The Art of Bonsai Project

This thread is for discussion about Wolfgang Putz's Gallery: "Kusamono."
http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/kusamono_putz.php

Thanks Carl & Andy!
Hope you?ll like my accents plants!?
Not all of them can be used for the traditional bonsai presentation in the japanese tokonoma, but this plants are really wonderful in our bonsai gardens .........!
Enjoy my pics!

Wolfgang,
I am so proud of you! Lovely pictures.
Walter

Wolfgang,
I am always impressed at your uncanny ability to match an accent plant with a pot.
Charles

If you look artistically at Wolfgang's accents you can begin to learn why they suceed so well. Interesting textures, variation in dimension (tall, short, in- out), brilliant colors in plant and pot and well executed but simple photogrpahs. Nice assortment.

Stunningly beautiful!
Wolfgang, if these first pictures are any indication of the future of this gallery, we have a treat in store indeed.
Fantastic work,
Will Heath

Absolutely stunning!
Congratulations.
Nothing more to add, everybody else has said it all.
Colin

Just a second here!
Only a few days ago, Carl convinced me that 'kusamono' is _not_ the equivalent of 'accent plant'. The above seems to equate the two expressions after all. What gives?
I discourage use of Japanese terms when English or any other language has an expression that conveys the concept just as well. I don't mind using Japanese terms when they add meaning.
So, are these accent plants or kusamono?
Apologizing for the above digression, I think Wolfgang's plants are enchanting.

Stunning and inspirational.
Thank you Wolfgang!
Richard.

I'd prefer to call these kusamono. The term "accent plant" directly implies that this is a secondary accompanying object intended to augment and complement the primary object of display. These beautiful flowers and grasses that Wolfgang has presented aren't accenting anything. They're art objects in their own right. Hence I prefer "kusamono" in that this term lacks the connotation of secondary importance.
My understanding is that the Japanese term "kusamono" refers to these plants in their individual capacity or as accents to bonsai, while the term "shitakusa" typically refers to them only in their capacity as accents. Perhaps someone with a better background could verify or correct this impression.
Best wishes,
Carl

Kusamono does not "mean" accent' plant. However, kusamono can be used as an accent element in a bonsai display. In that capacity, they are commonly referred to as shitakusa. There is no difference between the two, except as how they are being used.
Furthermore, the term kusamono generally implies that the plant has been collected from the wild.
I hope that this helps to clear up any misunderstandings.
Kind regards,
Andy

Very beautiful kusanomo, i am a big fan of accent plants (even when not used as accents) and have created 1 for myself, a small heather in a shell.
Very Nice gallery Wolfgang.
Regards
Rowan

Hi Wolfgang,
Looking at all that beauty in your photos is a perfect way to start my Monday morning. Thank you for that.

Thanks very much for your compliments. - Wonderful that you enjoy my pics! :o)

Walter or Reiner, please help me to explain this in English. - Thanks!
KUSAMONO-Bonsai (Kusa = Gras / Mono = Ding; sprich ?Ksamono?) werden als Hauptobjekt im Tokonoma ? also ohne Bonsai ? pr?sentiert.
SHITAKUSA (Shita = unten / Kusa = Gras; sprich ?Staksa?) sind Beipflanzen, die mit Bonsai oder Suiseki im Tokonoma pr?sentiert werden.

Wolfgang,
Kusamono = "Grass Thing" !?
Regards,
Richard.