Bonsai Serpent & Two Buttonwoods

The serpent is hiding in plain sight. This magnificent tree belongs to Enrique Castaño, who has this to say about it: “This (Terminalia ucarillo) got the name Kukulcan from the Mayan mythology, Kukulcan was one of the serpents with feathers, kind of like a dragon.” The more I look at this tree, the more I notice – in addition to its sheer power – how well it flows from the well chosen pot and the nicely tapered trunk to the relaxed (there’s that word again – see yesterday) well balanced foliage with all the elements tying together so nicely. Might … Continue reading Bonsai Serpent & Two Buttonwoods

Buttonwoods, Books & Bonsai Wire

This powerfully compact Buttonwood belongs to Nacho Marin, as do all four Buttonwood bonsai shown here. Continuing with yesterday’s Buttonwood theme, while we pack for our journey back to the real world… all four trees shown belong to Nacho Marin and were featured on Bark in February, 2015. With Buttonwoods it’s nature that does the real work. Humans find them, dig them, pot them and eliminate branches and other parts that distract from the natural beauty of the tree. But nature does the twisting, turning and scouring by sand and wind that results in such unusual shapes and magnificent deadwood. … Continue reading Buttonwoods, Books & Bonsai Wire

Ed Trout’s Contorted Buttonwood Beast

I couldn’t pass on this contorted, writhing beast of a Buttonwood any longer. It belongs to Ed Trout, a long time, highly respected Florida bonsai artist and teacher. Gonna take a break from the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition bonsai today. The sun is shinning and I need to do something quick and easy so I can get outside and do some digging and transplanting before it’s too late. I love Ed Trout’s Buttonwood and I also like the pot. It’s easy to see how they share a wild untamed feeling. My only question is, does such a dramatic tree need … Continue reading Ed Trout’s Contorted Buttonwood Beast

Bonsai Banter, Buttonwoods & Summer Dormancy

This dynamic Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) is one of four trees from Florida that were selected for the upcoming Artisan’s Cup in Portland, Oregon (go! it’s going to be great). It belongs to Paul Pikel. Image courtesy of Mary Miller (Bonsai Mary of Bonsai Banter). Florida is more than a refuge for snowbirds and hormone bedeviled college kids; it’s also home to most of the best tropical and semi-tropical bonsai in North America, and of all the great bonsai varieties you’ll find in Florida, Buttonwood is king. Something else you’ll find in Florida (and some other north American hot spots) are … Continue reading Bonsai Banter, Buttonwoods & Summer Dormancy

With Buttonwood Bonsai, Nature Does the Real Work

This powerfully compact Buttonwood belongs to Nacho Marin, as do all four Buttonwood bonsai shown here. With Buttonwood bonsai it’s nature that does the real work. Humans find them, dig them, pot them and eliminate branches and other parts that distract from the natural beauty of the tree (ideally, at least). But nature does the twisting, turning and scouring by sand and wind that results in such unusual shapes and magnificent deadwood. I’m told* that much of this shaping and scouring happens during hurricanes and tropical storms. I’ve even heard that Buttonwoods are sometimes violently uprooted and blown to new … Continue reading With Buttonwood Bonsai, Nature Does the Real Work

Buttonwood – American Tropical Jewel

Buttonwood by Ed Trout. From The Art of Bonsai Project. Ed’s bonsai have been featured in Bonsai Today magazine (back issues now 40% off). Our own amazing tropical bonsai We’ve featured a lot of collected tropicals from Indonesia and vicinity. Much of this has to do with our connection with Robert Steven (Mr. High Energy Bonsai), one of the world’s foremost bonsai artists, authors, collectors and teachers. It also has to do with the fact that so many of the collected trees (mostly Premna and Pemphis) from that part of the world are so amazing. Now it’s time to feature … Continue reading Buttonwood – American Tropical Jewel

Two Major Bonsai Events Part 1 – Where Will You Be the Second Weekend of April?

This shot of a Tsukumo cypress(Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Tsukumo’) is from one of Bonsai Boon’s famous Which Pot Would You Choose? posts. Boon is one of the headliners the upcoming 2019 American Bonsai Society (ABS) Convention, April 11 – 14 Boon Manikitipartit Ryan Neil Enrique Castaño Headliners at the upcoming ABS Convention in Houston We’ve got two barn burner bonsai conventions coming up this spring. They are the 2019 Mid Atlantic Bonsai Spring Festival and the 2019 American Bonsai Society (ABS) Convention. Here’s the rub, they’re both on the second weekend of April, so you’ll have to choose Today we’re focusing … Continue reading Two Major Bonsai Events Part 1 – Where Will You Be the Second Weekend of April?

Bonsai Boon and His Twenty Super Students

Boon Manakitivipart’s Itoigawa Sargent Juniper that won the Finest Medium Size Bonsai award at the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. From a September, 2016 Bark post Continuing with North American bonsai in our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition… The more I look at the tree above, the more I like it. But rather than go into specifics, I’ll just relate a quick story…. While I was admiring the tree at the 5th U.S. National, Boon walked by. I said something like ‘great tree, but only one?’ His reply was… “Yes, but twenty of my students have trees here.” … Continue reading Bonsai Boon and His Twenty Super Students

Suthin’s Beautiful Beasts & the 6th U.S. National Exhibition

This beautiful beast with it rugged trunk and luminous foliage belongs to Suthin. Here’s his caption… “#04 Shimpaku ‘Itoigawa’ Tree’s height: 39 inches. Interesting PM. me. Pick up at US. National show in Rochester, NY. suthinbonsaistudio.com” Continuing with American bonsai leading up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition (Rochester, NY, September 8th & 9th – it’s not too late to make your plans)… today it’s everybody’s friend Suthin (officially Suthin Sukosolvisit), another long time favorite here on Bark STONE LANTERN’S NEW BONSAI FERTILIZER SPECIAL 25% off list prices for Fertilizers & other care products – Here’s another one you can arrange to pick up at the Exhibition. It’s a … Continue reading Suthin’s Beautiful Beasts & the 6th U.S. National Exhibition

The Best American Bonsai & Other Compelling Reasons to Wake up in Rochester

This twisty bunjin style collected Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) shows what can happen when a tenacious tree hangs onto a Florida shoreline that is ravaged by repeated tropical storms and occasional hurricanes. It belongs to Doug Hawley who has been refining this tree for about ten years (this was written in 2009). Height 28″ Pot by Sara Rayner To whet your bonsai appetites, I’ve decided to devote all our posts between now the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition to North American Bonsai We’ll start with three photos which were originally from a book titled North American Bonsai* (out of print), that we originally featured in a post … Continue reading The Best American Bonsai & Other Compelling Reasons to Wake up in Rochester