This full cascade Japanese Katsura tree Kadsura vine is from Bonsai Today issue 5. Its overall height (not including the stand) is 31 inches (79 cm).
Bonsai Galleries
During its heyday, Bonsai Today magazine was known for its excellent how-to articles by Japanese and other masters, and for its world class bonsai galleries. The three trees featured here are from long out-of-print issues, and present just a very small taste of what lies beneath the covers of Bonsai Today.
Have you ever seen a trunk quite like this? A Kimura yew that we posted a while back has some gaps, but this one has more space than trunk. It’d be good to see the tree close up to better understand exactly what the artist (who he or she is, is a mystery to us) did and how the pieces come together somewhere around mid-tree. We found this and the rest of the photos in this post on Bonsai4me. It’s originally from Noelanders Trophy VII. All the photos are by Hans Vleugels of Belgium.
Missing artists
We’ve seen lots of online photos that show trees without the artist’s names. Some, like the ones in this post, can be found on reputable sites, that for some reason fail to mention the artists. Others might have their reasons to neglect mentioning the artists. The worse are pirates who steal what they want without compunction. Others could be people who would like you to believe the bonsai are theirs (deception by omission). Some might just do it without understanding that it is unethical, that somehow anything goes on the web. Whatever, the reason, it’s bad form not to mention the artist. Or, if you don’t know who the artist is, you could at least say that you don’t know and mention where the photos is from.
Old Rosemary plants abound in Europe, so you’d expect to see some pretty good old Rosemary bonsai, and this semi-cacade certainly qualifies. It doesn’t hurt that it’s in a very cool pot. This photo is from Bonsai Today issue 85. Unfortunately, I don’t have the artist’s name with me (I’m traveling) so I can’t attribute. Anyone out there know?
Still on the road (thus the movable part of the title)
I’m still traveling so thought I’d just pluck this European gallery out of one of the folders I have on my desktop for just such occasions. Unfortunately, I can’t attribute because I don’t have access to the artist’s names. Maybe you can help.
This twisty Shimpaku forest reminds me of Point Lobos (from the last time I was on the road). Like the one above, and the ones below, it’s from Bonsai Today issue 85.
Acacia longifolia. So sweet. The leaves are a little big, but that’s the nature of the plant. Otherwise, this bonsai has it all: gnarly aged trunk with a little see-though action and excellent fluid movement. Nice jin. Perfect pot. Great tree!
Australian Native Plants as Bonsai
I found this tree, the one below, and numerous others on the Australian National Botanic Garden site in a section entitled Australian Native Plants as Bonsai. Some are quite unusual, at least to those of us living up over. I couldn’t find the artists’ names anywhere on the site. Maybe someone out there knows.
Aussie friends
We have lots of friends and customers in Australia. My impression is that something vital is happening bonsai-wise down there. Any news, photos, gossip, whatever, from our Aussie friends is always appreciated.
Ficus rubiginosa. Here’s another good one. It’s got great balance, the semi-fused trunk has excellent taper and the wonderful pot looks like it might be old, maybe even antique. I tried to enlarge it to see more detail, but didn’t gain much.
This group of Needle junipers on a large rock by Norboru Kaneko won first prize at Sakufu-ten #12. It originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 24 (long out of print). It also appears in our Bonsai Today Masters’ Series Juniper book (still in print).
Root-on-rock vs root-over-rock
The bonsai shown in this post are all root-on-rock, which means that the roots are growing in soil that is in pockets in the rock. Root-over-rock is where the rock sits in soil in a pot and the roots are trained to grow down over the rock and into the soil. We’ll do a post on these later.
Here’s another Needle juniper (with an azalea and some others) by Noboru Kaneko. Also from Bonsai Today 24 and our Juniper book.
Root-over-rock. Here’s a somewhat fuzzy example of root-over-rock (as contrasted with the root-on-rocks above), that comes from Noelanders Throphy XI – A Film by Merlin. You can see one root (with the white stripe) than snakes down the side of the rock. It’s actually functioning as trunk now; roots that are exposed to air will grow bark and become part of the trunk. This only works if the tips of the root are in soil. If the whole root, including the tips, is exposed to air for more than a few minutes, tips and all will begin to die.
California juniper by Ernie Kuo. This tree was collected by Sam Uyeno in 1985 and later purchased by Mr. Kuo. Height 31″ (79cm). Chinese pot. Photo from Bonsai Today issue 84.
A little buzz about Ernie Kuo’s bonsai
Ernie Kuo’s trees are impressively dramatic; real eye poppers. Yet, he has his detractors. Some bonsai people find faults in his designs and perhaps his whole approach. If you look closely at the photos, you might pick up on what the criticism is about. Or, you might just be amazed at the power of his trees.
For the rest of Ernie’s gallery of California junipers visit our facebook photo gallery.
This drawing by Kihara Susuma is from an article entitled ‘Exploring a Collected Needle Juniper’ that appears in Bonsai Todayissue 98.
Back issues of Bonsai Today…
…are a great place to study the art of bonsai. Each issue presents a wealth of bonsai art and technique by many of the world greatest masters and teachers.
Issue 98 table of contents
Refining a Satuki Azalea – Beginner’s Section: If You Care – Bonsai Gallery – Beginner’s Section: Trees in Nature – Review: Three Bonsai DVDs – The Pottery of Max Braverman – Styling a California Live Oak – Exploring a Collected Needle Juniper – Penjing: A Chinese Renaissance
This unique bonsai is a Pemphis acidula by Budi Sulistyo (Budi is the author of Tropical Bonsai Gallery). The tree received second place (professional category) in our first and only Bonsai Today awards contest. It appears in Bonsai Today issue 106.
Oh, Mexico!
I just got back from Patzcuaro Mexico. Day temperatures of 70 to 80F (21 to 27C) and deep blue skies backdropping emerald leaves and needles, wildly bright bougainvillea flowers (actually bracts) and all the rest of natures uninhibited display. Now I’m back to our relentless cold gray skies and fields of snow. You gotta wonder.
While we northern snow lions wait for warmer days, I thought maybe we could pass time featuring some of your trees. It’ll be good for you to see them through the eyes of others, and good for others to see what you are up to. Good for me too; blogging can be a job at times, and any help is appreciated.
So, send us some photos. Really, don’t be shy.
Meanwhile, I’ve posted a few bonsai for your enjoyment. If you use a little imagination, you can get a feel for what one of your trees might look like here.
Bonsai Bark is written mostly by Wayne Schoech, publisher, Stone Lantern Publishing and former editor and publisher of Bonsai Today magazine. The idea is to promote and expand the bonsai universe by offering pithy commentary and occasional barking on its art, science and culture; with an emphasis on how-to projects.
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