Our National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, an American Treasure

This famous old Japanese white pine is one of the most powerful bonsai anywhere. You can find it at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. As always. the photo, though enticing, doesn’t begin to do justice Overslept this morning and then had to deal with delivery of 127 boxes of Bonsai Aesthetics wire (about 7,000 individual rolls of wire in 3 sizes: 100gram, 500gram & Kilo rolls), so we’re already way behind schedule. Time for our archives. This one is from Bark’s first month in existence (Feb, 2009) Next time you are in Washington DC, don’t miss the opportunity to visit our exciting National … Continue reading Our National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, an American Treasure

Bonsai & Penjing – the next best thing to being there

John Naka’s famous Goshin, from the cover of Bonsai & Penjing, a book that tells the stories of the trees at the National Arboretum’s Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. A must for any red-blooded American bonsai lover and really, any bonsai lover anywhere. I just spent some time revisiting Bonsai and Penjing, Ambassadors of Peace and Beauty and my enthusiasm for this remarkable book was completely recharged. It is a rare gem that features dazzling photos of dozens of some of the best bonsai in the world. And without getting too wordy, I wish I could express just … Continue reading Bonsai & Penjing – the next best thing to being there

Snowsai

I hate to say this, but I can’t find where I found this photo and the one just below. It’s sad coming from someone who preaches attribution and identification. Still, with or without, this shot is a perfect snow covered forest planting and the one below isn’t half bad either. It seems appropriate to feature snow covered bonsai given that we’re in the midst of an intense white weather event. Not that it matters that much to us Vermonters, but some of our neighbors are making a big fuss (map below). Continued below…. 25% to 30% off Kilo Rolls of … Continue reading Snowsai

Freeze Damage in Bonsai (& other woody plants)

This luscious planting resides at the North Carolina Arboretum. The photo was put up on the Internet Bonsai Club forum by Arthur Joura. The caption reads “This planting is one of a small handful in our bonsai collection that consists entirely of plant material that can tolerate the extremes of winter, and so it remains on the bench, on display in the Bonsai Exhibition Garden all through the year.” The statement ‘can tolerate the extremes of winter’ makes sense if you live someplace like North Carolina, but not if you live someplace like Vermont. Our Vermont fall foliage extravaganza is … Continue reading Freeze Damage in Bonsai (& other woody plants)

A Post Dated Love Letter

We’ve featured this famous Hiroshima Japanese white pine before, but it’s never looked quite like this. The highlighted foliage takes on a life of its own, like wild junipers on a mountainside. This photo is one of many unusual and beautiful shots taken at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by Stephen Voss. Yesterday it was a video to promote Stephen Voss’ Kickstarter campaign for his upcoming book (if enough of us chip in it’s a sure thing). Today it’s just a few of Stephen’s stark yet rich and evocative stills from the U.S. Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Enjoy! The … Continue reading A Post Dated Love Letter

An American Bonsai Celebration

Goshin by John Yoshio Naka. This famous bonsai resides at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington DC. Photos will never do it justice. It is huge (about 1 meter tall – just over 3 feet) and is so dramatic in person that it almost seems to vibrate with power. This photo, by Peter Bloomer is originally from Timeless Trees by Peter and Mary Bloomer. It also appears on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 93, an issue that features a tribute to the life and works of John Naka. Four times a tradition? This is forth time for … Continue reading An American Bonsai Celebration

The National Bonsai Museum, The Kaikou School of Bonsai & Other East Coast Bonsai Wonders

Foemina juniper planting that has that not-so-easy-to-accomplish ability to transport you to a natural mountain scene somewhere. The photo was taken at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by Mike Wigginton. I recently had the good fortune to stumble upon Mike’s Bonsai Page, a blog by Mike Wigginton that’s well worth a visit, especially if you are interested in bonsai happenings in eastern North America. There’s more too, but Mike’s enthusiasm for traveling the East Coast (especially to New England Bonsai where he is student at The Kaikou School of Bonsai) and his personal touch in communicating his discoveries makes … Continue reading The National Bonsai Museum, The Kaikou School of Bonsai & Other East Coast Bonsai Wonders

Time to Celebrate…

The sky blue pot is the perfect compliment to the light pink flowers on this powerful Satsuki Azalea that resides at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington DC. There are a multitude of cultivars in the Satsuki group of azaleas. This one is a ‘Nikko.’ It was donated to the museum by Masayuki Nakamura. It’s time to celebrate our National Bonsai and Penjing Museum once again. If you are anywhere near our nation’s capital, or plan on being anywhere near, don’t miss this phenomenal display. Even if you have no plans on being near Washington DC, you can … Continue reading Time to Celebrate…

Celebrating An American Bonsai Tradition

Goshin by John Yoshio Naka. This famous bonsai resides at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington DC. Photos will never do it justice. It is huge (about 1 meter tall – just over 3 feet) and is so dramatic in person that it almost seems to vibrate with power. This photo, by Peter Bloomer is originally from Timeless Trees by Peter and Mary Bloomer. It also appears on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 93, an issue that features a tribute to the life and works of John Naka. Three times a tradition? This is third time for … Continue reading Celebrating An American Bonsai Tradition

Enter & Win, Imagine & Create, Visit Stone Lantern & Save

Goshin by John Yoshio Naka. This famous tree resides at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington DC. Photos will never do it justice. It is huge (about 1 meter tall – just over 3 feet) and is so dramatic in person that it almost seems to vibrate with power. Goshin is featured in Timeless Trees by Peter and Mary Bloomer. It also appears on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 93, an issue that features a tribute to the life and works of John Naka (The John Naka Sketchbook is on sale here). Enter & win Or at … Continue reading Enter & Win, Imagine & Create, Visit Stone Lantern & Save