A Perfect Example of Great Bonsai Ramification

This magnificent Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) received the coveted Kokufu prize at the 88th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition (the oldest and most prestigious bonsai exhibition in the world). Aside from its unique power and beauty, this tree provides a perfect example of what great ramification looks like (made even more obvious by the bright rusty-red leaf buds). The photo is from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. Identification and other details were provided by Bill Valavanis. Yesterday we discussed ramification so we’ll keep going with this post that we last featured in January, 2015. 30% to 50% off Book Special Ends Soon see below – This … Continue reading A Perfect Example of Great Bonsai Ramification

Refining Your Bonsai

I found this rather spectacular tree on Bonsai Nut. There was no caption but it’s part of a discussion on Korean hornbeam ramification. In these days of massive trunks and elaborate deadwood carving, it’s easy to overlook ramification. Even though good ramification is an essential mark of refinement. Especially on deciduous bonsai. In botany, ramification is defined as: 1. a structure formed of branches, and 2. configuration of branching parts. With bonsai, ramification is about branch development, starting with primary branches, then secondary, tertiary, quaternary and so forth, out to the finest twigs. Each level is thinner (and usually shorter) than the last, and when done well, the effect is … Continue reading Refining Your Bonsai

Staying on Message: A Few More Tips on Defoliation

Here’s Juan Adrade’s English caption for this photo. “Partial defolation on one of the grandfather trees. Close to 100 yrs old.” Here’s his Spanish caption: “Defoliación de las ramas exteriores en uno de los tridentes del abuelo de mi maestro. Este arbol posiblemente se acerca a los 100 años.” Here’s our translation of the Spanish: “Defoliation of the exterior branches of one of my teacher’s Trident maples. This tree is probably about 100 years old.” You might notice the part about exterior branches in the Spanish. This would indicate that Juan is trying to redirect energy away from the outer … Continue reading Staying on Message: A Few More Tips on Defoliation

A Perfect Example of What Great Ramification Looks Like & a Series of Excellent How-to Illustrations

You have your own eyes so there’s no need for me to say much. Except that this photo appeared here on Bark last spring in a post titled The One Percent (.001 percent would be more accurate). It’s a Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) that received the coveted Kokufu prize at the 88th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition (the oldest and most prestigious bonsai exhibition in the world). Aside from its overall magnificence, this tree provides a perfect example of what great ramification looks like (made even more obvious by the bright rusty-red leaf buds). The photo is from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. … Continue reading A Perfect Example of What Great Ramification Looks Like & a Series of Excellent How-to Illustrations

Bonsai Ramification and a Leap of Convoluted Logic

This Japanese hornbeam (Carpinus laxiflora) is from Bonsai Art’s facebook photos (from issue 129 of their magazine). I’ll let you provide your own superlatives. No artist’s name is provided on facebook or in the magazine for either of the trees shown here, but I’d bet they’re Japanese. Last week we did a post on ramification which states the following: “the thing that most separates Japanese bonsai from much of the bonsai in the West is refinement. With deciduous trees this is most obvious when you look at ramification (branch structure and particularly fine branch structure).” Based on the source (Bonsai … Continue reading Bonsai Ramification and a Leap of Convoluted Logic

Masters of the Art of Refinement

We don’t usually feature photos with so much background noise. But this bonsai (Trident maple) is phenomenal and the photo has an artistic quality and gives you a sense of place (the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum). The thing that most separates Japanese bonsai from much of the bonsai in the West* is refinement. With deciduous trees this is most obvious when you look at ramification (branch structure and particularly fine branch structure). There are certainly other feature that express refinement, for example taper and nebari, but nothing expresses it more than the development of fine branching. All the bonsai shown here … Continue reading Masters of the Art of Refinement

Ramificato ad Extremo

An exercise in extreme ramification. Mario Komsta’s latest photo of his now famous Hornbeam (Carpinus laxiflora). The three photos below are earlier stages of the same tree. All have been featured on Bonsai Bark and at least two in Mario’s facebook photos. Fine ramification can be the difference between average and exceptional bonsai The photos in this post provide a chronology of a Hornbeam that belongs to Mario Komsta. Though there is much to say about this magnificent bonsai, it’s the fine ramification (branching) that I find the most compelling (taking absolutely nothing away from the trunk’s stupendous base). In … Continue reading Ramificato ad Extremo

Thematic Incoherence & Embarrassed Apologies

Continuing with Bonsai Today, this gorgeous, sinewy New Zealand tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium) appeared on the cover of issue 96 (still available and 75% off). Not much more needs to be said about this one (it speaks for itself), except maybe to comment on the variety. Though you may occasionally see a New Zealand tea bonsai, in general they are not that common, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere. But, even if you have seen them before, I’ll take a wild guess and venture that you have never seen one quite like this. Thematic incoherence. This post is a … Continue reading Thematic Incoherence & Embarrassed Apologies

Developing Ramification on Deciduous Bonsai: 3

The third and final set of illustrations in the series (first set, second set). This one deals primarily with shaping with wire after the pinching and pruning has been completed. I suspect that where it say RESTRAINING NEW SHOOTS (top left corner), it should say TRAINING NEW SHOOTS. From Bonsai Today issue 66. Training new shoots The final step in our series is on training the new shoots. Notice how it is suggested that you do it sooner rather than later after the shoots have started to harden. Shaping with wire is almost always the best way, though sometimes just … Continue reading Developing Ramification on Deciduous Bonsai: 3

Developing Ramification on Deciduous Bonsai: 2

Two plus zero (plus one later) makes three installments These illustrations represent tw0 pages from Bonsai Today issue 66 (out of stock, see previous post). It’s the second installment (here’s the first) of a five page series on ramification (branching) that we are running over three posts (I originally said two posts, but have decided to expand to three).