Walter Pall

Pall was born in Austria in 1944 and grew up in the Alps, where he loves to ski.[3][1] He married his wife, Hannah, in 1968; they have one son.[1][2] They now live near Munich, Germany.[3][1]

Pall worked as a top manager in the electronics and consulting industry, but took up bonsai as a hobby in 1980. In 1990, he left his job to become a part-time bonsai professional. Pall is particularly known for his workshops and lectures, which he gives at conventions around the world.[5] Despite his respect and prestige in the bonsai world, however, Pall considers himself an amateur and does not aim for commercial success; rather, he styles trees and maintains his garden for his own enjoyment.[3][1]

Pall is known for his naturalistic style, which deviates from traditional practices of bonsai development.[3][1][6] One method used to achieve this style is his signature "hedge cutting method," in which a tree is left to grow and then cut back aggressively, resulting in fine ramification.[9]

He was also one of the first bonsai artists to use native European species, and is known for his use of native European material for yamadori (Japanese: 山採り - literally "taken from the mountains;" refers to bonsai trees collected in the wild).[3][1][6] One such species is the oriental hornbeam, which Pall sources from Croatia.[10]

Though many of his most famous trees are fairly large[6] (one of the most famous bonsai in Europe is a large Japanese maple Pall developed[11]), he also has a sizeable collection of shohin (Japanese: 小品 - literally "a small thing;" refers to small bonsai).[3][1]

Pall has received many awards, including first place in the Crespi Cup Award and second and third place in the Ginkgo Cup Awards.[3][1][8]

Pall has written over 100 articles in various bonsai magazines, such as Bonsai Focus.[3][1][8]

Pall has long been active in the online bonsai community, participating in various forums.[6]