I found this unusual little gem in Shohin Bonsai Europe’s Guest Gallery. It’s by Tedy Boy (that’s what it says) of Indonesia. The crown and the rest of the foliage seem to be almost disembodied, like floating in space. I think that’s because you can’t see where it attaches to the trunk. To add to the eccentric flavor, the background and funky plastic stand (upside down tub?) are pink. It’s not everyday you see a bonsai with a pink stand shot against a pink background. BTW: it’s a Phemna microphylla.
Unusual: good
Some of the the trees we show in our eccentric bonsai posts are mostly just unusual. Some are unusual and are also very high quality bonsai. Any thoughts about where this one fits in on the spectrum?
Pirates: bad
Bonsai Bark belongs to Stone Lantern (DBA Stone Lantern Discoveries Inc) and to me, Wayne Schoech (that’s pronounced Shay if anyone is interested). If this (or any of our posts) appears anywhere other than under the Bonsai Bark heading and is not attributed to Bonsai Bark or to me, then it has been pirated.
Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) by Mars Healey of the Greater Hartford Bonsai Society.
Keep ‘em coming
We still need at least two more to make our minimum (I had to reject two that were just photos of trees). So ga’head and send us yours. Really!
Contest details here
Pirates
At least one blog has been pirating our posts, lock stock and barrel; but without our links and without any attribution to bonsai bark, or Stone Lantern. If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated. Please visit us at bonsaibark.com. Thank you.
Jimmy Le sent this entry in. He didn’t say anything about the medium or really anything at all, except “Here’s my entry Wayne.” If there’s anything else you’d like to say Jimmy, please don’t hesitate. Update: Jimmy just sent this (3/10/10): “I didn’t realize i needed to email a description as well, but this sketch was done while I was sitting in class, I was inspired to draw this because of a Hollywood Juniper i saw at Bonsai West in Littleton Massachusetts.”
Our $100.00 Bonsai Art Contest
Back in mid-February we started yet another contest. This one has generous prizes; generous enough to maybe motivate you to enter (see below). Check out the details here and give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose.
The prizes
First prize is a $60 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Second prize $30 gift certificate. Third prize $10 gift certificate.
Here’s Ken To’s entry. And here’s what Ken has to say about it: “Here is my entry for the art contest. This is a wire bonsai sculpture made entirely from 24 gauge wire. It’s planted in a high quality Japanese mame bonsai pot. I made this as a surprise present for my wife on Valentine’s day. Just in time for the contest! “
Our $100.00 Bonsai Art Contest
Back in mid-February we started yet another contest. This one has generous prizes; generous enough to maybe motivate you to enter (see below). Check out the details here and give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Why is this the second entry?
Because the first one is Frank Kelly’s drawing that we used to kick off the contest.
We’ve got more
We’ve already received several more entries that we will feature over the next few days. We’ll wrap it up when we get our quota (at least ten, maybe a few more depending how fast and furious they are coming in); so don’t wait!
Our generous prizes
First prize is a $60 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Second prize $30 gift certificate. Third prize $10 gift certificate.
Identify this tree and win
Be the first to tell us what kind of tree this is, and who the artist is, and we will give you a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. You can post your answers in the comments below.
We haven’t forgotten our other contest
Though we haven’t done anything about it yet (I’m still traveling), we have received several entries to our $100 Bonsai Art Contest. We’ll start posting entries when we get back next week. Meanwhile, don’t be shy; send us your entry.
We got a big tool sale going on at Stone Lantern. And it’s not just bonsai tools that we offer. We also have Japanese gardening tools, as well as ikebana tools. Check it out.
Almost like magic. This wild and wonderful mugo pine showed up on facebook a few weeks ago. It was posted by Bonsai Creativo School and Academy.
Wild, wonderful and no so traditional
There are at least two things that come to mind when I look at this wild mugo pine. First, that it represents a break with traditional bonsai styles, particularly traditional Japanese bonsai. It just doesn’t look like what bonsai used to look like not too long ago.
The second thing about it is that it’s a mugo pine. It wasn’t too long ago that the only pines you’d see as bonsai were Japanese whites and blacks. Especially in Japan. Gradually, as bonsai spread to the west, other varieties started showing up. Now, mugos are becoming quite common, and for good reason; their needles are small, they are tough, and, over time they can show a lot of character (as you can readily see when you look at this magically unique and dynamic tree).
Pirates
At least one blog has been pirating our posts, lock stock and barrel; but without our links and without any attribution to bonsai bark, or Stone Lantern. If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated. Please visit us at bonsaibark.com. Thank you.
Only three days left! Sale ends Feb 24th, 2010.
Visit Stone Lantern and enjoy large discounts on books, bonsai wire and kenzans (aka flower pins or frogs).
Enjoy a large selection of books on bonsai & suiseki, Japanese gardening, general gardening, Ikebana, and Japanese arts and culture.
You can also enjoy a very large selection of high quality, affordable kenzans that are made in the USA.
Copper colored aluminum bonsai wire for shaping beautiful bonsai.
This sale ends Febuary 24th 2010.
Disembodied shoulder, arm, hand and bonsai by Frank Kelly of the Canberra Bonsai Society. Our Bonsai Art Contest is off to good start!
Enter and win!
Send us your bonsai drawing or painting or photo of a bonsai sculpture (or…?) and you just might win.
Prizes
First prize is a $60 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Second prize $30 gift certificate. Third prize $10 gift certificate.
Rules
The contest will be closed when we have at least ten entrants (if entries are still coming in when we receive 10, we may keep it open a little longer). The drawing (or painting, or whatever) must be done by the person submitting it. It must include something that looks like a bonsai, but can also include whatever else you like. We (that’s me) will be the sole judge of what is permissible to enter. The contest will be judged by our readers. See our last contest for judging rules.
We are down to our last handful of Bonsai Today issue 35. Don’t wait if you want one.
A little taste…
… of what’s inside: Pine doctor, Pinching pines, Balancing vigor, Correcting root rot, Step by step end of summer care, Suiseki, Super restyling: Kimura styles a classic old Shimpaku, Bonsai gallery, Tokonoma: New Year display
…and some other issues while we’re at it
Bonsai Today issues 40 and 46 will soon be gone too. Several others in the 50s, 60s and even 70s are disappearing as well. Don’t wait if you want to fill our your collection.
Now is a good time!
But don’t wait. This sale ends Monday.
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