Bonsai ‘relaxing’ for entrant

After 30 years of carefully creating bonsai trees, Dunedin woman Marie Dunbar is still calmed by the Japanese art.

"I find it very relaxing."

Her six creations are among 100 carefully manicured tiny trees from Otago, as well as 25 national entries, at the New Zealand Bonsai Convention at Kaikorai Valley College this weekend.

It began yesterday with an emerging talent competition and will be followed by several demonstrations throughout the weekend.

The star practitioner at the convention will be American Bjorn Bjorholm, who spent six years in Osaka as an apprentice to  Japanese bonsai artist Keiichi Fujikawa.  Bjorholm said there was a meditative aspect to the art.

"People just want [to get] closer to nature, touch something green."

Getting the trees show-ready usually took about five years, but  could take decades depending on the variety, he said.

Organiser Sean Heseltine said for him bonsai started as a way to wind down after work as a school teacher.

"It can be very peaceful. Organising the convention, less so."

Sixty people had signed up for the weekend activities and more than 300 people were expected to walk through and inspect the trees on show during the weekend.

The convention is held every two years, alternating between the North and South Islands.