, into the crevices of which, plants and mosses had established themselves. A tiny, twin-trunk tree was added, and wired in to the right of, and behind, the main tree to create a feeling of distance in viewing the composition. Note that the root systems of the trees were not disturbed during the planting process. Wet moss is pressed over all of the soil surfaces, and into the peat-muck between the rock layers. This is both decorative and practical, as it serves to hold the soil and peat-muck together. With these very simple materials, and an image of what you wish to produce, you have seen how rewarding it can be to create Saikei, a Living Landscape. Thanks to Reiner Goebel, for taking photos of the process and the results.