Mixed Forest Bonsai (& Others) by One of the Original Grand Masters

This magnificent mixed forest is by Saburo Kato, who was one of the original old masters of Japanese bonsai. You can find it and other remarkable trees in his timeless classic Forest, Rock Planting & Ezo Spruce Bonsai. You can also find some of the moist comprehensive how-to bonsai instructions anywhere Continuing with our forest theme, today it’s four now famous forest plantings by one of Bonsai’s Grand Masters, Saburo Kato TWO TIMELY SPECIALS 20% OFF ALL BONSAI WIRE 25% TO 30% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS – This remarkable slab planting shows how much drama and power one strong tree … Continue reading Mixed Forest Bonsai (& Others) by One of the Original Grand Masters

The Magician’s Ezo Spruce Bonsai Forest

Before and after,three years later. Masahiko Kimura ‘The Magician’ styled this Ezo spruce (Picea Glehnii) planting with a high mountain stand of conifers in mind Continuing with bonsai forests from the last two days… Looking at the after forest above, you might notice how the trees on the outside lean out in search of sunlight, which is what you would expect in a natural stand of trees (more on this below) You may also notice how Kimura enhanced the feeling of age by removing or jinning about half of the limbs (this is most evident in the intermediate to after photos … Continue reading The Magician’s Ezo Spruce Bonsai Forest

Swept Away by a Bonsai Broom

When it comes to broom-style bonsai, this Zelkova is no doubt among the very best. In addition to one of the most perfectly developed crowns anywhere (with an amazing profusion of tiny leaves), it provides an excellent example of trunk and surface root development. Neither are overstated; providing a welcome relief from the overly dramatic trunk taper and grotesque nebari that you sometimes see on deciduous trees. But then, you might expect perfection from this tree; it’s from Grand Master Saburo Kato’s collection. For a long time Mr Kato was recognized as Japan’s preeminent Bonsai artist. Up to our old … Continue reading Swept Away by a Bonsai Broom

Old Masters Bonsai Displays

Hornbeam (Carpinus laxiflora) forest on a slab and Shimpaku juniper on a spectacular rock. This image captures only half of a display by Grand Master Saburo Kato. This post first appeared here in our earliest days (August, 2009). The displays themselves are from earlier (Bonsai Today issue 43, 1996). Our photo format is considerably larger now and I even cropped and enlarged a couple individual trees for closer views ( a little fuzzy, but might be helpful- see below). Otherwise, though bonsai keeps evolving, masterful bonsai is still masterful bonsai. Each group display in this post is by a single … Continue reading Old Masters Bonsai Displays

A Perfectly Understated Example of Trunk & Nebari Development

In addition a one of the most perfectly developed crowns you’ll ever see, with its amazing profusion of tiny leaves; this Zelkova provides an excellent example of trunk and surface root (nebari) development. Neither are overstated; providing a welcome relief from overdeveloped trunk taper and nebari that you sometimes see (especially on maples*). But then, you might expect perfection from this tree, it’s from the Grand Master Saburo Kato’s collection (Mr Kato is the author of the famous book, Forest, Rock Planting & Ezo Spruce Bonsai). Off to the big city today (Burlington Vermont) and no time to put together … Continue reading A Perfectly Understated Example of Trunk & Nebari Development

Digging Deeper into Our Forest Bonsai Excavation

Does five trunks constitute a forest? Maybe we should call it a glade. A mossy glade at the edge of meadow somewhere. Whatever we call it, it has to be one of the most impressive multiple trunk bonsai anywhere. It doesn’t hurt that the individual trees can stand on their own, especially the twin trunk tree on the right (the focal point). With or without the second trunk. The magnificent pot looks like an escarpment in the Rockies. Robert Steven took the photo at the 2012 BCI convention in Guangzhou, China. We’ve been digging into forest type bonsai lately, so … Continue reading Digging Deeper into Our Forest Bonsai Excavation

Ezo Spruce by Any Other Name…

One glance at this Ezo spruce and you know it belongs to Walter Pall. Walter sometimes refers to this natural looking untouched-by-human-hands style as ‘naturalistic bonsai,’ though if you go to Walter’s Bonsai Adventures blog where this photo is from, you’ll see just how touched-by-human-hands it actually was. And just how accomplished Walter is at turning pedestrian bonsai into naturalistic gems. Ezo spruce are sometimes referred to as Jezo or Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis or Picea yezoensis) and even Sakhalin spruce, though that’s a really a different species (Picea glenii). Most (or perhaps all) of the specimen quality Ezo bonsai in … Continue reading Ezo Spruce by Any Other Name…

The Finest of the Fine

This luminous Tensho Satsuki Azalea belongs to Joseph Noga of Winterville, NC. You can find it and the other photos in this post, in Fine Bonsai, Art and Nature. The finest of the fine It’s not that these are the finest bonsai in the world and it’s not that they aren’t either. It’s more the combination of top quality bonsai and top quality photography has resulted in some of the finest bonsai photos you’ll see anywhere. In this vein, it’s important to bear in mind that these digital images, though very good, are inadequate. For the full effect and for … Continue reading The Finest of the Fine

Snake Dance & Lazy Posting

Snake Dance by Gede Merta of Bonsaibali. It’s a Pemphis acidula. This photo above shows a truly remarkable tree. Enough said. Or…, maybe not. If you look below you’ll see the photo as it originally appeared (on facebook). Clearly, the photo above, without the distracting writing, better shows off the tree. Still, it’s hard to fault Mr. Gede Merta for displaying his name so prominently. Otherwise, you’ll no doubt find the photo displayed on facebook free from any attribution, and in the worse cases, free from any suggestion that the tree might not belong to the person posting the tree … Continue reading Snake Dance & Lazy Posting

Growing Better Roots & Trunks

In addition a one of the most perfectly developed crowns you’ll ever see, with its amazing profusion of tiny leaves; this Trident maple (I must’ve been drunk, any fool can see that this is a Zelkova) provides one of the best examples of trunk and surface root (nebari) development you’ll see anywhere. Neither are overstated; providing a welcome relief from overdeveloped trunk taper and nebari that you sometimes see in Trident maples. But then, you might expect perfection from this tree, it’s from the Grand Master Saburo Kato’s collection (Kato-sama’s most excellent book, Forest, Rock Plantings and Ezo Spruce Bonsai … Continue reading Growing Better Roots & Trunks