Great Pots Deserve Great Trees

Barbados cherry (Malpigia glabra) by Hsieh, Cheng-Hua These three magnificent trees with their equally magnificent pots are from the 2008 Taiwan Bonsai Creators Exhibition booklet which appears on Bonsai Shari Si-Diao, Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s website. All three photo originally appeared her in April, 2011 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE at STONE LANTERN SEE BELOW – Ficus microcarpa by Huang,Ching-Chi. Variety unlisted. By Tung, Wen Chi 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE OUR 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS ON ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE AND 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE 20% off will show up when you check out – FREE Shipping Still Applies … Continue reading Great Pots Deserve Great Trees

Bonsai, Before & After – Evolution & Elevation of a Native Scots Pine

Jan Culek’s caption for this yamadori pine reads… “Evolution of native Czech Sylvestris pine between the years 2013-2017.” In English Pinus sylvertris is commonly called Scots pine. Jan makes no mention of the slab pot or the deadwood stand that supports it Here’s one more post featuring the bonsai of Jan Culek. It’s an unusual before and after of a yamadori Scots pine. The tree itself is distinctive enough and shows off Jan’s skills, but I think it’s the deadwood underneath the tree that that elevates the bonsai and causes the whole presentation to stand out (if you suffer from fear of puns, please accept … Continue reading Bonsai, Before & After – Evolution & Elevation of a Native Scots Pine

Two More Reasons to Visit the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

This has to one of the most perfectly conceived and executed Kingsville boxwoods you’ll see anywhere. It belongs to Rodney Clemons. We first featured it and Rodney’s Winged Elm (below)just over a year ago in a post titled There’s No Better Time… The other two bonsai shown here are new to us. The other day I rediscovered the Kingsville above (facebook of course) along with this quote by Rodney Clemons… “I am feeling honored I received word this week that two of my trees have been accepted for the 2018 US National Exhibition. I think they just really love to travel. Photo by Joe Noga, … Continue reading Two More Reasons to Visit the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Judging from the Digital Bench

You could win… …or maybe just enjoy yourself in the process. So far eighteen people have put on their judges robes. Join them and and enjoy some great photos and maybe, just maybe, win a gift certificate to Stone Lantern. 17th century Spanish judge in full gowns, by Velázquez.

The Last One: Photo Art Contest #16

Submitted by Cheryl Styles, who writes: “This is obviously not a photo of a whole tree but I found the bark so interesting I decided on that instead. I am easily distracted :)” Judging Stay posted to find out how you can become one of our illustrious judges

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 judges voted Altogether thirty one people decided to judge. Each judge assigned nine points. This means there were 279 total points assigned. If you do the math you’ll see that those who didn’t finish in the money received 118 points. Put another way, everyone was … Continue reading Bonsai Art Contest: Plenty of Winners

Judging: Time to Step Up

There’s still time for you Nineteen people have judged our Bonsai Art Contest so far. Not bad, but not over yet. There’s still time for you to weigh in. Sales! And, while we are at it, just a friendly reminder that we still have sales on books, magazines and netsuke going on. I know we’ve had lots of sales the last year or so (our answer to a weak economy), but don’t assume they will continue at the same frequency, or at the same deep discounts.

You Be The Judge & Good Things Will Happen

Judge our $100 Bonsai Art Contest and win a $30.00 Judge’s Gift Certificate to Stone Lantern for the best judges comments (comments are optional; see below under ‘How can you win….’). The basics The 13 bonsai art entries below (placed roughly in the order we received them) have been entered in our $100 Bonsai Art Contest. The winner will be determined when 25 judges have sent in their decisions, or by April 30th (whichever comes first). Anyone can judge (see below if you entered in the contest), but only one time per person.

Last Four Entries $100 Bonsai Art Contest

Drawing by Youri Boerlage. Youri didn’t write anything about this, but it looks like a juniper with some very wild jin and shari. Drawing by Matt Cooke’s girlfriend. This is a sketch my girlfriend did for me. As I was busy repotting in early March she had to keep herself entertained. (thus the playful comments). I believe it is pen and water pencil. The drawing is of my recently acquired mountain hemlock yamadori. (Tsuga mertensiana) Drawing by Pongsatorn Kanthaboon. Pongasatorn’s only comment is that it’s a Juniperus procumbens. FYI: some common names are: Shore juniper. Procumben juniper, Japanese garden juniper. … Continue reading Last Four Entries $100 Bonsai Art Contest

Eighth & Ninth Entries $100 Bonsai Art Contest

Bonsai sketch by Paul Flegenschue. “Attached is a scan of a tree and scene I drew in my sketchbook when I was doing my undergraduate. I imagined the sketch as a Japanese maple during winter, showing its intricate branch ramification.” Cérigraphy by Gen. Submitted by Matthiew Quinn. “My girlfriend is taking cérigraphy courses (drawing stensils then shoting ink around them on a fabric of choice). She drew the bonsai of a picture off the web, then made it biger by drawing a couple more bonsai (making it biger each time) and finally got the big bonsai you see on the … Continue reading Eighth & Ninth Entries $100 Bonsai Art Contest