Sixty Four Years of Bonsai in Sacramento

Coast live oak by Greg McDonald of the Sacramento Bonsai Club. If you want to see more detail, check out this larger image. California dreamin’ but no diggin’ Though I don’t know the history of the oak above, I imagine it was collected in the California Coast Range. California (and most of the West Coast) is blessed with some of the most spectacularly wild mountain ranges anywhere, and these ranges are covered with a multitude of collectable tree species. Enough to boggle even the most jaded tree lover’s mind. This is not to say that I think you should run … Continue reading Sixty Four Years of Bonsai in Sacramento

Truly a Simple Air-Layering Technique

This photo shows step two (see below). From this angle you can see that the current base of the trunk is a mess. After layering we’ll have a new base, though it’s unclear from this photo why this spot (at the top of the layer) was chosen. My guess is the author picked this unattractive tree for instructional purposes rather than for aesthetic reasons. The photos are from Bonsai Today issue 20. Your basic layering technique This one is actually simpler than the previous ‘simple’ technique. It’s the most common way to air-layer. It is quite easy and when done … Continue reading Truly a Simple Air-Layering Technique

Energy Balancing #5: Defoliation

This Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) has been partially defoliated. The first branch is too small relative to the rest of the tree, so the purpose of the defoliation is to speed up the development of the first branch while slowing down the development of the rest of the tree. This works because energy flow decreases in areas that have been defoliated. Conversely, because the energy from the roots has to go somewhere, energy flow increases where leaves are left on. The photos in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 103 (out of print). The article that the photos are … Continue reading Energy Balancing #5: Defoliation

Mystery Tree Contest Winner

Here’s the mystery tree two years later (2006). The owner/artist is Jay McDonald of Marin County (that beautiful place at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge). We lifted this image from the Bonsai Society of San Francisco. And the winner is… The contest winner is Lawrence LeClaire. Lawrence teaches beginner’s bonsai classes and is the editor of BSSF’s newsletter, Fog City Bonsai, so he had a bit of an inside track on this tree, and apparently on reading my mind as well. From formal to informal It’s still the same tree two years later, though it’s in a … Continue reading Mystery Tree Contest Winner

Green Workshop: Feed Your Bonsai – part 2 – NPK

This well fed, healthy Lace leaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum dissectum) is from our Pocket Bonsai Gallery. It originally appeared on the cover of Bonsai Today# 84. N-P-K (Macro nutrients) You will see three numbers on all fertilizer packages—for example 7-9-5 or 15-30-15. These numbers represent the strength and ratios of the three major nutrients (also called macro nutrients) in fertilizers. The three nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium or potash (K). They are critical to any plant’s health. Here’s a more complete explanation.

Planing for Success: Nebari – part six

One of the secrets to achieving fused surface roots like on this Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is planing (not to be confused with planning, which also helps).

In Search of the Perfect Nebari – part four

Bottoms up! This somewhat intriguing shot is from Bonsai Today, issue 64. This post, and another to follow soon, explore how Mr. Harumi Miau arrived at this point. Before. Japanese maple (Acer plamatum) with some unsolicited bonus design tips.

Bonsai from Nursery Stock – part two

This Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus compactus) is from Reiner Goebel’s bonsai gallery on his beautifully designed website. The tree started out as very ordinary looking nursery plant (see below) in 1998. BTW: if you want to set up your own back yard bonsai display and are looking for inspiration, take a look at Reiner’s back yard. Judging by the photos, it looks like one of the best home displays I’ve seen. And while you’re there, check out Reiner’s, and two guests,’ very sweet bonsai galleries. Though Reiner had already done some pruning and wiring by the time he took this … Continue reading Bonsai from Nursery Stock – part two

Two Masterpieces by Saburo Kato

Ezo spruce (Picea glehnii) was Saburo Kato’s favorite tree. This one is from an untranslated Japanese book on Mr. Kato’s bonsai that his son Hatsuji sent us in appreciation for the gift we (Stone Lantern) sent Mr. Kato’s family when he passed away last year. I picked this one for a couple reasons. First, there’s the dead tree. You see dead trees in bonsai forests occasionally, but not that often. In nature however, dead trees abound, so why not put them in you bonsai plantings? The other feature that strikes me is the lush forest floor. I don’t know if … Continue reading Two Masterpieces by Saburo Kato

An Ingenious Technique

Can you figure out what’s going on here? If you are an experienced bonsai enthusiast, you may get it at a glance, especially if you’ve seen Bonsai Today issue 8 (long out of print). If what’s going on is not so evident, take a look at the drawing below and see if that helps.