Upon reflection regarding our latest contest (Mystery Tree), I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s unrealistic to expect you to read my mind. So, here’s a somewhat foggy hint: It’s not a conifer.
As far as the other part goes (who’s tree is it?): I believe the tree belongs to someone who lives near some houseboats.
If no one comes up with correct answers to both question , then the first person to answer one of the two questions correctly wins.
The contest will end at midnight Friday June 5th, 2009.
It’s good to think in terms of zones when discussing energy balancing. Especially with cascade bonsai, which present unique challenges. The illustrations in this post are all from our Masters’ Series Pine book (Growing and Styling Japanese Black and White Pines).
Think zones
All trees have strong, medium and weak zones. Because most trees are apically dominant (most of the energy flows up to the apex), the top is usually the strongest zone. Exceptions are low growing and spreading shrubs and some small trees.
Energy balancing is critical with cascades
It can be difficult to maintain the all important lower zone of a cascade bonsai. In fact, without timely application of balancing techniques, it’s not unusual to see the lower tips, and even whole lower branches of a cascade die.
Sacrifice branches
Notice the sacrifice branch growing at the lowest tip in the illustration above. Sacrifice branches are a powerful tool when it comes to energy balancing. Stay posted for more on sacrifice branches soon.
Continue reading ‘Energy Balancing #2 – Cascade Bonsai’
Imperfections aside, I still believe this is a remarkable bonsai. This brings us to the first question:
Why do I believe that this is a remarkable tree (you’ll have to read my mind on this one)…
…and, question two: Whose bonsai is it?
The first person who provides the correct answer to both questions will win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern.
Your bonsai may never look like this, but they can be this healthy. This magnificently robust Willow leaf ficus (Ficus nerifolia) is by Jim Smith of Dura-Stone in Vero Beach Florida. The photo is from Bonsai Today, issue 61 and was taken by Jim.
Your bonsai depend on you
Bonsai do not survive on water, light, and love alone. Because most bonsai soil has very low nutritive value (if any), your bonsai depends on you for feeding.
Continue reading ‘Green Workshop: Feed Your Bonsai! – Pellets’
Double Discount through Sunday on this remarkable new book
Order now and save $26.50. In addition to our pre-order sale for $55.00 (ends midnight Sunday), we are running a 30% discount on books, which puts your price at $38.50 if you order now.
For more new bonsai books, keep reading.
Continue reading ‘1st U.S. National Exhibition Album Has Arrived’
These simple illustrations of the clip and grow technique are from a website called The Bonsai Primer. The left image shows the first cut, the next one shows the second cut, and so forth. If you go to the comments in our previous field growing post, Brian Van Fleet gives an excellent description of exactly what these illustrations are all about.
Most large Trident maples (and some other deciduous trees) are started in the field and developed using the clip and grow technique. The result is usually a heavy trunked tree with gentle curves, often in a more or less S shape. You can see this basic shape in the Trident maple in our previous field growing post. A variation of this S curve also shows up in the pine that is shown in the same post, though it was created by other means (trimming and wiring), as pines and other conifers don’t usually take to the clip and grow technique.
Continue reading ‘Field Growing #7: Clip & Grow Technique’
Robert Steven wiring a very large raft style Pemphis acidula (no common name?). One of many remarkably daring and powerful bonsai that appear in his first book, Vision of My Soul.
Robert Steven is one of the most inspiring bonsai artists and bonsai technicians in the world. His artistic vision and his trees exist on the cutting edge of contemporary bonsai. Many of Robert’s remarkable trees are pictured in his ground breaking book, Vision of My Soul, which was published in 2005. But neither time nor Robert have been standing still, and this summer, you’ll be able to enjoy a second book by this exceptionally creative bonsai artist.
Continue reading ‘Mission of Transformation by Robert Steven’
This photo was taken by John Palmer, who is the founder (now retired) of Stone Lantern and Bonsai Today magazine. John and his wife Pat live in New Mexico and spend big hunks of their bountiful time wandering and photographing the glorious Southwest. Our apologies to John for not attributing his photo when we first posted it. To do so might have made the contest moot.
So, without further ado; the winner is (drum roll): Glenn Strong, who wrote: I’ll give it a try. I think it is in Canyonlands National Park, near Mesa Arch, looking SE.
Not a bad guess. The photo was taken at Deadhorse State Park (Utah), near Canyonlands. Glenn; we will get in touch to arrange your $25.00 gift certificate.
And thanks to you daring souls who ventured guesses. All of you (with the exception of my impertinent son’s Tahiti) were in the right neck.
You can take a look at more of John’s photos here.
A pretty impressive bonsai with a modified S shape. It’s a Miyajima Japanese-Five Needle Pine (also called Japanese white pine – Pinus parviflora ‘Miyajima’) that was field grown for several years. The artist/owner is Ken Buell. The photo is from the 1st U. S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album.
Here’s the text of an email I received from Eric Killian…
I think bonsai bark has a lot of potential, but I’d love to see more on field growing. I have about 30-40 trees in the ground now but ground growing is completely new to me. Should I be giving trucks shape now? Possibly exaggerating it so in later years it will look like a nice flowing curve? I want to add character at a young age while avoiding the “S” trees that are mass produced.
Continue reading ‘Field Growing #6: What’s with S Shaped Curves?’
This drawing is from our Masters’ Series book; Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai.
What is Green Workshop?
Green Workshop is a series for beginners and others who are interested in some of the basics of bonsai care and training. Green Workshop originated in Bonsai Today magazine and will be continued with regular postings on this blog.
The more you know about watering, the better.
Without timely, intelligent watering, any plant in a container is at risk. The more you know about watering, the better.
Continue reading ‘Green Workshop: The Art & Science of Watering’
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