A Road Trip Through South Africa

National SABA Convention – Johannesburg, 28–29 November

by Viky Petermann

I recently participated in the National SABA Convention in Johannesburg, and it was a delightful experience to be involved. The theme, “Road Trip Through South Africa,” was creative and excellently highlighted the remarkable diversity of trees and landscapes throughout our country.

Over the course of two full days, the program guided us through various regions, climates, and styles, all expressed through bonsai.

Day 1 – Demonstrations, Stories, and Tributes

The convention began with Gary Howes, who showcased a Dalbergia and shared valuable insights into its growth habits and styling potential. He was joined on stage by Hannes Fritz and Stefaan Pretorius, each bringing different regional moods to life.

Hannes crafted a beautiful olive planting using trees collected from Muden, capturing the rugged character of the area. Stefaan followed with a group planting that evoked the rocky outcrops of the savannah, demonstrating how composition and spacing can narrate a landscape's story. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to presentations that expanded from individual trees to community, history, and the future of bonsai in South Africa. Monique Snijder described a wonderful initiative where children from a local school were introduced to bonsai through talks and a hands-on workshop. It was inspiring to see practical steps being taken to involve younger people in the bonsai community, with hopes that other regions will follow this example. Next, Vorster Fourie paid a heartfelt tribute to his mentor, Charles Ceronio, reflecting on Charles’s lasting influence on South African bonsai. Carl de Beer then shared an update on the state of Charles’s collection at the botanical gardens, reminding us of the importance of preserving and caring for these living legacies.

The afternoon continued with Shaun Hendrich, who offered insights into Lowveld living and how that environment shapes his approach to bonsai. Denise and Jonathan Cain then presented a fun and imaginative demonstration titled “From Sodwana to Zanzibar.” They constructed a dramatic rock wall with planting pockets and used resin and pigments to create a vivid blue sea crashing against the cliffs—an artistic tribute to the coastal escapes along our shores. While this demonstration unfolded, Brian Reynolds addressed a topic we often avoid: death and what happens to our trees when we are gone. His talk emphasized the importance of having a clear plan in place to help our families manage our collections—a sobering but necessary part of responsible bonsai ownership.

The formal presentations on Day 1 concluded with Liam O’Flaherty, who shared insights into some of the most popular species grown in South Africa, such as Ficus burtt-davyii and the sweet thorn "Vachellia". He also spoke about his process for creating paintings, linking his visual art with his understanding of trees and landscapes. To round off the first day, SABA held its annual AGM, during which lifetime achievement awards were presented to Hennie Nel, Steven Le Roux, Tobie Kleynhans, and Richard Wright—a fitting recognition of many years of dedication and contribution to bonsai in South Africa.

The exhibition's winning trees were then announced across various categories, with Gary Howes, Hannes Fritz, Stephan Pretorius, Bruce Carter, and Tola Smit receiving numerous awards.

The results of the New Talent competition were also revealed, highlighting the strength and promise of the next generation of South African bonsai artists. The winners were: 3rd place - Aaron Saunders DBS; 2nd place - Kubie Hariparsad - DBS; and 1st place - Andre Wiese from Central/ BFN. Congratulations to all!

Day 2 – Regional Voices and Creative Landscapes

Sunday's program began with my own presentation on the differences in aesthetic appreciation between East and West, exploring how cultural perspectives shape the way we see and design bonsai. This was followed by a demonstration on an old privet, putting some of those ideas into practice.

Next, Org Exley from Pretoria demonstrated different ways of styling acacias and introduced an exciting new grafting technique for baobabs—a practical and innovative session that sparked a lot of interest.

Hardus Scheepers then created a group planting using ant hill soil, showing how local materials can enhance both the story and the health of a composition. Christel Coetzee spoke about her fertilizer range and the importance of using nutrients and active enzymes to speed up root development and improve overall tree health. Her talk reminded everyone that good design must be supported by good horticulture.

To close the convention, Juan Duvenage from Bloemfontein, and Brett Simon and Dawn Collier from Cape Town, shared the stage in a final trio of demonstrations: Juan created a magical abandoned train station scene, full of atmosphere and fine detail. Brett captured a typical windy Cape scene using an olive from Muden, perfectly expressing movement and the harsh coastal elements. Dawn demonstrated how to create a rock-clinging fig, using a rooted cutting of Ficus Burtt-davyii that promises to develop into a very exciting bonsai in the years to come.

A Weekend to Remember

The weekend truly felt like a road trip through South Africa, with each region bringing its own trees, stories, and techniques to the stage. Beyond the demonstrations and talks, it was a wonderful opportunity to rekindle old friendships, make new ones, and deepen our understanding of bonsai.

My heartfelt thanks go to BRAT, the organizers of the convention, to SABA as one of the key sponsors, and to the inimitable Richard Wright, who was the perfect master of ceremonies and kept the entire weekend flowing smoothly and with plenty of humor.

It was a rich, inspiring, and memorable convention—one that will undoubtedly influence our trees.

Viky's Presentation at the Convention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjWG1j4_Ctk