Bonsai Flowers, Snow & Nasty Bugs

Japanese Flowering apricot (Prunus mume). This would be a remarkable tree even without the flowers. With the flowers… well, you can see for yourself. The tree resides at Bonsai Aichien in Japan. Speaking of snow & winter, we seem to be entertaining a nasty flu bug in these parts. I’ve been down for a couple days, so if you’re wondering why we’re a little slow answering emails, and why we’re resorting to recycled photos (February, 2014), now you know.  Both the photos here were posted on facebook by Juan Andrade who is (was?) an apprentice at Bonsai Aichien and a great … Continue reading Bonsai Flowers, Snow & Nasty Bugs

Juniper Bonsai Before & After – Cleanup Day

Before and after on cleanup day. It’s a Tam juniper (Juniperus sabina ‘Tamariscifolia’) that belongs to Michael Hagedorn. It’s finally sunny after interminable and often torrential rains, so it’s time to dig back into our archives so we can get outside asap. This post originally appeared almost exactly a year ago to the day. Here’s copy about the tree shown above that I lifted from Michael Horndorn’s Crataegus Bonsai: “The day these photos were taken was a basic ‘clean up day’ for the juniper—no wire was applied, removing only old and dangling foliage and shortening shoots that were overlong, and … Continue reading Juniper Bonsai Before & After – Cleanup Day

Flowers & Snow (& Too Good to Pass Up)

Japanese Flowering apricot (Prunus mume). This would be a remarkable tree even without the flowers. With the flowers… well, you can see for yourself. The tree resides at Bonsai Aichien in Japan. Speaking of snow, we’re expecting a foot or more over the next day or so. Time to run to the store to stock up on half and half. Meanwhile, we’ll borrow today’s post from February 2014. Both the photos here were posted on facebook by Juan Andrade who is (was?) an apprentice at Bonsai Aichien and a great source of excellent bonsai photos. Continued below… Too Good to … Continue reading Flowers & Snow (& Too Good to Pass Up)

A Scent of Spring

I like it when azaleas show some leaves when they bloom. Sometimes you see them completely covered with flowers, which can seem a little unnatural. This magnificent Nyohozan Satsuki Azalea belongs to Melvyn Goldstein. Its height is only 10 inches (25cm). It, along with nearly two hundred of North America’s other greatest bonsai, can be found in the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album (out of print – Albums 3 & 4 are still available). We’re not out of the winter woods yet here in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, but there is a slight scent of spring in the breeze. Still, … Continue reading A Scent of Spring

In Relentless Pursuit of Color

This one is more about its outrageously rugged shape and texture (who says Japanese bonsai is too stylized?) than its rather subdued flowers. But that’s okay, it’s not every day you see a tree quite like this. Our friend Bill Valavanis has done it again. This time it’s a very impressive collection of photos from the recent 2016, 90th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition in Tokyo (report one & report two). Unlike me, Bill actually travels to the source and takes the photos himself. In appreciation of his efforts, you might want to click over to Bill’s blog and see them all … Continue reading In Relentless Pursuit of Color

Barked up & Brilliant

Ume (aka Flowering apricot, Prunus mume). This brilliant tree resides at Bonsai Aichien in Japan. Ume tend to grow fast and bark up while still fairly young, so this tree may not be as old as it looks. Also, you might notice the deadwood. Ume are one of the few deciduous trees that hold deadwood over the years (lime sulfur doesn’t hurt either). Next month we’ll celebrate Bonsai Bark’s eighth anniversary. Our best estimate is we’re closing in on 2,000 posts (maybe more). Some, like this one, are reposts (Feb 2014), but most are new. Snow has been slow coming … Continue reading Barked up & Brilliant

Flowering Bonsai – Some of Us Can Dream

Sabamiki and uro from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. Aside from this magnificent old Ume’s overall power and beauty, there are a several things that might catch your eye: the flowers and buds, the aged bark (Ume bark develops an aged look fairly fast) and the hollowed out trunk (sabamiki). If you look closely you can also see several uro (small hollows that are left on deciduous trees where branches have rotted and fallen off, though bonsai uro may well be man made). This winter to end all winters seems like a good (if a little perverse) time to look … Continue reading Flowering Bonsai – Some of Us Can Dream

Bonsai Pioneers

This remarkable photo is titled Geijutsu Works, Kobayashi’s Garden. I take this to mean that it’s from Kunio Kobayashi’s famous book, Bonsai (see below). Though my guessing is often suspect, I’m pretty sure this distinguished tree is an Ume (Japanese flowering apricot). This is based in part on its remarkable deadwood (if you’re not in a big rush, stop for moment and take a close look). You seldom see deadwood on deciduous trees, with Ume being an exception. This, coupled with the fact that it looks like an Ume, cinches it. Murata, Kato, Kobayashi, Kimura This isn’t the first time … Continue reading Bonsai Pioneers

Playing with Shadows & Light

Boon Manakitivipart. Western juniper debut with Jalaluddin Din. Bonsai Boon All the photos shown here were posted on facebook by Boon Manakitivipart. Boon is a well-known American bonsai artist and influential bonsai teacher. You can find more about Boon here. Shadows and light I like these photos. Not only are the bonsai quite intriguing, but the photos offer something you don’t see that often; bonsai photography with an artistic flair. The one possible downside is that the play of shadow and light sometimes makes it a little harder to see some of the details on the trees. On balance though, … Continue reading Playing with Shadows & Light

A Touch of Spring

The flowers are white, and we’ve got plenty of white stuff on the ground here in Vermont. That’s as far as it goes, but we can dream. The photo is from Bonsai Guest House Osaka (facebook). Here’s their website. It’s hard to tell for sure, but I’m guessing it’s a Ume (Flowering apricot). I’m told that Ume is one of the few deciduous trees holds deadwood for a long time. More than just a touch. I like it when azaleas show some leaves when they bloom, like this one. Sometimes you see them completely covered with flowers, which can seem … Continue reading A Touch of Spring