Tanuki Bonsai – Is It Cheating?

This colorful full bloom Bougainvillea bonsai has nothing to do with Tanuki (that’s below). It belongs to Rick Jeffery and the photo was taken at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. It came to us via Bonsai Mary’s newsletter. Just two seemingly unrelated bonsai photos today. The common thread is Bonsai Mary (Mary Miller). Mary lives in Florida and writes mostly (but not exclusively) about tropical bonsai on her excellent blog. Mary also offers an equally excellent newsletter which you can sign up for on her blog. This photo of Randy Clark’s Juniper is from an article on Bonsai … Continue reading Tanuki Bonsai – Is It Cheating?

Bonsai Photos: from Black & White to Colorized and Back

You can find the color version of this Japanese white pine on the cover of our Masters’ Series Pine book. The black and white version is the same image with the color photoshopped out. Though the B&W version does have it qualities, the vivid pot color and the robust green foliage provide a strong argument for shooting bonsai in color. This post is a composite of two posts from 2012 with some thoughts added today. The attempt is to contrast B&W bonsai photos with color bonsai photos. There are four types of photos here. Black and white photos. Color photos. … Continue reading Bonsai Photos: from Black & White to Colorized and Back

Three Ring Bonsai Circus

Luminous Bougainvillea. Yesterday we featured a Buttonwood by Paul Pikel. Today we’ll stay with Paul (while inviting some other Florida artists) and we’ll start with this Bougainvillea at the Epcot (2009). You can read about it and more at Orlando Bonsai. Yesterday and today could be called Paul Pikel day here at Bark. Yesterday we headlined a famous Buttonwood of Paul’s (a better photo is below) and today I borrowed the Three Ring Bonsai Circus title (above) from an article by Paul at Orlando Bonsai. In the course of exploring Paul’s bonsai and his writing, it was a very short … Continue reading Three Ring Bonsai Circus

Staying on Theme – New NABF Website

Japanese black pine by Dan Robinson. Dan is known for his dramatically wild collected trees from the American northwest (and Canadian far west). Obviously this Black pine doesn’t fall into that category, though a bit of that wild look is still there. It received a WBFF Certificate of Merit. We’ve been featuring new websites a lot lately so we might as well stay on theme. All the photos in this post are from the new North American Bonsai Federation (NABF) website. NABF is affiliated with the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF).. One of the things the WBFF is known for … Continue reading Staying on Theme – New NABF Website

Imagination and Striking Detail

A close-up of a part of a penjing style planting from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention that took place in China last month. This photo was sent to us by Randy Clark (we featured Randy’s plantings in a post about figurines last week and last month we featured a photo of the whole planting that we borrowed from Bill Valavanis). Part of another planting from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention, also courtesy of Randy Clark. We don’t have a photo of the whole planting, so you’ll have to use your imagination. Speaking of figurines (often called mudmen). … Continue reading Imagination and Striking Detail

Go Figure

Using figurines in tray plantings doesn’t necessarily qualify as eccentric; it’s common in Chinese (and other) penjing plantings. Perhaps it’s the type (you don’t see many moose in China) and especially the relative size of the figurine that makes this trident maple planting unusual. This photo is from an article by Randy Clark entitled ‘Bonsai & Figurines’ that originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 95. Randy Clark is the owner of the Bonsai Learning Center (note: that was 2009, Randy has moved on since then). We’re digging way back into the recesses of time for this one. It was originally … Continue reading Go Figure

Bonsai In Black & White part 2 – Big Bonsai Tool Sale

This photo, titled bonsai in black and white turned up on flickr. It was shot in December 2009 at the National Arboretum by Brian Hefele. He was using a Sigma DP2. Bonsai Tool Sale Just a quick heads up on our brand new Bonsai Tool Sale (includes all our bonsai tools and even turntables, sieves, toll rolls and some other tool-related items). The discounts are 10%, 15% or 20% on all Bonsai Tools, depending on how many you buy (sets count as 1 item). Check it out, I think you’ll find something you like. Comments from Bonsai in Black & … Continue reading Bonsai In Black & White part 2 – Big Bonsai Tool Sale

Weekly Wire: Bonsai Elegance, Yellow Flowers, Yang Ya & Tiny Assassins

Elegance. I’ve never been to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, but if the elegance of the display shown in this photo is any indication, maybe I should start saving my yen. Goyomatsu. Japanese white pine from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum’s gallery. Yellow flowers. You don’t see many bonsai with yellow flowers here in North America. Japan might be another story; Classic Bonsai of Japan features several and this one is from our 2012 Japanese bonsai calendar (sold out). I can’t read the Japanese, but it looks like a Winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata). More mellow yellow. Speaking of, I … Continue reading Weekly Wire: Bonsai Elegance, Yellow Flowers, Yang Ya & Tiny Assassins

Weekly Wire Six: A Little Tipsy

More fall color. There’s something about the fiery brilliance of fall color. Both the colors and the shape of this Japanese maple are reminiscent of the large Sugar maples that grow around here in Vermont. The photo is from Reiner Vollmari’s facebook page. The Windy City. Next time you’re in Chicago you can visit the bonsai collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden. From what I can see from their website, it looks like a great display area with some quality trees. They claim to have “one of the best public collections of bonsai in the world” which may be … Continue reading Weekly Wire Six: A Little Tipsy

Kathy Shaner & Friends in Carolina

Ficus forest by Randy Clark. Bonsai Learning Center, Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s in Charlotte and it’s not really summer yet Bonsai Learning Center is hosting a Summer Time Picnic & Open House, May 20, 21 & 22. Aside of the fact the Randy Clark (BLC’s owner and resident bonsai artist) is a customer and a friend (if you can call someone you’ve never met face to face a friend), what really caught my attention was that Kathy Shaner will be doing two free demos and a workshop. Kathy Shaner Here’s what Bonsai Learning Center says about Kathy Shaner: “Starting her … Continue reading Kathy Shaner & Friends in Carolina