There is going to be a Bonsai overwintering lecture and tour on November 14 at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. If you haven’t been there, it’s a rare treat. Mark you calendar. John Naka’s famous Goshin and numerous other world class trees reside at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. Share
First place Finally, after building excruciating suspense, here it is, our winner of our bonsai art contest ($50.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern)! This sweet tree on a cliff by João Pires has captured my imagination. Not that it’s the only one I like, actually I like them all. So much so that we are [...]
Ten years later. This Japanese beech is from an air-layering that we began showing several weeks ago (part one and part two). We promised a third installment (and almost forgot), so here it is. You can see the whole ten year process in detail in Bonsai Today issues 48 and 49. It this technique really [...]
This image is from a video entitled ‘growth’ by Richard Lantz. Bonsai as metaphor Richard Lantz’s entry is less about bonsai than it is about what it means to be human; specifically (according to Amanda Rataj’s comments on Richard’s site) “control and the desire to better understand the place of the individual in society.” Bonsai [...]
This elegant five tree planting was submitted by Michelle Dougherty (Bunjin Journal). A simple, natural look If you’ve been following our Great Debate posts, you know that some people see a dichotomy between naturalistic and traditional bonsai. If I had to put Michelle’s drawing into one of these two groups, it would be naturalistic. Though [...]
The last time (until next year) I just finished this year’s final fertilizing on my potted bonsai and my future bonsai that are growing in the ground. Check out our last post for more on fall fertilizing. Here’s what I used (per gallon of water): Two tablespoons of Neptune’s Harvest Liquid Fish/Seaweed. 2-3-0.5 One teaspoon [...]
Fish seaweed is mild and well-balanced for fall fertilizing. Reduced nitrogen Horticulturists, bonsai teachers and others have long been advising people to reduce nitrogen fertilizing in late summer and fall. The keyword is “reduce.” Some nitrogen is necessary when you fertilize otherwise the phosphorous, potassium and other nutrients can’t do their job properly. Fall growing [...]
This simple entry by João Pires reminds me of the sumi brush paintings from long ago and far away (at least as long ago as the origins of bonsai and as far away as the wild and rugged Yellow Mountains of China). A few simple strokes Perhaps the best way to approach this kind of [...]
