Off to Rochester & Good News from Stone Lantern

This Nagasaki Crabapple is from the cover of the 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition album (out of print, but we still have 3 & 4). It belongs to Harvey Carapella of Rochester NY. The 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, a colossal event in our world is this weekend. In a few hours I’ll throw my bags in my car and head west to Rochester. I hope to see you there. If you’re the impulsive type (or just a passionate bonsai lover) and you’re within a days drive or so, it’s not too late to come. You don’t need to preregister. … Continue reading Off to Rochester & Good News from Stone Lantern

In Search of the Elusive Kingsville

This Dwarf Kingsville boxwood planting by Boon Manakitivipart was the winner of the Certre Award at the 2010 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. However, this is not the photo that appears in the Exhibition Album. Rather, it’s a cropped version of a photo that appears on Boon’s website. There’s a story behind this tree, but you’ll need the 2010 Exhibition Album if you’d like to read it. The first two photos in this post are the best I could do after a web search for photos of Dwarf Kingsville boxwoods. The reason for this dearth is that true Dwarf Kingsvilles grow … Continue reading In Search of the Elusive Kingsville

Bonsai Sculpture, a Wonderful Video & Great NEW Tools

Sculpture. What comes to mind when I look at this manicured Buddleja is ‘sculptural bonsai.’ Though I don’t think it would ever be admitted to Kokufu-ten (Japans most famous bonsai exhibition) I do think it has something going for it. I especially like the wavy pot and the fluid split trunk (or is that two trunks?). It’s from Higurashi Jardineria Creativa on facebook. Here’s their website. Take a look. Have you seen this video yet? If you haven’t, or even if you have, take a look. And then sign up for the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Simplicity. Here’s … Continue reading Bonsai Sculpture, a Wonderful Video & Great NEW Tools

Some of the Very Best Bonsai in the World

The trees are exquisite and so is the book.192 pages of some of the best bonsai in the world. This book, along with the first one and all the others to come, will surely become collector’s items. We can lay that notion to rest For a long time many of us wondered if North American bonsai was falling behind the rest of the world. Now we can lay that notion to rest. It turns out that what we were lacking was something the Japanese have had for a long time (the Europeans have had theirs for a while too); a … Continue reading Some of the Very Best Bonsai in the World

Same Tree, Only Better

This is the same cedar that we featured three days ago, only much improved after being prepared for exhibition at the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. BTW: it won the ABS Award for the finest North American Species Bonsai. It’s no wonder eh? Photo courtesy of Bill Valavanis of International Bonsai. The artist is Marc Arpag of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York. Our Site-Wide Summer Sale Ends Tomorrow Morning!

Thinking Ahead Two Years

It’s not so far fetched Most of the time we think day to day or even moment to moment. Occasionally, we need to think a little further out (time wise that is). This is especially true if you want to exhibit a bonsai or perhaps become a vendor at the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Or, given the pressures on your schedule, if you just want to attend. Though it may seem far fetched now, if you don’t plan ahead, other obligations might worm their way into you schedule. BTW: The 2nd was a roaring success.

Bonsai Art: Deshojo Japanese Maple

Deshojo Japanese maple by Bill Valavanis. It’s been Bill’s day in the sun lately with a successful 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition under his belt, so why not show another side of his talents? One thing that strikes me about this photo the are the five strong colors (black, vermillon, whitish, green and shades of blue) that stand in sharp contrast to each other. This play of colors in such high contrast, along with the simple beauty of the tree, leaves little doubt that bonsai, when done well, is elevated to pure art. Here’s something I grabbed off of facebook … Continue reading Bonsai Art: Deshojo Japanese Maple

More Shots (& Big, Big, Big Book Sale)

Another shot from the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibit (here for a post from a few days ago). This one (and the last one in this post) was sent to us by Bill Valavanis; the tireless man behind the whole wild and wonderful thing. Big, big, big book sale at Stone Lantern Just trying to squeeze this in to drum up a little business. Mid-summer always requires some extra effort. All the way from Japan. Kunio Kobayashi was not the only famous visitor (and in this case, judge), but he’s the only one with the title ‘Grand Master’ before his … Continue reading More Shots (& Big, Big, Big Book Sale)

Shots from the 2nd U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

Nice trunk. Definitely looks like an azalea. The shot is from a video by Alejandro Medina Ibarra of the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Alejandro Medina Ibarra The shots here are all from a video of the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. The video is by Alejandro Medina Ibarra and it’s brilliant. I wasn’t able to attend, so I’m particularly grateful for Alejandro’s efforts. Something powerful and good took place in Rochester last month if this video is any indication. Really, check it out and you too will wish you’d been there (see you in 2012). Bill Valavanis I’m not … Continue reading Shots from the 2nd U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

Waiting for News

While we are waiting for photos from the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, thought you might like to see the National Award Masterpiece from the 1st Exhibition. It’s a Sargent’s juniper by Jim Gremel. You can find it and a host of other world class bonsai in the 2008, 1st National Exhibition’s Album. It is also featured on International Bonsai’s website. Patiently waiting Though we’ve heard some rumors, as of now, we have no official word from the 2010 Exhibition. It will be a while until the album is out, but I expect some news and a few photos to … Continue reading Waiting for News