Capital Bonsai – Undressed Elegance

Chinese Elms, Ulmus parvifolia. In training since 1901. This remarkable bonsai was donated to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum by Yee-sun Wu. This and the other photos in this post are from Capital Bonsai, the NB&P Museum’s excellent new blog. Sheer elegance Somehow I missed the December 21st post at Capital Bonsai. It titled ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year.’ Though the song doesn’t do that much for me, the sheer elegance of the leafless trees in the post most certainly do. And though winter is over, or nearly over, for most of us, it was -8F … Continue reading Capital Bonsai – Undressed Elegance

An Old Philistine Takes a Second Look at Some Remarkable Trees

This well-known Sageretia planting is by Dr Wu Yee-sun. It appears in The Chinese Art of Bonsai & Potted Landscapes. An Aha! moment Sometimes you might pass over a tree or planting because it’s not dramatic enough to catch your attention. Or maybe it just seems strange at first glance. In some cases, if you’re lucky, a question mark might pull you back for a second look. That’s what happened to me with two or three of the trees in this post; they were easy to overlook, but when I did take a close look, an Aha! moment dawned. Whatever … Continue reading An Old Philistine Takes a Second Look at Some Remarkable Trees

Classic Penjing/Bonsai Book Back in Print

The Chinese Art of Bonsai & Potted Landscapes Y. C. Shen, Beulah Kwok Sung, C. B. Sung Now, this rare and wonderful book is back in print. John Naka was a big fan and said that “this unique book should be on the reading list of all bonsai connoisseurs.” Dr. Wu Yee Sun, famous philanthropist and avid bonsai and penjing supporter said that it “is a masterpiece of great importance in the art of bonsai and will… without a doubt… be valued for generations to come.”