Wraparound Bonsai & Two Great Specials End Tonight

This distinctively unusual Mugo pine received Marco Invernizzi’s Ichiban* Award at the 2008 Art of Bonsai Awards. The artist is Alfredo Salaccione from Italy. If you spend a lot of time looking at bonsai, you might come to appreciate unusual features. Features that make a tree not only interesting, but unique. In the case of the Mugo pine above, there are several that stand out. The most obvious feature, one that immediately catches the eye, is the way the trunk wraps around and frames the tree’s crown. This alone, makes for a very unusual and distinctive bonsai. A bonsai that … Continue reading Wraparound Bonsai & Two Great Specials End Tonight

4th National Bonsai Exhibition Album Has Arrived

It’s here! It’s better than ever and it’s available at Stone Lantern. I was at the 2014 National Exhibition and the excitement in the display area was palpable. The trees were magnificent and, as in the past, the overall quality had improved from the previous Exhibition. Now we have the book… for those of you who couldn’t make it and for those of you who did make it and want to remember what you saw. Just in case you are new to this and not familiar with our National Exhibitions; every two years, Bill Valavanis and friends put together a … Continue reading 4th National Bonsai Exhibition Album Has Arrived

Gifts for Bonsai Lovers

Fine Bonsai. The vividly photographed Japanese maple with its outrageous nebari, luminous leaves and tunnel that allows you to see into its midsection, is from the uniquely powerful and soulful new gallery book, Fine Bonsai, Art and Nature (cover photo below). This tree resides at the Shunka-en Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. No artist’s name is mentioned. Commercialism? No! (well maybe just a little) I hope that you’ve noticed that we keep a safe distance from too much shameless commercialism here on Bonsai Bark (our newsletter is another story). However, it’s that time of year, when lots of goods and money … Continue reading Gifts for Bonsai Lovers

NEW Book: Keshiki Bonsai – Or Is It?

Not all Keshiki look so much like what we call bonsai. Photo from Keshiki Bonsai. Keshiki Bonsai, The Easy, Modern Way to Create Miniature Landscapes by Kenji Kobayashi Here’s some of what whoever wrote the copy on the inside cover has to say about Keshiki Bonsai: In this dazzling book, Kenji Kobayashi – the modern master who invented keshiki bonsai – presents projects that range from utterly simple domes of emerald – green moss to subtle combinations of small trees, perennials, and stones. The materials are basic and easy to find, and each project can be interpreted to suit your … Continue reading NEW Book: Keshiki Bonsai – Or Is It?

Two Very Good Reasons

Shopping at Stone Lantern is a good way to keep Bonsai Bark coming & a very good way to save money! Koyo Heavy Duty Bonsai Shears (list 29.00) are now deeply discounted at 17.95 Over 100 Bonsai Tools deeply discounted at Stone Lantern Shohin Bonsai (list 24.95) is now deeply discounted at 9.95 Over 50 Bonsai Books deeply discounted at Stone Lantern Okatsune World-Class Garden & Bonsai Pruning Shears come in 2 sizes: 7″ size (list 66.50) now deeply discounted at 47.80 8″ size (list 79.90) now deeply discounted at 59.00 Quality Gardening Tools deeply discounted at Stone Lantern Japanese … Continue reading Two Very Good Reasons