Continuity, Charm & the Chinese Century

Root-over-rock bonsai. When we originally showed this photo, we (that’s me) missed the rock part, even though it’s obvious (especially once you know it’s a rock). Here’s the caption from last year: At the risk of getting carried away, how about ‘wandering sage stops for a moment to contemplate an ancient tree by the light of the moon.’ In any case, I don’t blame him. You don’t see trunks (or trees) like this one every day. Our last two post have featured Penjing, so for continuity (and charm) we’ll make it three in a row. This one is borrowed from … Continue reading Continuity, Charm & the Chinese Century

Eye Popping Color, Some Spring Shows with a Northern California Bias & Boreal Bonsai

Great tree, great pot. It belongs to Wolfgang Putz. The pot is by Ingrid Kralovec. At the risk of stating the obvious, I’ll venture that it’s the eye popping color, the muscular well-gnarled lower trunk and the soft glow of the pot that caught your eye (in exactly that order no less). The tree is a Korean hornbeam. The botanical name is Carpinus turczaninowii (though you’ll sometimes see them referred to as Carpinus coreana). So many shows, so little… time, money, get up and go?. Though we just did a post about some upcoming bonsai shows, I’ve decided to follow … Continue reading Eye Popping Color, Some Spring Shows with a Northern California Bias & Boreal Bonsai

BCI’s Fall China Tour

This enchanted (and somewhat fuzzy) scene if from BCI’s (Bonsai Club International) web pages on their upcoming China tour. China anyone? It’s too bad the photo above isn’t sharper. Still, it’s clear that the scene beckons you to sail amongst those towering cliffs (at least in your imagination). I doubt if BCI’s tour includes sailing, but you will enjoy plantings like this one. Disney World? Nope, it’s a little piece of China. From BCI.