#588: 1L Wabi-Kusa Stretching Dawn

David Miles Melbourne, Australia

Awards and Comments

Second Place
This wabi kusa is truly stunning. It bears the qualities that the artform is predicated on.

The wabi kusa appears isolated as it sits among stones and driftwood whose branches accentuate the form of the ceramic that the entire display is contained within. Thin subtle trails of Rotala and Hydrocotyle trails from beyond the ceramic impart the impression of the passage of time and the imperfection of nature allowing the wabi kusa to grow freely.

The planting technique is skillful and done with restraint. While many species are present the wabi kusa is not over-planted with many "impressive patches" or monocultures existing across the substrate ball surface.

It is worth noting that Hydrocotyle verticillata grows small in this arrangement not achieving its full parasol-like form. I am unsure if this is intentional or not but the effect is beneficial to the scale of the display. The same can be said for the smaller Hygrophila pinnatifida which appear as young growth.

This display is a culmination of beautifully-executed hardscape a sensitivity in planting and long-term care and a reverence for wabi kusa as an artform. Tremendous work.
— Jack McCarley
This is very pretty and beautifully presented. It is just a little too simple to be able to compete against some of the other entries here. But I love it!
— Karen Randall
Nice selection and positioning of the wood in the vessel along with the contrasting colors and shapes of the leaves.
— JoAnn Fujii
Great use of hardscape to showcase your Wabi Kusa. The mix of textures and especially the colors from the plants really make this aquascape pop and the pot is perfect for your design! I would love to see a few taller plants to add height to the Wabi Kusa. Great job!
— Bailin Shaw

Aquascape Details

Dimensions 30 × 30 × 6 cm
Title Stretching Dawn
Volume 1L
Background N/A
Lighting ONF Flat Nano, 8 hrs per day.
Filtration N/A
Plants Christmas Moss (Vesicularia montagnei)
Rotala Rotundifolia "Colorata"
Hygrophila Pinnatifida
Hydrocotyle Verticillata
Hydrocotyle Tripartita
Salvinia Minima
Animals No animals
Materials Wabi Kusa Substrate Ball
Spider Wood
Seiryu Stone
Natural Gravel
Additional Information Inspired by the Barwon River, an Estuary in Ocean Grove, Victoria. At low tide, as the birds come to feed.

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