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Displaying Bonsai Trees in your Garden and Adding Japanese Touches
 Bonsai trees displayed in any setting can add interest and appeal to a garden. However, displayed in a Japanese style garden their appearance is greatly enhanced and the overall effect can be breathtaking. Position your trees in a prominent area where they can be fully enjoyed and appreciated, rather than hiding them away in a corner, where out of sight they can easily become dry. They need good light and air circulation and should be regularly turned to ensure that each part of the tree receives its fair share of sunlight, necessary for even growth and preventing die back.
Most bonsai enthusiasts add Japanese elements to their gardens to some degree. These can be very effective and need not be expensive or difficult to achieve. The photos of my garden illustrate ideas of how to add touches to achieve an oriental feeling.
A bench or staging should ideally allow the bonsai to be displayed at eye level, where the trees can be viewed to their best advantage. Siting bonsai on separate wooden plinths is a wonderful way to display individual trees in the garden. These stands are made from fencing posts with rectangular slatted table tops, constructed using short lengths of wood and stained dark brown. With clean, simple lines they are an excellent alternative to benching and can be used to display either single specimens or groups of bonsai trees. The addition of Japanese lanterns in the garden instantly creates an oriental atmosphere.
 Sections of telegraph poles are a good alternative pedestal upright, highly suitable for displaying cascade style bonsai. This five-tier pagoda is the perfect backdrop and looks wonderful at night when the candles inside are lit. Its base is softened by a privet plant with the foliage clipped into round ball shapes, partly obscuring the base, and a bamboo has been planted in close proximity.
Plants are a very important element in a Japanese style garden, and if you could only grow a few types, then maples, bamboo and pines would be an absolute must. They are all very architectural plants and provide year round interest, with the maples producing fantastic autumnal shades.
We all have bonsai that we just don't know what to do with. Maybe they will just never make good bonsai for one reason or another. I have planted several of my trees in a pebble 'beach' which surrounds one side of the pond. Here they are trained as 'garden' bonsai, together with other plants, such as hebe, which is a natural ball of foliage, reminiscent of clipped azaleas often found in Japanese gardens. These bonsai are reasonable trees that I no longer wanted in my collection, but for sentimental reasons wished to keep them. Many trees in my garden started life as bonsai, some are kept pruned, others are allowed to grow much larger. It is a great way to reduce a collection, but still keep the trees!
 Stepping stones are both practical and ornamental and well positioned can provide a natural looking pathway around the garden. These stones are actually man-made, but are very realistic. They are relatively inexpensive and readily available at many garden centres.
Finishing touches are the extra details that help set the tone for the whole garden. These can include underplantings of black mondo grass, dwarf bamboo, or plaques, dragons, bamboo deer scarers, Buddhas and many other items. Positioned subtly they add extra interest when happened upon. The metal lantern shown here is very oriental in shape. As it ages the surface will begin to rust and take on an antique appearance. Japanese characters can add authenticity to garden furniture and can be easily reproduced by stenciling. Be careful not to overdo things though!
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