A Soft Spot for Cedars

When is a Cedar not really a Cedar? Or does it even matter? Either way, this has to be one of the very best Northern white cedars we’ve seen yet. I’ve got a soft spot for Cedars, even when they’re really Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis – aka Northern white cedar – more below) and the one above is certainly no exception. I know I’ve seen it somewhere, but memory is elusive (74) and I know I’ll be embarrassed when you point it out (just heard from a couple bonsai friends north of the border – the artist is Brian Donnely of … Continue reading A Soft Spot for Cedars

Tough As Nails – Cedar Bonsai #5

Not a great tree, but a good tree (I’d happily add it to my collection) that provides an excellent look at the beauty of Northern white cedar foliage (see below for a close-up). This type cedar often grows at the water’s edge, so you might imagine that this one is leaning out over a pond or river. You might also imagine that years of heavy snow have weighed it down. It’s a member’s tree at The Bonsai Society at Royal Botanical Gardens, in Burlington, Ontario. In keeping with our Cedar theme (true cedars and cedars in name only), here’s a … Continue reading Tough As Nails – Cedar Bonsai #5

Cedar IV – True & Untrue

A later iteration of a Northern white cedar (Thuja Occidentalis) that we featured last year (see below). The tree’s potential has moved closer to realization (even with the photo’s missing top and right side). It belongs to Paul Chong. Both photos are originally from Lakeshore Bonsai, Toronto. Keeping with our Cedar theme, here’s a good one that we’ve featured before (below). The later version (above) shows improvements worthy of bonsai artist with a sharp eye and a sure touch. It falls into the ‘untrue’ cedar category (Cedrus are true cedars and this one is a Thuja or Arborvitae). Just in … Continue reading Cedar IV – True & Untrue

A Powerful Cedar Bonsai (Or Is It?)

I first saw this Northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) in International Bonsai magazine (2009 issue 4). It also appears on the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York’s website. It belongs to Marc Arpag and was part of the Society’s 36th Upstate New York Exhibition (2009). It jumped out at me because I have a thing for cedars, but can never seem to find any that begin to approach this natural wonder. When is a cedar a cedar (or not)? Common names often create confusion. There are only four true cedar (Cedrus) species in the world, yet an abundance of trees … Continue reading A Powerful Cedar Bonsai (Or Is It?)