SABA © Constitution Mag

Charles Ceronio is one of the leading bonsai growers in Southern Africa. He started bonsai as a young man in 1968 and was the co-founder of the Pretoria Bonsai Kai in 1969 and acted as President for most of the existence of the Kai. In 1981 he attended the 25th Anniversary of the California Bonsai club on invitation by the late John Naka.  John Naka visited South Africa on numerous occasions since 1982 and Charles became a disciple of him ever since.

 

Way back in 1980, Charles introduced the South African bonsai enthusiasts to six new African styles at a local South African Convention where he introduced the Baobab style, the Pierneef or Umbrella shaped style, which represent the Thorn trees of Africa, the Flat Top Acacia style, the Wild Fig style, the Bush veldt style and the Elbow style. These styles became very popular in Southern Africa and even in countries with similar plant shapes and species like Brazil and Pakistan.

 

Charles was fortunate to attend the fourth World Bonsai Convention in Munich in 2001 and participate in Harry Tomlinson’s Summer school in Nottingham in 2002. He was also invited to demonstrate at the Bonsai Convention in Slovakia in 2003, as well as in Brazil in 2006. Since 2004 he became the main Bonsai Master for Pakistan and visited this interesting country on an annual basis. He lectured in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and in the city of Lahore.

 

In 1999 his popular book on “Bonsai styles of the world” was published.  Apart from this, various minor publications also appeared such as a Beginners Guide to Bonsai, as well as books on various indigenous plant species suitable for bonsai in Southern Africa. At the moment he is working on a book on indigenous plants suitable for bonsai in Southern Africa.  During May 2005, he represented South Africa at the Sixth World Bonsai Convention in Washington DC where he introduced the World’s Bonsai leaders to the South African Styles which he created in 1980.

 

n July 2007, he was honoured to be invited by the “Bonsai School” in Sydney as guest speaker during the School’s twenty-first anniversary. The reason for this invitation was due to his book “Bonsai styles of the world” which is one of the prescribed books at the School.  Charles’s favourite bonsai styles are the Literati or Bunjin style, the Broom style, the Slanting style, Root-over-rock, the Pierneef or Umbrella style as well as “forest or group plantings”. During 1999 and 2000 two of his trees were selected amongst the hundred best trees in the world, which competition was held under the auspices of the Nippon Bonsai Association in Japan.  During 2007 his Celtis sinensis group, consisting of 50 trees, won a golden award at the Pengin Convention organised by the Chinese Bonsai Association.

 

Other Achievements:

 

Wrote the book “Bonsai Styles of the World” which was published in 1999. [The book was well received all over the world and received an exceptionally good review in the March Edition of BCI, 2001]

 

Demonstrates and lectured at all National South African Bonsai Conventions since 1980 and appeared regularly on Provincial levels as well.

 

Lectured and conducting bonsai demonstrations and workshops at cultural and horticultural organizations.

 

Initiated the promotion of growing master trees by establishing the annual Top 10 Exhibition to select the ten best trees in the Gauteng, North West and Mapumalanga Provinces of South Africa.

 

Co-organizer of the First International Bonsai Convention for Southern Africa held in Pretoria.

 

Represented South Africa in May 2005 at the 5th World’s Friendship Bonsai Federation in Washington as demonstrator.

 

At present working on a book on South African  Indigenous trees and shrubs suitable for bonsai growers in the Southern part of Africa.

 

DEMONSTRATIONS AND LECTURES ABROAD:

 

Invited by John Naka to demonstrate at the meeting of his Master’s pupils in Los Angeles in 2001 under the chairmanship of Roy Nagatoshi.

 

Demonstrations and workshops at the Namibian Bonsai Association in Windhoek, Namibia, 2001.

 

Demonstrations and workshops at Harry Tomlinson’s Summer school in Nottingham, England, 2002.

 

Demonstrations and workshops at the Slovak Bonsai Convention in Nitra, April 2003.

 

Headliner at the Zimbabwe’s National Bonsai Convention in Harare, September 2003.

 

At present main Bonsai Instructor for Pakistan Bonsai Society. Did demonstrations and workshops in Karachi, Ravalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore. Visiting Pakistan on an annual basis since 2004.In 2009 he appeared on three television shows in Pakistan.

 

Demonstrated an African scene as well as the Pierneef style at the 5th World Bonsai  Convention in Washington during May 2005.

 

Demonstrations and workshops in Brazil during May 2006

 

COMMUNICATION MEDIA

 

Appeared on several bonsai programs on national television in South Africa [Kyk-Net and on Keith Kirsten’s show-SABC2] as well as in Slovakia, Brazil and Pakistan.

 

Interviewed on numerous radio programs over the years.

 

Numerous bonsai articles appeared in newspapers as well in leading South African magazines, such as “Garden and Home”, “Sarie”, “Rooi Rose” as well as in “Lantern”

 

BONSAI ACTIVITIES

 

Ø Conducting Classes for Beginners on a regular basis.

Ø Conducting monthly  workshops for Kai members.

Ø Styling and shaping neglected trees for the public.

Ø Acting as a consultant with regard to bonsai problems to the public.

Acting as  Bonsai judge for Brazil Bonsai Association together with other International Bonsai Masters such as Walter Poll [Germany], Salvatore Laporace [Italy] Colins Lewis [England], Roy Nagatoshi [ USA],Marek Gajda  [Poland],David Benavente [ Spain], Wolfgang Putz [ Austria], Morten Albek [Denmark],Vàclav Novak Chezh Republic]

For him bonsai is a live long passion and a wonderful hobby which is shared by his wife Elsie and his daughter Elvira. Elsie however has her own passions in arts and crafts and is an outstanding Ikebana flower arranger. She is an outstanding host and good cook apart from her many other excellences.

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