More Sacrificing – No Ceremonial Drums, Just Sharp Shears Required

The styling on this Juniper is almost done (at least for now). The exception is the sacrifice branch on the top. The artist, Mr Toshinori Suzuki, has decided to leave it on to strengthen the tree’s apex. When he is satisfied with the apex, he’ll sacrifice the branch. No ceremonial drums, just sharp shears required. Most trees are apically dominant (most of the tree’s energy and thus growth, tends to flow up into the apex). However, most junipers, including this one, are laterally dominant (most of the energy flows into lower lateral branches). In order to develop a new apex … Continue reading More Sacrificing – No Ceremonial Drums, Just Sharp Shears Required

Trim, Wire, Feed, Transplant, Enjoy

Trident maple forest from Bonsai Today issue 14. Back issues of Bonsai Today are 75% off. We don’t often use Bonsai Bark to advertise our products, but in this case, because so many of you have been waiting for our Bonsai Aesthetics wire, we’re making a somewhat rare exception. Our famous and enormously popular Bonsai Aesthetics wire is back, and, as always, the prices are unbeatable. 1 Kilo rolls are from 14.80 to 18.50 each depending on how many you buy, and 100 gram rolls are from 2.36 to 2.95 also depending on how many you buy. Roshi Bonsai Tool … Continue reading Trim, Wire, Feed, Transplant, Enjoy

Necessary and Good

Not too many I try not to clutter Bonsai Bark with too many Stone Lantern promos, still, selling books, tools and the other stuff is how we make our living, and that’s necessary and good. For us, and for you (check out the discounts). Three more rare out-of-print old issues of Bonsai Today just went up on Stone Lantern. Including 17, the famous transplanting issue (we only have 3, so don’t wait).

An Ingenious Technique: part 2

Artist’s rendition of what a nebari might look like using this technique. If you are a very quick study or an old bonsai maven (or both) you probably figured out how to use this technique using just the three images in the previous post. However, if you need more detail (can’t hurt), here’s a big hunk of the rest of the original images, which appeared in Bonsai Today issue 8.

Take a Tour of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

This famous old Japanese white pine is one of the most powerful bonsai anywhere. You can find it at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. As always. the photo, though enticing, doesn’t begin to do justice. Next time you are in Washington DC, don’t miss the opportunity to visit our wonderful National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Meanwhile, you can enjoy some of the bonsai, suiseki and other national treasures right where you are just by clicking bonsai tour.