Bonsai Serpent & Two Buttonwoods

The serpent is hiding in plain sight. This magnificent tree belongs to Enrique Castaño, who has this to say about it: “This (Terminalia ucarillo) got the name Kukulcan from the Mayan mythology, Kukulcan was one of the serpents with feathers, kind of like a dragon.” The more I look at this tree, the more I notice – in addition to its sheer power – how well it flows from the well chosen pot and the nicely tapered trunk to the relaxed (there’s that word again – see yesterday) well balanced foliage with all the elements tying together so nicely. Might … Continue reading Bonsai Serpent & Two Buttonwoods

South of the Bonsai Border

Can something be both dynamic and relaxed? Or does it even make sense to talk about a bonsai as relaxed? In any case, this unique beauty makes its home at the Museo Tatsugoro – Estudio De Bonsai Miguel Ros, Fortin, Veracruz, Mexico. In case you’re wondering, what happened to the top of the photo, the answer is just below. For many more great photos where this came from, here’s you link I’ve long been fascinated with Mexico and have been visiting somewhat regularly since college years. But I’ve never been to Veracruz. Guess it’s time to put it on the agenda. Siempre … Continue reading South of the Bonsai Border

Tony Tickle’s ‘The Calligrapher’

The Calligrapher. You don’t need anything but your eyes and a little imagination to appreciate the the story of this remarkable little Yew’s (Taxus baccata) time spent on a remote rocky outcropping somewhere in England. But then there’s the story of the time it spent in Tony Tickle’s bonsai collection, where, instead of rough weather and poor soil, it experience a human-caused series of dramatic changes. The result is a refreshing break with convention that evokes a sense of delight and a big question mark (part of the answer is here). BTW: I don’t usually say too much about people … Continue reading Tony Tickle’s ‘The Calligrapher’