Redwood Country Is Bonsai Country

This contortionist tree is a Procumbens juniper (Juniperus chinensis procumbens). Northern California’s Redwood country is the home of some of nature’s finest trees and some very good bonsai as well. All the photos shown here were taken by Don Van Dyke at Redwood Empire’s 2016 Bonsai Show. No artists or owners are listed, but we do have the varieties. Here’s a link to Redwood Empire’s website and here they are on facebook Reclining Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) in flower Bonsai Aesthetics Tool Special 40% OFF LIST PRICES THIS APPLIES TO ALL OUR AESTHETICS TOOLS INCLUDING KITS & SETS – You might expect to see some of … Continue reading Redwood Country Is Bonsai Country

Redwood Empire

Though the trunk on this two header monster expresses sheer power, the branches and foliage are surprisingly delicate and graceful. The tree is a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), a species* that happens to be the tallest tree on this planet (there are a few hidden in the wilds of northwest California that tower to as high as 400 feet – 122 meters). You don’t see that many top notch Redwood bonsai and, in my experience, most of the ones you do see come from members of the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (who knew that the group that calls themselves Redwood Empire would have … Continue reading Redwood Empire

From Snow Covered Forests to Thirsty Redwoods

Off to a very good start. Though the branching is young and has a ways to go, the trunk, with its power and character bodes well for the future of this tree. You can find it along with other quality bonsai at Bonsai Smiths. Long flight, late night. Boston to SF with a stop in Denver for fuel (blame the wind), so we’ll burrow down into our archives for an appropriate retread (nothing like a good mixed metaphor to start the day). This one is from February, 2015. Out of the ice palace and into Redwood country, so why not … Continue reading From Snow Covered Forests to Thirsty Redwoods

Redwood Bonsai & a Sense of Mystery

This ancient looking tree is a Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). It was displayed at the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 27th annual show (2010). This, and all but the last photo in this post, were originally borrowed from Bonsai Tonight. Superior bonsai photography. My hat is off to Jonas Dupuich and his consistently superior photographs (you can view them all at Bonsai Tonight). If you can’t see a top quality bonsai in person, the next best thing is a top quality photo. There’s nothing quite like a hollow trunk to add a feeling of age, depth and character to a tree. … Continue reading Redwood Bonsai & a Sense of Mystery

Out of the Ice Palace and into Redwood Country

Off to a very good start. Though the branching is young and has a ways to go, the trunk, with its power and character bodes well for the future of this tree. You can find it along with other quality bonsai at Bonsai Smiths. Out of the ice palace and into Redwood country. Bolinas, California. A coastal enclave just north of San Francisco, yet separated by rugged coastal terrain and about forty years. BTW: it’s 60 degrees and sunny right now (not to torment my Northeastern friends, but it just can’t resist being said). As I mentioned, Redwood country. So … Continue reading Out of the Ice Palace and into Redwood Country

Revisiting Redwood Bonsai

Off to a very good start. Though the branching is young and has a ways to go, the trunk, with its power and character, bodes well for the future of this tree. You can find it along with other quality bonsai at Bonsai Smiths. Don’t worry, soon we’ll be coming up with new material. Meanwhile, we’re still digging into our archives. I picked this post (from Sept 2011) because I’m currently reading a book about Redwoods (and other things, but not bonsai) titled Trees in Paradise. It’s by Jared Farmer (published by W. W. Norton) but it’s an advanced copy, … Continue reading Revisiting Redwood Bonsai

Revisiting Redwood Bonsai

Off to a very good start. Though the branching is young and has a ways to go, the trunk, with its power and character, bodes well for the future of this tree. You can find it along with other quality bonsai at Bonsai Smiths. Redwood Empire A few posts ago, we showed four excellent Coastal Redwood bonsai from the 2011 Redwood Empire Bonsai Show (courtesy of Jonas at Bonsai Tonight). They were unattributed, so we didn’t know who they belonged to. Now, thanks to Cory Jones, we know that the first two in the post belong to Bob Shimon (Mendocino … Continue reading Revisiting Redwood Bonsai

Redwood Bonsai at the REBS

Coast Redwood at the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society 28th Annual Show. Photo is by Jonas Dupuich, Bonsai Tonight. Stupendously magnificent Two of the most fascinating trees in the world are the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and it’s mountain dwelling cousin the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Both are fascinating for the same reason; their stupendously magnificent size. The coast redwood is the tallest tree in the world and the Giant Sequoia is the largest tree in the world. However, the Coast redwood is also very, very large and the Giant sequoia is also very, very tall. Redwood bonsai So far, the … Continue reading Redwood Bonsai at the REBS

Winning Deciduous Bonsai & a Little Break with Tradition

Winner Finest Deciduous Bonsai at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. The tree is a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) that belongs to Dennis Vojtilla. I cropped Oscar Jonker’s original photo (see just below) for a closer look Continuing with the prize winning bonsai from the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, today we’ve got the winning deciduous tree and another couple bonsai photos by Oscar Jonker (Bonsai Empire), as well as a couple photos of people at the event by Candy Shirey (Candy’s eye and feeling for people are spot on) The break with tradition mentioned in the title of this post, is the shots … Continue reading Winning Deciduous Bonsai & a Little Break with Tradition

Bonsai Art & Ink Painting – A Perfect Intersection

Something new under the sun! Sumi artist Sonia Stella’s caption reads… “Bonsai by Sandro Segneri and modern ink by me” I’m always a little stoked when we discover a new bonsai artist (quoted from our July 14th post). Now we can double down on that with today’s discovery of Sonia Stella’s Bonsai Art & Ink Painting – Sakura Studio. Or maybe triple down, with the added excitement of discovering a perfect intersection of two arts performed at such a high level. MID SUMMER SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT 25% TO 75% OFF LIST PRICE ON HUNDREDS OF BONSAI ITEMS SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT, MONDAY AT 11:59PM EDT – … Continue reading Bonsai Art & Ink Painting – A Perfect Intersection