The Art & Science of Watering

This drawing is from our Masters’ Series book; Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai. This is at least the fifth time we’ve featured this post (with some text added and some edited), but spring is here for many of you and summer is coming, so the time is right. I know that many of you have mastered or at least are proficient in the art of watering, but you might be surprised how many people need help. In fact, failure to become proficient in watering is no doubt the single most common reason people give up on bonsai. So, don’t … Continue reading The Art & Science of Watering

The Art & Science of Watering – Especially in Summer

This drawing is from our Masters’ Series book; Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai (due back in print in November, 2015). This will be the fourth time we’ve featured this post, but it’s summer now so the time is right. The more you know about watering, the better. Without timely, intelligent watering, any plant in a container is at risk. The more you know about watering, the better. BTW: A perfect complement to this post is a post about summer misting (hamisu) by Michael Hagedorn.   Photo from Shohin Bonsai by Morten Albek. A good watering wand is a must. … Continue reading The Art & Science of Watering – Especially in Summer

A Heat Story from Japan by a Natural Story Teller

I borrowed this Vine maple photo from Crataegus Bonsai’s portfolio. If you’d like to see and read the story of this remarkably strange and wonderful bonsai, here’s your link. I never miss Michael Hagedorn’s posts on Crataegus Bonsai. He’s always got something useful to say and he’s a natural story teller. For evidence you can check out his eminently readable book, Post-Dated – The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk. There’s our last post too (Michael’s Spring Watering Tips). Back in 2009 Michael put up two posts that were prompted by a heat wave out west. One is a very … Continue reading A Heat Story from Japan by a Natural Story Teller

Summer Relief

Deciduous Award at the 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition for the Finest Deciduous Bonsai. It’s a Japanese Maple by Suthin Sukolosovisit of Royal Bonsai. It has nothing to do with the topic of this post, at least directly, but the 3rd (2012) U.S. National Bonsai Exhibiton is now on special at Stone Lantern. This post originally appeared here on Bark last summer. It’s important enough to run again, especially given the season we entering. While we’re at it, I’d like to remind you that our 50% off Sale for 10 or more 100 gram rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire ends … Continue reading Summer Relief

The Art & Science of Watering

  This drawing is from our Masters’ Series book; Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai. Our last couple posts have been about soil, so maybe it’s time to talk about watering. This will be the third time we’ve featured this post, but the time is right once again and, as it turns out, I’m on the road once again. A good time to dig into our archives. The more you know about watering, the better. Without timely, intelligent watering, any plant in a container is at risk. The more you know about watering, the better. BTW: A perfect complement to … Continue reading The Art & Science of Watering

World’s Most Joyful Bonsai Artist

Too cute for a serious bonsai blog? Maybe, but I’m impressed that he appears to be picking off unhealthy needles. Then there’s his strikingly high forehead and overall large cranium. Maybe he knows exactly what he’s doing. The photos in this post are all is lifted from Sandy Fathurachman’s facebook page (link disabled). Thought I’d do a quick recycle for you. This post originally appeared exactly two years ago today. It was titled, World’s Youngest Bonsai Master. I must admit, even though it’s too cute by a factor of ten (see below), I still like it and figured some you … Continue reading World’s Most Joyful Bonsai Artist

The Art & Science of Watering

This drawing is from our Masters’ Series book; Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai. Continuing with our mid-summer archival borrowing program, here’s a post that originally appeared way back in 2009. A perfect complement to this post is a post about summer misting (hamisu) by Michael Hagedorn. The more you know about watering, the better. Without timely, intelligent watering, any plant in a container is at risk. The more you know about watering, the better. But first, a quick word from our sponsor: Check out our big Summer Book Sale at Stone Lantern. 20% to 25% off of our already … Continue reading The Art & Science of Watering

Turning Some Cherished Notions on Their Heads

This Hawthorn in bloom is from Walter Pall’s Bonsai Adventures, as is the article below. The rest of the photos in this post are from Walter’s online gallery. Walter Pall, world famous bonsai artist and much more… We’ve feature Walter’s bonsai numerous times here on Bark (and in Bonsai Today) and will continue to feature them for as long as we continue posting. I won’t say much more, except that Walter produces quality trees by the hundreds (seemingly at least) and he also sometimes produces worthwhile and even provocative ideas about bonsai. What follows may be his most fascinating and … Continue reading Turning Some Cherished Notions on Their Heads

That Nasty Summer Heat Wave

Both photos in this post are courtesy of Randy Clark of the Bonsai Learning Center. More to come? We just received the article below from Randy Clark of the Bonsai Learning Center in North Carolina on how to deal with the extreme heat that much of the country has been experiencing this summer. I may be a little late for those of us in the Northeast (at least here in northern Vermont), but for those of you further south, there may be more to come. Summer in the Carolinas by Randy Clark The Southeastern US is suffering from the heat … Continue reading That Nasty Summer Heat Wave