Mauro Stemberger

Revisiting a Powerful Mugo Pine & Contemplating Two Mysteries

The first mystery. Last time we featured this tree ( a few posts back) I found it on Carlos van der Vaart’s facebook photos (it’s also on his website’s gallery). This time it turned up on Mauro Stemberger’s website as a lead tree on ‘refinishing tips‘. So whose tree is it? Another mystery If you compare this latest iteration (above) with the earlier one (below), it’d easy to see how tree has been improved; the large hanging jin was pushed away from the trunk and twisted a little. The mystery here is; how was such a dramatic change accomplished with … Continue reading Revisiting a Powerful Mugo Pine & Contemplating Two Mysteries

Better Now? Revisiting Mario’s Famous Hornbeam

The latest incarnation of Mario Komsta’s extraordinary and now somewhat famous Hornbeam. Balance Is the balance better now (comparing the photo above with the earlier photo immediately below)? Does the elongated first branch (left) help to counter balance the slight rightward lean of the apex? The base of the trunk The base of the trunk appears stronger in the earlier photo below. Is it just the photo, or does the extended branching and the new pot diminish the power of the base? Ramification No matter what our thoughts about balance and the base of the trunk, the impeccable patience and … Continue reading Better Now? Revisiting Mario’s Famous Hornbeam

Some Noelanders Mysteries Solved

Another great unidentified tree from the Noelanders Trophy VII No NameBonsai Gallery (see yesterday’s post) that is featured on bonsai4me. I love the way this tree’s wild essence has been left intact, just the way Mother Nature intended. This comes through loud and clear in the deadwood that speaks of great age and looks so perfectly natural; as though the artist never touched it. Mysteries solved Thanks to our friend Ferry Freriks (you might remember Ferry as the winner of our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest), many of the mysteries in yesterday’s No Name Bonsai Gallery have met the light of … Continue reading Some Noelanders Mysteries Solved