Bonsai Berries & a Failed New Year’s Resolution

This prolific Pyracantha was our 2018 New Year’s tree. I don’t know who the artist or owner is (more about this below), but my guess is the tree is Japanese Here’s my New Year’s resolution from 2018… No more unattributed trees on this blog (uh… except for the one just above). So I failed on the first day last year and the failure reoccured throughout the year (you can take this as a metaphor if you’d like). In light of this, here’s a more realistic resolution for this year… I will attribute the trees we post when possible and encourage all of us who have been … Continue reading Bonsai Berries & a Failed New Year’s Resolution

A Quick Before and After Bonsai

Before and after Juniper by Bonsai Mike made quick and easy (or at least quick). Here’s part what Mike wrote about this tree and the event where the transformation took place… “I’d like to thank the Puget Sound Bonsai Association for bringing me up to Seattle… Here’s a before and after of my demo tree. Deadwood still needs to be finished.” Yesterday we featured a before and after by Bonsai Mike. Today, we’ve got another of Mike’s B&As. Both are junipers and both are impressive in their own right. After that, most similarities end. Yesterday’s was a monster yamadori where the process … Continue reading A Quick Before and After Bonsai

Two Legged Juniper – Before & After

Sierra juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), before and after by Bonsai Mike. You can see the potential peeking out underneath the foliage in the before shot. Still, an impressive transformation Today’s tree belongs to Bonsai Mike, a first timer here on Bark (as distinguished from Michael Bonsai, who has appeared here numerous times). Here’s what Mike wrote about this old yamadori juniper… “One of my best trees. I collected this Sierra in 2011. It has gone through 3 stylings since then and keeps improving. The foliage is getting a little heavy now. In order to show greater age, some branches must be removed in … Continue reading Two Legged Juniper – Before & After

Bonsai Bearing Berries

Pyracanthas (aka Firethorns) are prolific bearers of berries and this one is certainly no exception. More like exceptional. It’s from a post we did in 2012. I’m trying to experience an approximation of a vacation of sorts. Easier said than done, though I’m determined to carve out some free time. So determined that I’m going to borrow four photos from previous posts this time. It’s almost fruit and berry season, so in anticipation here are three photos of Pyracanthas with berries and one in full flower. It won’t be long. From the many to the few. It’s another Pyracantha. … Continue reading Bonsai Bearing Berries

It’s About the Flowers

Bonsai Mike’s shohin pyracantha (firethorn). Ordinary bonsai conventions don’t necessarily apply The Japanese (and others) tend to design flowering bonsai to show off the flowers. Other considerations, like taper and branch placement, often take a back seat. So much so that many flowering trees are displayed only when flowering (and fruiting). They pass the rest of their time tucked away in some corner of the nursery. A lot to like Even though it breaks one of the primary conventions of bonsai (the first two branches are next to each other) the bonsai above is so sweet that you could show … Continue reading It’s About the Flowers