John Romano

You Can Look But You Better Not Touch

This sweet to look at, but otherwise nasty little bonsai is from Yorozu Shohin Bonsai Nursery in Japan. It caught my wary eye recently on a post by John Romano on Bonsai Study Group Forum. I’m going to assume that it’s an Asian Poison ivy (see text below). One genus, several species What follows is for those of us who get excited when we see Latin names. If you don’t fall into that unique subset of above average humans, you can skip this part and just enjoy the photos. The genus is Toxicodendron (previously Rhus). I don’t know how many … Continue reading You Can Look But You Better Not Touch

Happy People, Healthy Bonsai

Happy people make for healthy bonsai (not to mention a healthy business). BTW: there are some household bonsai names above. Can you spot them? Breaking with our tradition Bonsai Bark is all about bonsai. We usually (almost always) leave the people photos to others. But just this once, we’re breaking our own rules by mixing in photos of people enjoying bonsai and just enjoying themselves. New England Bonsai Gardens All the photos in this post are from New England Bonsai. If you’re ever in their neighborhood (on the Mass/RI border, an hour from Boston), definitely stop by. They’ll be happy … Continue reading Happy People, Healthy Bonsai

Wiring Tips: Take It All Off (but not too early)

White pine bunjin wired at Taisho en. From ‘The Art of Bonsai.’ Take it all off (but not too early) The following article by John Romano takes on a bit of conventional wisdom about wire scarring. The article originally appeared on the New England Bonsai blog, ‘The Art of Bonsai.’ In John’s own words… “Wiring is an essential technique to create beautiful bonsai. It is not the only means (as some practice the Lignan method of cut and grow) but it is the most efficient way to shape a tree; to open up foliage to let light in; to move … Continue reading Wiring Tips: Take It All Off (but not too early)

We Have a Winner!

Ferry Freriks’ stout-trunked little Honeysuckle takes the grand prize in a down to the wire contest for a $100 gift certificate from Stone Lantern. Congrats Ferry! Oh so close Altogether 41 people (including me) submitted their choices. The total count for the first three finishers (see below for photos of the other two) were: Ferry’s Honeysuckle 84. John Romano’s Erodium 80. Brian and Jill’s (no last name) Serissa 80. Next time When I started this contest it didn’t occur that it would be so close. Next time I’ll divide the prize among the first three finishers. Meanwhile, John and Brian … Continue reading We Have a Winner!

Revisiting John Romano’s Almost Famous Juniper

Carl Morrow sent us this digitalized revision (and two others, see below) of a juniper that was originally submitted to our ‘Fearless Bonsai Warrior‘ program, by John Romano. This is the second critique of John’s juniper that has been submitted to Bonsai Bark (here’s the other). Carl’s turn with John’s Juniper The photos and text in this post were submitted by Carl Morrow. Carl has been here before with his own tree. Now he’s tackling John Romano’s juniper. “A tree needs to tell a consistent story and when one has an outstanding feature or focal point then the theme created … Continue reading Revisiting John Romano’s Almost Famous Juniper

Another Fearless Bonsai Warrior

This Juniperus chinensis parsonii, that started as an urban yamadori in 2007 (height 26″), was submitted by Patrick Giacobbe. In addition to this submission, Patrick has contributed to Bonsai Bark with his comments on a bonsai that was submitted by John Romano. Bunjin or not bunjin? The pot and the almost branchless trunk with its twisted unconventional lines suggest a bunjin (literati) style tree. However the heavy top is unbunjin-like, and the tree is planted on one side of its round pot, rather than near the center as you normally find. None of this is necessarily a problem, you are … Continue reading Another Fearless Bonsai Warrior

A Reader’s Critique and a Small Exception

Patrick Giacobbe was kind enough to send this along with some comments (my dream of a more interactive blog is slowly dawning). It’s his take on a photo that was submitted by John Romano that appears in an earlier post (Be A Fearless Bonsai Warrior – 9/24/09). To clarify, the tree is John’s and the superimposed lines and the comments that follow are Patrick’s (edited just a bit by yours truly – I had to key it in anyway as text was sent as part of the image). Dear John (from Patrick) John, no need to apologize for the tree. … Continue reading A Reader’s Critique and a Small Exception

Three More $100 Unique Bonsai Contest Entries

This Erodium reichardii (Heronsbill)  was submitted by John Romano (this is not John’s first Bonsai Bark submission). Erodiums are in the geranium family and don’t present the styling challenges that most woody bonsai present. Still, it’s a sweet little plant and John’s pot choice is excellent.

Be a Fearless Bonsai Warrior

This American larch (Larix laricina) was sent to us by John Romano. It was selected as 1 of 100 in JAL World Bonsai Photo contest 2004.  It was purchased as raw collected stock from American larch hero Nick Lenz. John Romano has been devoted to teaching bonsai for the past ten years and has developed Kaikou School of Bonsai (a two year program at at New England Bonsai). Kaikou is a somewhat archaic Japanese term that means ‘unexpected encounter’ or ‘crossing paths’. Your turn Our Fearless Bonsai Warrior program is about you and your bonsai. In other words, I want … Continue reading Be a Fearless Bonsai Warrior