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.

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.

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.

Unsettling?
There is something about the relationship of the two trunks that seems unusual, almost unsettling. I like the slanting right trunk and think that it could stand on its own, especially if the branches and crown where developed a bit more. The stately left trunk also has possibilities as a bunjin. Both trunks appear to have great deadwood; it would be nice to see close ups.

Near equals
So, what’s unsettling? Perhaps it’s the two trunks being too close to equals in magnitude. Though the left trunk is much taller, the right trunk is almost its equal because it’s thicker and stronger. People that study aesthetics sometimes say that this creates a problem for the viewer. Rather than finding one dominant place (focal point) to start and return to, the eye just flickers back and forth between two equally powerful objects.

Jaws, or maybe a structural weakness
Or maybe it’s that the two trunks look a bit like a jaws about to snap shut. Or, perhaps its the way the two form a large V. On large landscape trees a V like this is considered a weakness. Eventually the heavy leaning branch or trunk will most likely split off due to the force of its weight. In this case, because the second trunk is supported by its flaring base, it may never be problem (were it a full sized tree). Nevertheless, that might be why the angle and relationship of the two trunks seems a little unsettling. Anyone else?

More on Junipers and on bonsai aesthetics

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).

The trunk
The trunk is this tree’s strongest point. Not only is it thick and powerful, but it’s got a nice little flare at the base. My only question is; what’s that stuff sticking out on the bottom right?

The roots
It’s hard to tell in this photo, but it looks like there is a root that comes off of the trunk and crosses over the only visible surface root. This crossing, up-too-high root detracts from the tree and should be removed. Hopefully, other surface roots can be developed over time to balance out the one decent looking root that we can see.

The first branch
It looks like the first branch on the right is a thick little stub with another longer branch growing on top of it. If this is the case, the little stub should probably be removed. In any case, something should probably be thinned out as the right side looks a bit like a jumble of branches.

The foliage
The foliage looks pretty good with those nice small leaves. Overall, it could be filled out a bit more, but still, not bad.

Anyone else want to comment?
Don’t hesitate to post you own observations in the comments below. Think of it as an act of generosity.

Your turn
Submit your photo and maybe win a $100 gift certificate to Stone Lantern and get a free critique as bonus. Hopefully the critique will be worth more than it costs.

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.

What to do
Send us a photo of a bonsai that you are holding in, or on, your fingers and not touching your palm. The best way is to link it in our comments below. If you have trouble with that (some people do), you can email an attachment to: wayne@stonelantern.com. Either way be sure to include your name. If you want, you can say why you think your tree is unique.

Rules
1.The photo must show your hand with the fingers holding up a bonsai. If it can’t be held up with the fingers of one hand, it’s too big (save it for another contest). Any information you want to include with the photo is good.

2. When ten people have sent in their photos (one per person), the contest will be closed (so don’t wait too long). We will announce when it is closed.

3. I will pick the winner in consultation with two friends (their identities will be kept secret as they are lacking in character and would be susceptible to even the smallest bribe).

4. Imagine that all the disclaimers that you’ve ever seen with any contest are in this space.

5. The winner will receive a $100.00 gift certificate from Stone Lantern.

Don’t worry if it’s ugly, and don’t be upset if you don’t win…
… there’s no accounting for taste. Especially the taste of my two friends.

Second place
Even though I had several mild criticisms (details, details) of Michelle Doughterty’s drawing, overall, it is quite delightful.

The three honorable mentions…
…are: John Burrows, Jim(?), and Richard Lantz.

Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to enter. I enjoyed them all and felt they are all worthy of a prize.

And speaking of prizes
Please contact Corey at contact@stonelantern.com and she will tell you how to use your gift certificate to order from Stone Lantern.

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.

Meaningless musings on my part
Don’t read this! It’s about the text that accompanies Richard’s video and has nothing to do with bonsai and is directed only at Richard and perhaps the two of you (that’s probably a stretch) who care about such things.

I have trouble with the word ‘society.’ To me, it’s an abstraction that is so general that it has very little meaning (there’s no there there). Worse, when this vague, somewhat meaningless term is used, it is often to represent some dark amorphous force or as a kind of complaint or excuse. I’m also not too crazy about the use of “the individual,” but I won’t bore you with any more musings.

Richard is the final entrant (unless I missed someone)
Stay posted for the winner(s).