One of the Most Unique Pines in Our Ten Years of Blogging

This Kuromatsu, aka Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) was featured at the 27th Japan Bonsai Writer Association exhibition (Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyokai exhibition), where this photo was taken. I cropped the original photo (see just below) for a closer look at just the tree I found this magnificent tree on The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum‘s timeline. This famous museum is home to some of the best bonsai in the world and this Japanese black pine is certainly no exception. To my eye it is one of the most unique pines we’ve featured in our ten years of blogging (well, nine years and 10 months). It’s so … Continue reading One of the Most Unique Pines in Our Ten Years of Blogging

Where in the World?

No caption with this one, but it looks a lot like three Shimpaku junipers growing on a precariously balanced stone, with small ground cover plants and moss Back to Bill Valavanis’ Japan journey. Today we’ll show you some of his photos from 2018 38th Nippon Bonsai Taikan Exhibition. Just bear in mind that these photos are mere drops in the bucket (Bill is a busy fellow), so it might not be a bad idea for you to click over to his blog and treat yourself to a whole lot more. And you also might enjoy a more whimsical view of Bill’s journey with some lighthearted shots titled Where … Continue reading Where in the World?

Bonsai, Babies & Roshi Tools

Three photos of the same tree at different times. I think it’s probably the same baby too. No identification of the tree is given, but it looks a lot like a Japanese beech I try to focus on bonsai and stay away from babies and kittens (here on Bark at least), but for some reason I couldn’t pass this one up (it helps that the tree is magnificent). The babies and the photos below were posted by Matthijs Hartjes, a Bonsai Bark first timer ROSHI TOOL SPECIAL ENDS TOMORROW NIGHT 30% OFF see below – Japanese maple for sure, but no variety is given … Continue reading Bonsai, Babies & Roshi Tools

A Bonsai First

I took the liberty of cropping this photo to better appreciate its strikingly powerful and expressive trunk. The tree is a Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) that belongs to Heinrich Hacker. The original photo is below. Today’s photos are all from Bonsai-Club Deutschland. If memory serves (a 50-50 proposition at best) it’s a first for us. Anyway, I’m very impressed and imagine that you too will be impressed NEW SPECIAL 25% off list prices on Koyo Bonsai Tools see below – The whole tree in all its splendor. In addition to its aforementioned trunk you might notice how dense the canopy is. BTW, its size is … Continue reading A Bonsai First

Tiny Pots, Tiny Trees…

This tiny Shimpaku juniper belongs to Yoshiyuki Kawada. Staying with our little trees theme, but moving from Haruyosi to another Japanese artist who also makes their own small pots and plants them with small trees (even smaller than Haruyosi’s). His name is Yoshiyuki Kawada, and though I’m just becoming familiar with his trees and pots, so far I’m impressed (this post originally appeared here in November, 2016 – with some changes today). NEW BONSAI TOOL SPECIAL 40% off list prices on all our Bonsai Aesthetics Tools see below Another little Shimpaku. This one has a powerful feel for such a small tree Tiny … Continue reading Tiny Pots, Tiny Trees…

Old Bonsai Bones

We Borrowed this Hackberry from a 2017 Kokufu post on Bill Valavanis Bonsai blog. As soon as I return from vacation later this week, we’ll show you some photos from this year’s Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, which just begun yesterday. Meanwhile, we’ll stimulate your interest with a few photos from last year’s exhibition (borrowed from Bill Valavanis’ excellent bonsai blog) Continued below… Bill offer the varieties on some of the trees, but not this one. I could guess Japanese maple, but my track record isn’t that great. Meanwhile you might appreciate the powerful nebari and the exquisite fine branching. One advantage of winter … Continue reading Old Bonsai Bones

Dramatic Multi-Trunk Bonsai – Koyo Japanese Tools

Three robust Shimpaku junipers on a stupendous rock. From the Omiya Bonsai Museum via Bonsai Empire. Continuing our Omiya Bonsai Art Museum theme (with the rock planting above; the rest of the photos are from various other places). I’m in the middle of a two week vacation, so it’s back to our archives. This post (with a few minor changes today) originally appeared here in August 2015. That’s Ryan Neil’s hand posing for a professional photo with a one of the largest single rock, root-on-rock plantings you’ll ever see. Here’s his caption: “In the studio today with @hornbecker shooting for the Artisans … Continue reading Dramatic Multi-Trunk Bonsai – Koyo Japanese Tools

Bonsai Island Paradise

Though it’s not really a bonsai if it’s in the ground, this one is a very close cousin. This photo and all the photos in this post are from Stone Garden. Continuing with our Korean bonsai theme. This one is from our archives (April, 2014). Tomorrow we’ll return to the Korean Bonsai Artists Exhibition. The bonsai shown here reside at a place called Stone Garden, on an island just south of Korea and due west of Japan’s Kyushu Island. The island’s name is Jeju and judging by the photos, it’s a rather magnificent place, with warm enough weather for plants that are … Continue reading Bonsai Island Paradise

2014 Bonsai & Japanese Garden Calendars

A close-up of part of the January page of our brand new 2014 Bonsai Calendar. They’re here, just off the boat from Japan. As usual, a little later than we would have liked (remind me next year to order them in April rather than July), but still, plenty of time before this year slinks (or bounds, depending upon your disposition) away into that place we call history. 2014 Bonsai Calendars Enjoy 26 world-class specimen bonsai trees while you keep track of the date. As each month passes. you can cut off the dates and enjoy attractive wall hangings in your … Continue reading 2014 Bonsai & Japanese Garden Calendars