The Arboretum’s Bonsai and Penjing Collection Curator Leigh Taafe has returned from a trip to Victoria to collect and exchange trees.

“We have a program of exchanging the bonsai and penjing trees in our collection with other private and public collections so visitors to the Arboretum have a greater range of new and interesting trees to see,” Leigh said.

“Since the collection opened in 2013, I have run three similar trips to bring back new trees to the Arboretum.

“On this trip we collected some great new trees including a couple of English elms, a small Chinese elm, a Japanese black pine, a Seiju elm, a tiny Trident maple grown over a rock, a tiny Willow-leaf ficus and a wonderful Australian native Brush Box Lophostemon confertus. I think these new additions will fit in perfectly with what is already on offer at the Arboretum.

“The bonsai and penjing collection has proven to be a popular attraction at the Arboretum, with over 150,000 weekend visitors since it opened in February 2013.

“Our unique collection is home to some of the finest miniature trees and forests in the world, produced by some of Australia’s leading bonsai and penjing artists. It includes a variety of traditional and modern styles, with world-class examples of both native and exotic species.”