A Rare Find and an Old Complaint

It’s rare to find a wild tree that needs very little for it to become a great bonsai (other than digging, keeping it healthy and a little refinement, which are far from very little). I was delighted to stumble across the the photo above (here) but was disappointed when I read the following: “Saw this picture on FB. A natural growing juniper that already looks like a great bonsai.” It would have been simple to provide a link to the source, where more information may (or may not) be available. Like who took the photo, what kind of juniper is … Continue reading A Rare Find and an Old Complaint

Backcountry Bonsai

This ancient three-quarters-dead Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is clinging for its life on Cusick Mountain in the southern part of Eagle Cap Wilderness in northeastern Oregon. I borrowed both photos in this post from Backcountry Bonsai. Trees like this fascinate me. Obviously, it will never be a bonsai, but only someone stuck on bonsai without real appreciation of wild trees would care. BTW: such poor benighted souls exist (excluding present company of course). Rather than saying more, I’ll defer to our 26th President (TR) “A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as … Continue reading Backcountry Bonsai

Natural Transformation: A Tree’s Life Story by Robert Steven

After. Robert Steven’s simulation of an Olive that was submitted by Gary Howes. There’s a lot to like about this simulation, including just how natural and untamed it looks (even the pot has an untamed quality); untamed in the sense of something that has managed to stay alive and even thrive under some of the harshest conditions that Nature can dish out. Living on the cutting edge. It has been a while since we’ve featured a critique by Robert Steven. If you are new to Bonsai Bark, Robert is one of the world’s best known bonsai artists, whose renown has … Continue reading Natural Transformation: A Tree’s Life Story by Robert Steven

El Tim Goes Wild

Every now and then you see a perfect wild uncontrived bonsai. A bonsai that isn’t a bonsai at all. No humans necessary (well, almost… in this case, there is the photographer). Photo borrowed from El Tim Bonsai. The caption reads: El Tim Bonsai with Alejandro Sartori. El Tim The photos in this post are from El Tim’s facebook page. In El Tim’s own words (translated and possibly butchered by me): El Tim is an idea, a way to understand Bonsai. A group of people with one goal, dedicated to the effort and necessary constancy to reach a greater understanding and … Continue reading El Tim Goes Wild

Whoops! Mea Culpa

This one is an olive. And it is by Andres Bicocca. Who is from Argentina and isn’t from Uruguay. BTW: the way the foliage mass clings to the trunk, makes for a unusual looking bonsai. Though it has a wild, ‘work in process’ look, there’s something compelling about it with its strong nebari and well aged bark. Egg all over my face First, apologies to Argentinian (not Uruguayan) bonsai artist Andres Bicocca (see three posts ago). Second, apologies to Wild Bonsai; not only did I mis-attribute one of their trees but I mis-identified it as well (doubly embarrassing when you … Continue reading Whoops! Mea Culpa

What Would You Do?

Perfect, powerful, beautifully nicely photographed and apparently growing on a rock. The shape of the tree and the deadwood have a juniper look, but the foliage looks more pine than juniper, though it’s too far away to get a good read (see below). The dramatic backdrop could only be the Grand Canyon. The photo is courtesy of Bonsai Mania. What would you do? Imagine that this tree is in a training pot and, best of all, it’s yours. What would you do (if anything) to improve it? This blurry blow up pretty much confirms my notion the the tree is … Continue reading What Would You Do?