Koto Hime Dwarf Japanese Maple

See You at the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

I borrowed this dramatic Korean hornbeam from Bill Valavanis, the driving force behind the success of the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibitions. If you’re not planning on visiting the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, you have one week to change your mind and rearrange you life so you can be there. I can say with complete confidence that the 5th will be the best yet (they get better each time) and that the 4th was a breakthrough U.S. bonsai extravaganza. See you there! Bill’s famous Koto-hime Japanese maple. This brilliant tricolor Toyo nishiki flowering quince also belongs to Bill. If you’re … Continue reading See You at the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Still Sleeping at the Switch

Do you recognize this award winning Shimpaku juniper? It appears in Fine Bonsai, Art and Nature (and older version is in the gallery of our Masters Series Juniper book). It belongs to Masahiko Kimura. The photo is by Jonathan Singer, as are all three photos in this post and all of the photos in Fine Bonsai. The three trees shown here are all from a review of the book Fine Bonsai, Art and Nature, that appears at Smithsonian.com. We were alerted to the review by Matt Calcavecchia in the comments on a recent post (scroll down to the last tree … Continue reading Still Sleeping at the Switch

Back Savers #3: Plan Ahead for Shohin Symposium

Koto Hime Dwarf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Koto Hime’). Bill Valavanis started this sturdy shohin maple from an airlayer taken in June 1986. Height 11 inches, Tokonome pot. 2009 Shohin Bonsai Symposium, Rochester NY. Bill Valavanis’ Shohin Symposium is coming up soon (September). Shohin artists from around the world will be teaching and displaying their talents and enthusiasm for your enjoyment and benefit. Nobuichi Urushibata, Peter Warren, Julian Adams… Harvey Carapella, Sean Smith, Suthin Sukosolvisit, Erik Wigert, Jack Wikle, Bill Valavanis (and you?) will be on hand. And, of course. a host of bonsai friends to hang and play with … Continue reading Back Savers #3: Plan Ahead for Shohin Symposium