One Bonsai, Three Seasons, Four Photos

Fall. Luis Vallejo calls this tree a Spanish oak (Quercus faginea) though Wikipedia and some others refer to it as Portuguese oak (other names that popped up are Valencian oak and Lusitanian oak). It belongs to Luis and resides at the the Municipal Bonsai Museum of Alcobendas in Spain. Welcome to Luis Vallejo’s Bonsai Bark (just kidding). This post features four photos of a single tree over three seasons (winter twice; not sure what happened to spring). There’s a lot more we could say, especially about the Museo de Bonsai Alcobendas and Luis Vallejo’s (and others) involvement, but it’s a whole lot easier to simply invite you to … Continue reading One Bonsai, Three Seasons, Four Photos

Powerful Bonsai & an Ode to a Powerful Turntable

An excellent (if somewhat unkempt) Yew astride a Green T turntable. At least I think it’s a Yew (Taxus). We have a handful of wonderful Green T Turntables left for the season, and I can think of no better gift for any bonsai artist… professional, highly accomplished non-professional, or simply aspiring. Continued below… Three Great New Sales 30% to 40% off Bonsai Today back issues 30% off Roshi Bonsai Tools 30% off Yoshiaki Japanese Bonsai Wire plus an Extra 10% off orders 100.00+* FREE Shipping on U.S. orders 50.00+ you must select Free Shipping when you check out An … Continue reading Powerful Bonsai & an Ode to a Powerful Turntable

Getting Out of the Way & Extending Our Bonsai Book Sale

This Ponderosa pine was no doubt collected somewhere in western North America and exported to Europe. Europeans are lucky in that regard; it’s relatively easy for them to import plants from around the world. Here in the U.S. restrictions are much more onerous. The tree belongs to (or belonged to?) Walter Pall. The photo is from The Art of Bonsai Project, as are all the photos in this post. We’ve decided to extend our Bonsai Book Sale until Sunday (see below). This is because I’m traveling and can’t find the time (don’t want to be bothered) to make the decisions … Continue reading Getting Out of the Way & Extending Our Bonsai Book Sale

A Bonsai Teaser

I found this extraordinary and unusual bonsai on Bonsai Nakayoshi’s facebook photos. What’s unusual is the planting configuration and overall shape. What’s extraordinary is also the configuration, overall shape and excellent ramification. Still traveling so we’ll just throw a few miscellaneous trees at you today. A bonsai teaser. Here’s a funky old Oak in a funky old pot (I can’t tell for sure if it’s just a weather beaten terra cotta training pot or ceramic pot shaped like one) with some deeply hatched bark. It’s from a before and after on Jean-Paul Polmans’ facebook feed. A spectacular trident … Continue reading A Bonsai Teaser

Character, Strength & Boon’s Transplanting Tips

Though it has the raw look of yet to be refined tree, still, there’s a lot to like about this bonsai. Its massive nebari ads great strength, character and balance and the hollow in the trunk (sabamiki) provides a further touch of character and age that sets it apart from more ordinary bonsai. It belongs to Boon Manakitivipart, owner of Bonsai Boon (my mistake, see comments) and distinguished bonsai artist and teacher. Though Boon doesn’t say what it is, I’ll guess that it’s a California live oak of some sort (Quercus suber?). From a bonsai tip entitled WINTER CARE: REPOTTING, … Continue reading Character, Strength & Boon’s Transplanting Tips