Sixty Four Years of Bonsai in Sacramento

Coast live oak by Greg McDonald of the Sacramento Bonsai Club. If you want to see more detail, check out this larger image. California dreamin’ but no diggin’ Though I don’t know the history of the oak above, I imagine it was collected in the California Coast Range. California (and most of the West Coast) is blessed with some of the most spectacularly wild mountain ranges anywhere, and these ranges are covered with a multitude of collectable tree species. Enough to boggle even the most jaded tree lover’s mind. This is not to say that I think you should run … Continue reading Sixty Four Years of Bonsai in Sacramento

Native Americans at BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

I lifted this sinuous Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) off of a great gallery at Bonsai Tonight from the 2010 Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. Though I can’t tell for sure, it looks like at least five full twists in the trunk. Not something you see every day. Here’s another heavy-trunked bunjin. It’s a Sierra juniper, also known as Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). It and it’s close cousin, the California juniper (J. californica) are becoming favorites of bonsai enthusiasts here and abroad. Natives It’s good to see is the use of native trees and their increasing acceptance as subject for high quality … Continue reading Native Americans at BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique

This drawing by Kihara Susuma is from an article entitled ‘Exploring a Collected Needle Juniper’ that appears in Bonsai Today issue 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 … Continue reading A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique