Premna microphylla

Robert Steven’s Super Mini Bonsai

Super mini Premna microphylla by Robert Steven. I took the liberty of cropping it a bit, but I think you get the drift anyway (The uncropped original is below). The smaller the more difficult… Robert sent us these incredibly tiny bonsai a few days ago. Here’s what he has to say about them and small bonsai in general: As you know, the basic concept in bonsai is to make a mature looking tree that is scaled way down. The smaller the bonsai, the more difficult it is to make. This is because it is difficult to form ramification (branching) and … Continue reading Robert Steven’s Super Mini Bonsai

Not for Sissies: Yamadori part 2

That’s Robert Steven dangling from the rope ladder. I don’t know who his friend is, but he better have a pretty good grip. This photo is from Robert’s new book, Mission of Transformation. The location is in Java, one of the islands of Indonesia. The object of this and some other perilous climbs is the wild Premna (P. microphylla and P. serratifolia). Life and limb As the supply of magnificent wild potential bonsai dwindled in Japan, collectors risked life and limb hanging from remote mountain cliffs (like on Mount Ishizuchi below) to get at that last old shimpaku or pine. … Continue reading Not for Sissies: Yamadori part 2