Finished for now. Three years after planting (see below). Masahiko Kimura (aka ‘The Magician‘) styled this Ezo spruce (Picea Glehnii) planting with a high mountain stand of conifers in mind. Notice how the trees on the outside lean out, which is what you would expect in a natural stand of trees. You may also notice how Kimura enhanced the feeling of age by removing or jinning about half of the limbs (from below). Trees tend to shed limbs as they age. This is especially true of trees in forests where growth follows light; at tree tops and at the outer edges of stands. All three photos in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 26.
Continue reading ‘The Magician’s Formal Forest’
The drawing on the left shows a young deciduous tree before pruning. Notice that the tree’s energy (growth) moves primarily upward, forming a more or less inverted triangle (tip down). In order to control this growth and move the energy down, prune to form the tree into a triangle (more or less) with tip pointing up.
The drawing on the right shows the same little tree a year or two later. Now your goal is to control growth and keep the tree’s basic shape by continuing to prune back vigorous upward growth (thus forcing energy down into the trunk and primary branches) and to eliminate unsightly and unhealthy growth (branches that grow in toward the center of the tree, branches that cross the trunk, branches that grow straight up rather than out, and so forth).
This image is from Bonsai Today issue 44. Green Workshop tips are posted primarily for beginners. For some earlier on pruning deciduous tress go here and here.
After. Finished for the moment. The challenge was for Masahiko Kimura to style a bunjin (literati) bonsai with only one branch (see below for where he started). It’s eccentricity lies in its striking simplicity, if that makes any sense. It a Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). From our Masters’ Series The Magician, the Bonsai Art of Kimura 2. From an article that originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 69.
Continue reading ‘Eccentric Bonsai: Kimura Rises to the Challenge’
This wonderfully scenic suiseki is from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s current calendar of events (see below).
A first for us
This is the first time we’ve featured viewing stones on this so far exclusively bonsai blog. If you are a die hard bonsai lover who doesn’t care about the connection (it’s all about displays – see below), please don’t worry, we won’t do this very often. Otherwise, enjoy! And have Happy and Prosperous New Year while you are at it.
In their words…
The following is straight from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s calendar:
Asian Tradition of Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Lecture
Exhibit: December 26-February 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Lecture: February 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Continue reading ‘Viewing Stone Exhibit at the National Museum’
Isao Omachi using the part of the Ichiban blade that is designed for cutting wire.
Isao Omachi’s comments
Here’s part of what Isao Omachi has to say about his Ichiban: “Compared to a normal pair of bonsai scissors, these are light and comfortable in the hand; you barely have to raise your elbow. You can multitask with ease, cutting swiftly through branches and wire… In addition to Ichiban’s unique design and efficiency, any level of bonsai student can have fun using a pair…”
Roy Nagatoshi, Walter Pall, Shinji Suzuki and Isao Omachi
So far Marco has sent us testimonials from Roy Nagatoshi, Walter Pall, Shinji Suzuki and Isao Omachi. I expect more as time goes on and more people become familiar with this remarkable new tool.
You can check out Marco’s site for more on the Ichiban…
… or you can order here
Continue reading ‘Roy, Walter, Shinji, Isao & The Ichiban’
This little pine clump with its shaggy too-long needles, aged lichen covered trunks and funky almost too-small pot is near perfect in its imperfect naturalness. From Shohin Bonsai World, Nishinomiya branch. For a detailed look at the ins and outs of pine bonsai, you might want to check out our Masters’ Series Pine book.
Think small
Little bonsai (shohin) may be he solution to your space problems. Or your money problems (smaller stock and pots are usually cheaper). Not to mention your aging back. Here’s a few that might help get you going. Don’t hesitate to comment, or even send photos.
I borrowed this cold little potentilla from Morten Albek’s site. Morten is the author of Shohin Bonsai (Stone Lantern Publishing).
Continue reading ‘Back Savers #5: More Sweet Little Trees’
Sickle time. This photo is from Bonsai Tonight’s first in a series of posts (five total, with numerous excellent photos) on repotting.
A clear, simple, thorough series on repotting
Jonas Dupuich (Bonsai Tonight) has one of the best visual and written instructions on repotting we’ve seen yet. If you haven’t done a lot of repotting (or even if you have) it will set you straight on details you may be overlooking. Check it out, it’s an excellent series on an excellent site.
It starts here with this Trident root-over-rock.
These simple graphics show three solutions to three common branching problems. From Bonsai Today issue 58.
Green Workshops present and past
Our Green Workshop series is geared for beginners in the art of bonsai. Some earlier Green Workshops are: Wiring basics (using a turnbuckle); Wiring a Young Tree; Fall Transplanting: Pro & Cons; Yet Another Watering Problem; Bonsai Branching Basics; A Simple Wiring Video, and more (just type Green Workshops in search).
This perfectly ramified, wonderfully balanced, natural beauty belongs to Min Hsuan Lo (Min is his family name) of Taiwan. I received it as an email greeting this morning.
Well, actually Merry Christmas
Just to set the record staight, Mr Min’s greeting actually said ‘Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,’ rather than the ‘Holiday Greeting’ you see above.
Min Hsuan Lo. A happy and very talented bonsai artist at work.
If you factor in our site wide sale…
…the discount is more than 50%. How much more depends upon your order (the larger your order, the bigger the discount). Calendars here
Last shipping day before the 25th…
…is tomorrow (Monday the 21st). Orders must be received by 11am Eastern time Monday for Monday shipment.
Our Japanese garden calendar is also 50% off
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