Omachi Relief Fund: Don’t Let Up Yet

Isao Omachi before the tsunami swept everything away. Don’t let up yet Just a little reminder about the plight of Isao Omachi and his family. It’s not too late to do something to help. As you know, relief efforts commonly suffer from short half-lives. Something horrible happens, we get worked up about people suffering and, in a matter of days, we’ve forgotten and moved on the next thing. Omachi Relief Fund The following was written by Bill Valavanis: Award winning bonsai artist Isao Omachi is one of the rising starts of the Japanese bonsai world. He lives with his wife, … Continue reading Omachi Relief Fund: Don’t Let Up Yet

Swept Away

Doing what you can We encourage you to think about helping the Omachi family. You can simply send your contribution to the address above, or, if you have questions you can contact marco@marcoinvernizzi.com. Doing what we can Stone Lantern is pledging 10% of all sales of Japanese items to the Japanese Red Cross and several of our contributors and customers have already pledged their help by donating contest winnings (see comments here).

Bill’s Bonsai & Stone Lantern’s Sale

I don’t think there are very many genuine Tokonomas in North America. Of the few I’ve seen, this is one of the very best. The funky curvy wood on the right and the wildly voluptuous wisteria contrast perfectly with the formality of the rest of the display. For your enjoyment Bill Valavanis of International Bonsai recently posted a series of excellent photos on facebook. We’ve included a few for you to enjoy. You can view them all here. Also for your enjoyment Stone Lantern (that’s us) is having a wild and woolly book sale and Bonsai Today sale right now. … Continue reading Bill’s Bonsai & Stone Lantern’s Sale

American Kokufu (Old News but Good News)

Doug Paul’s Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia) was displayed at the 2010 Kokufu ten Exhibition in Japan. Kokufu is widely considered the preeminent bonsai exhibition in the world, and just being excepted to display a bonsai in Kokufu is considered a great honor. Borrowed from Bill The photos and most of the text in this post are borrowed from Bill Valavanis. In Bill’s words (from the Internet Bonsai Club): “The 84th Kokufu Bonsai Ten Exhibition opens tomorrow (February, 2010) in Japan and history is being made. I believe for the first time an American has a bonsai on display. “Doug Paul’s Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia) bonsai … Continue reading American Kokufu (Old News but Good News)

Fall Color in Upstate New York

This strikingly colorful ginkgo with its thick, uniquely shaped and uncommonly well tapered trunk (for a ginkgo) is from facebook, courtesy of Bill Valavanis (International Bonsai). In fact, all three photos in this post are Bill’s. Looks like a pyracantha. The well-chosen blue pot contrasts with and amplifies the bright vermilion berries. A colorful piece of Bill’s nursery.

Same Tree, Only Better

This is the same cedar that we featured three days ago, only much improved after being prepared for exhibition at the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. BTW: it won the ABS Award for the finest North American Species Bonsai. It’s no wonder eh? Photo courtesy of Bill Valavanis of International Bonsai. The artist is Marc Arpag of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York. Our Site-Wide Summer Sale Ends Tomorrow Morning!

Coming Soon: North American Bonsai at the International Bonsai Symposium

This splendid Japanese maple by Bill Valavanis is from the cover of International Bonsai’s special Maple Issue. Do you like North American trees? Larch, cedar, bald cypress, buttonwood, Rocky mountain juniper will be all featured September 10-12 in Rochester NY. Meet some excellent bonsai artists and teachers, take a couple workshops and go home happy (visit International Bonsai for details). Speaking of North American Bonsai… …the gallery book North American Bonsai is now double discounted at Stone Lantern. So is The 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album.

Bonsai Art: Deshojo Japanese Maple

Deshojo Japanese maple by Bill Valavanis. It’s been Bill’s day in the sun lately with a successful 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition under his belt, so why not show another side of his talents? One thing that strikes me about this photo the are the five strong colors (black, vermillon, whitish, green and shades of blue) that stand in sharp contrast to each other. This play of colors in such high contrast, along with the simple beauty of the tree, leaves little doubt that bonsai, when done well, is elevated to pure art. Here’s something I grabbed off of facebook … Continue reading Bonsai Art: Deshojo Japanese Maple

More Shots (& Big, Big, Big Book Sale)

Another shot from the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibit (here for a post from a few days ago). This one (and the last one in this post) was sent to us by Bill Valavanis; the tireless man behind the whole wild and wonderful thing. Big, big, big book sale at Stone Lantern Just trying to squeeze this in to drum up a little business. Mid-summer always requires some extra effort. All the way from Japan. Kunio Kobayashi was not the only famous visitor (and in this case, judge), but he’s the only one with the title ‘Grand Master’ before his … Continue reading More Shots (& Big, Big, Big Book Sale)

Shots from the 2nd U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

Nice trunk. Definitely looks like an azalea. The shot is from a video by Alejandro Medina Ibarra of the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Alejandro Medina Ibarra The shots here are all from a video of the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. The video is by Alejandro Medina Ibarra and it’s brilliant. I wasn’t able to attend, so I’m particularly grateful for Alejandro’s efforts. Something powerful and good took place in Rochester last month if this video is any indication. Really, check it out and you too will wish you’d been there (see you in 2012). Bill Valavanis I’m not … Continue reading Shots from the 2nd U.S. Bonsai Exhibition