2nd Chance: Win a Free Gift Certificate

A River in India, by Lew Buller. From his book, Saikei and Art: Minature Landscapes. Now on special at Stone Lantern. Win a $25.00 (or $15.00) gift certificate Send us a written critique of the planting above and you just might win. Even if you don’t, you can share your observations with our readers. Note: Do not put your entry in comments below. Instead email yours to wayne@stonelantern.com; after we have received them all we will post them for judging. For more info, check out our original post.

$100 Contest: The Final Three

This Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis), submitted by Ken T. (that’s all he wrote) has some promising potential. I like the gnarly knob on the right that makes the tree unique and tells a little story. Still, I can see a few things that might improve it. 1. I think soil line could be just a little higher so the base of the tree has a more anchored feel. Maybe if the soil was up to the bottom of the knob on the right and that little root was covered. Another way of saying this is just to lower the tree … Continue reading $100 Contest: The Final Three

$100 Contest: Eight Down, Two to Go

Contest entry number eight by Jonathan Pessin. There’s something going on with this little juniper, though I’m not sure where’s it’s headed. Cascade? In any case, it’s potential will have a hard time developing in such a small pot. Most of the best shohin are grown in larger pots (or even in the ground) and then reduced. As it is, unrefined potential is probably the best description. I do like the heavy little trunk and think that over time and with some work the deadwood might add character. Maybe it could go all the way down to the base of … Continue reading $100 Contest: Eight Down, Two to Go

Contest: Where in the World Did We Find It?

Win a twenty five dollar gift certificate. Be the first to tell us exactly where we found this weeping literati (bunjin) style pine (I actually don’t remember and would like to know) and you’ll win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. To win, your answer must appear in the comments below.

$100 Contest: Seven Down, Three to Go

The heavy trunk and flowers distinguish this pomegranate that was submitted by Jerry Norbury, though I think a shallower pot (preferably glazed) and a little thinning might improve it some. Let’s get this over with Three more entries and we can award one of you a $100 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. What are you waiting for? Details here.

Eccentric Bonsai #3 & Contest #8

I won’t say where juniper (looks like a shimpaku) bonsai came from, but will say why we choose it as an eccentric bonsai (see below) after an apology for it being slightly out of focus (it was enlarged a tad too much so it would fit our format). The contest: win a $25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern The first person to tell us whose tree this is and where we can verify that, will win a $25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Please put your answer in the comments below. Eccentric? I realize that eccentric is in the bleary … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai #3 & Contest #8

Unique Bonsai Contest: Entry #1 – Honeysuckle

This little Boxleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) belongs to Ferry Freriks of the Netherlands. Though it has room for improvement, still it’s a decent example of what you can do with a well chosen nursery plant, a few tools and a little time (four years in this case). The pot, in Ferry’s words, is “cheap Chinese.” A better pot This tree is on it’s way to becoming a worthy shohin bonsai. One of the surest ways to speed up that process is to put it in a better pot. Something just over half as deep would make the strong little trunk … Continue reading Unique Bonsai Contest: Entry #1 – Honeysuckle

Enjoy Life! Enter Our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest

I found this little gem on the giardinipiscine website while I was looking for something else (that’s one of the wonders of the web). It looks like an azalea of some sort, but it’s the size (or lack of it), not its ID, that gives it juice. A bonsai in hand… … might be worth a $100 gift certificate from Stone Lantern. It doesn’t have to be small… … but, small enough to be held up by the fingers of one hand. The winner won’t necessarily be the smallest tree, but rather the tree that we feel is the most … Continue reading Enjoy Life! Enter Our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest

And the winner is…

First place Finally, after building excruciating suspense, here it is, our winner of our bonsai art contest ($50.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern)! This sweet tree on a cliff by João Pires has captured my imagination. Not that it’s the only one I like, actually I like them all. So much so that we are awarding a second places ($25.00 gift certificate), and three honorable mentions ($10.00 gift certs each).

Contest Critique #5: Bonsai Metaphor

This image is from a video entitled ‘growth’ by Richard Lantz. Bonsai as metaphor Richard Lantz’s entry is less about bonsai than it is about what it means to be human; specifically (according to Amanda Rataj’s comments on Richard’s site) “control and the desire to better understand the place of the individual in society.” Bonsai as bonsai I enjoyed Richard’s video. His flowing drawings are quite mesmerizing and his talent is undeniable. However, from a purely bonsai perspective, none of the drawings taken alone achieve a presentable bonsai, and the ones with potential are either ruined (intentionally, I think) or … Continue reading Contest Critique #5: Bonsai Metaphor