Monthly Archives: March 2010

More Great Art from Our National Museum

115 years in training! This dignified old Zelkova serrata lives at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. It was donated by Yoshibumi Itoigawa and has been in training since 1895. Autumn Arts of Nature The photos in this post are from last year’s  Autumn Arts of Nature exhibition at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum [...]

Posted in Cuttings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Another Bonsai Drawing by Patrick Giacobbe

If you paid attention to our recent Bonsai Art Contest, you’ll remember that Patrick Giacobbe won first prize with his Graphite on Bristol board drawing. Here’s another Graphite on Bristol board drawing that Patrick submitted (we only accepted one entry per person, which explains why you didn’t see this then). Stay tuned for our next [...]

Posted in Styling | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Contest: Mystery Penjing

I found this near perfect penjing stuck in a file on somewhere on my computer. Unfortunately, I neglected to label it, and, like so many other things stuck in files in hidden corners, I don’t remember where it came from. I do know that it’s a Trident maple and I could make a guess on [...]

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Accent Plants!

Ajuga, fern, sedum. Artist and potter unknown. Bonsai Tonight and the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show I found these sweet little accents on Bonsai Tonight. They are from the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show. Unfortunately, no artist’s or potter’s names are listed. Can anyone out there offer any help? I like [...]

Posted in Cuttings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kokufu Bonsai-Ten: Still the Best

Kokufu Prize, 2010: Informal upright style Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergi). Borrowed from Phoenix Bonsai. Delusional state? To be sure, people from around the world are growing and displaying some wonderful, eye-popping bonsai. Still, from where I sit, and in spite of rumors to the contrary, it’s hats off to the Japanese when it comes [...]

Posted in Cuttings | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Judging Judges

Traveling again and haven’t gotten around to reviewing all the judge’s comments. Soon. Meanwhile, stay posted. Share

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Eccentric Bonsai: A Very Unusual Satsuki

What a strange and compelling tree! The trunk is massive from left to right, but looks like it might be somewhat flat from front to back, though it’s hard to tell from this angle. The branching is undefined (partially caused by the way the foliage and flowers are growing in the crotches) and unbalanced in [...]

Posted in Cuttings | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sales: Books, Netsuke, Kenzans

Don’t wait! Our book sale ends on Monday the 29th. 30% off Netsuke end tomorrow (Thursday the 25th). 30% off Kenzan sale has no ending date yet, but don’t wait too long. What’s with netsukes and kenzans on a bonsai blog and website? Good question (if I say so myself). Though bonsai is our primary [...]

Posted in Bark | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Tricks With Wire

Too long and too straight. We all know you can add curves to a branch that is too straight, but did you know that you can also use wire to shorten a branch that is too long? Much better. Now it’s much shorter and much more interesting. Share

Posted in Styling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bonsai Art Contest: Plenty of Winners

The winner. Patrick Giacobbe’s Bonsai Design. Graphite on Bristol board. A closely bunched field (with one exception) First place was no contest; Patrick won going away with 73 points. After that, things got much tighter. Second place (see below) received 34 points, and third was a two way tie with 27 points each. How the [...]

Posted in Styling | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments
  • ad1

  • ad2

  • ad3

  • ad4

  • ad5