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 in the pot.
2. Perhaps letting the crown grow up higher in the center and then rounding it off some would balance the tree a little better. There are certainly other possibilities, but no matter, I think the crown could be stronger.
3. All the little exposed roots on the surface of the soil are distracting. A higher soil line (see #1 above) or some moss could fix this problem.
4. Though it’s hard to tell with only one side showing, I have a feeling that if you could turn the tree a little counterclockwise, the front might be a little better.
How ten suddenly became eleven
I know I said ten and eight plus three makes eleven, but these last ones all came in at about the same time, so what the heck?
The $100 unique bonsai contest is officially closed
But don’t worry. We’ll have more contests. Next time don’t wait so long!
This flowering serissa was submitted by Brian and Jill. It looks healthy, the flowers are great and the strong little trunk is a good start. Unfortunately the pot is too big for the tree; at least for show purposes. A too large pot can work for growing on and encouraging development, so maybe that is their intention.
This little ficus was submitted by Susan Richards. I like the way the trunk is wired. It promises a good future for this sparse little tree. But the future, when the tree is much larger, is mostly what we have to go on at this point. Right now the aforementioned sparse leaves are way too big for the tree, as is the pot; at least for show purposes. I’d like to see it in four or five years.
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 the trunk and even be hollowed out some at the bottom. Is it just the photo, or is the wire already digging in?
Once again, let’s get this over with
Two more entries and we can award one of you a $100 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. What are you waiting for? Details here.
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.
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.
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 eye of the beholder, and certainly mean no offense to the artist.
Continue reading ‘Eccentric Bonsai #3 & Contest #8′
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 appear even stronger and something a whole lot nicer would dramatically improve the overall effect (a bonsai is a tree AND a pot).
Continue reading ‘Unique Bonsai Contest: Entry #1 – Honeysuckle’
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 unique. Size could be a factor (like the one above) but doesn’t have to be.
Continue reading ‘Enjoy Life! Enter Our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest’
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).
Continue reading ‘And the winner is…’
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 just left that way. This unrealized potential may work well as metaphor, but leaves us hanging a bit when it comes to bonsai.
Continue reading ‘Contest Critique #5: Bonsai Metaphor’
This elegant five tree planting was submitted by Michelle Dougherty (Bunjin Journal).
A simple, natural look
If you’ve been following our Great Debate posts, you know that some people see a dichotomy between naturalistic and traditional bonsai. If I had to put Michelle’s drawing into one of these two groups, it would be naturalistic. Though the placement of the trees may or may not have been influenced by traditional Japanese guidelines (the odd number certainly conforms), the overall effect seems uncontrived and natural.
Continue reading ‘Contest critique #4: Uncontrived & Natural’
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