By Ken Schultz

This 157 page book was originally published in France in 2000 and then was translated into English in 2002 by Sterling Publishing. If I remember correctly I bought it down at the German Village Book Store. I was initially drawn to the book because I could not positively identify the tree on the cover. It had orangish fruit. The photographs are mostly credited to Jacques Boulay. The cover priece is $19.95, but I remember paying less.

The Chapters are not numbered but there are six. They are titled: The Pleasure of Bonsai; Broad-Leafed Trees; Evergreen Trees; Tropical Trees; Kusa-mono; and Keys to Success. There are also a useful Index and a Glossary.

Delmer’s handling of the text in the first chapter gave me a slightly fresh perspective. Take the passage “Most trees fade into the forest. We notice among them only the very old or very majestic. Bonsai on the other hand cannot fail to arouse our deepest curiosity- if not our amazement-regardless of their shape or size.” He goes on later in the chapter to explain the difference between Chinese bonsai and the Japanese, Chinese bonsai is larger and most will eventually be planted in the ground or kept in a pot in a courtyard, not inside or on a shelf. In the first chapter unlike most other books that illustrate the different styles of bonsai trees, there are photographs rather than drawings. One is an outstanding grouping of four different trees.

The next chapter deals with twenty different Broad-Leafed Trees. Each tree is pictured and the specimens are outstanding! The descriptions include tips on pots selection and plant care. Bold notations on sun requirements and the unique character of each tree species are included. For example wisteria are described as both “a fragrant cascade” and “a true savage”. He notes that its foliage is immense and its growth is messy; but he also notes that its flowers must be protected from rain wind and harsh sunlight. My favorite in this group was a 25-30 year old Cotoneaster. He notes that it should be repotted every two years.

The chapter on Evergreen Trees includes both black and white pines, azaleas, yew, and a tree he calls “Mock Orange”. Its Latin name is Fortunella hinsii and is the mystery tree on the cover. Apparently it is a semi-tropical, as he warns that it needs protection below 50 degrees. He also includes Ivy (Hedera helix) in this chapter. In all there are 14 trees, classed as evergreen including pomegranate.

I will skip over Tropicals, because this review is getting too long, and jump to Kusa-mono. This is a short chapter that deals with accent plants. Finally in his Chapter “Keys to Success, Delmer lists forty topics. Three cover soil, so he obviously finds that one of the key elements to success. Repotting is also covered and outdoor and indoor bonsai repotting are treated separately. He warns not to repot a soaked tree, advising that the tree should be nearly dry when repotted. He also covers maintenance pruning and notes that Ficus leaves become “lazy” indoors and are often too large. He then describes a defoliation technique to grow new foliage.

I hope that you get a chance to read this book – or at least look at its photographs.