Ancient Bonsai Bones

I like the way the fresh foliage seems to hang from the tree’s ancient bones (though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a stand so in need of refinishing). This strikingly unique bonsai is one of many excellent trees at Taiwan Bonsai World. Ayyyy! Chaos. We upgraded our OS recently and it has been all downhill since. If I owe you an email or phone call, thank you for your patience! Things should be back to normal soon (not that normal isn’t chaotic enough). The good news is, so far our website and our warehouse are functioning quite well. This … Continue reading Ancient Bonsai Bones

Bonsai Pot Master & Fall Potting Season

I don’t know who styled this wonderfully crazy azalea (I don’t read Japanese) but I do know that Master Potter Gyozan Nakano made the pot. Still out of the office (working at my unpaid job) so we’ll continue borrowing from our illustrious past. And as long as we’re delving into the archives, why not go all the way back to our first pot post. It’s from July, 2007. A remarkable book about a remarkable potter Four years ago (twleve years ago now) I was given a most remarkable book by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, who received it courtesy of … Continue reading Bonsai Pot Master & Fall Potting Season

Today Is a Good Day to Hug a Bonsai… or even a Local Bonsai Friend

You may have already seen this magnificent landscape Penjing. Here on Bark, on Bill Valavanis’ blog or any number of other places. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist (or a bonsai master) to figure out why it’s so popular. All the photos in this post were borrowed from Bill Valavanis Bonsai Blog. Today is the big day. World Bonsai Day, a celebration of the art of bonsai that originated with the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. World Bonsai Day is held annually on the second Saturday of each May (you can check out yesterday’s Bark post for some background). … Continue reading Today Is a Good Day to Hug a Bonsai… or even a Local Bonsai Friend

Help Us Celebrate World Bonsai Day (Shop at Stone Lantern!)

Brian Donnelly’s entry in the 2013 World Bonsai Friendship Federation’s photo contest. Brian lives in Canada. I know Canada is big country but the WBFF don’t say where. However, I did find this video of him teaching bonsai in French, so I’m guessing he lives somewhere in PQ. As you can see, the tree is a Bougainvillea and a very good one at that. Okay, the Shop at Stone Lantern part of the title is somewhat tongue in cheek. But only somewhat. After all, Bonsai Bark and Stone Lantern wouldn’t happen without your support. So, on behalf of our staff, … Continue reading Help Us Celebrate World Bonsai Day (Shop at Stone Lantern!)

A Perfect Example of What Great Ramification Looks Like & a Series of Excellent How-to Illustrations

You have your own eyes so there’s no need for me to say much. Except that this photo appeared here on Bark last spring in a post titled The One Percent (.001 percent would be more accurate). It’s a Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) that received the coveted Kokufu prize at the 88th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition (the oldest and most prestigious bonsai exhibition in the world). Aside from its overall magnificence, this tree provides a perfect example of what great ramification looks like (made even more obvious by the bright rusty-red leaf buds). The photo is from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. … Continue reading A Perfect Example of What Great Ramification Looks Like & a Series of Excellent How-to Illustrations

The One Percent

You have your own eyes so there’s no need for me to say much. Except to point out a couple little things, like the bright new rusty red buds and the daring glaze on the perfectly shaped pot that picks us the trunk color and contrasts with the buds. Another thing that distinguishes this bonsai is the amazingly fine ramification (fine branching). And then there’s the perfect mossing job. Photo is from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. The one percent. I probably look at between fifty and hundred bonsai a day. Online. Some are pretty good and a few are … Continue reading The One Percent

Pot Master

I don’t know who styled this wonderfully crazy azalea (I don’t read Japanese) but I do know that Master Potter Gyozan Nakano made the pot. Still out of town so we’ll continue borrowing from our illustrious past. We’re on a pot roll, so let’s just keep rolling. And as long as we’re delving into the archives, why not go all the way back to our first pot post. It’s from July, 2007. A remarkable book about a remarkable potter Four years ago (ten years ago now) I was given a most remarkable book by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, who … Continue reading Pot Master

Imagination and Striking Detail

A close-up of a part of a penjing style planting from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention that took place in China last month. This photo was sent to us by Randy Clark (we featured Randy’s plantings in a post about figurines last week and last month we featured a photo of the whole planting that we borrowed from Bill Valavanis). Part of another planting from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention, also courtesy of Randy Clark. We don’t have a photo of the whole planting, so you’ll have to use your imagination. Speaking of figurines (often called mudmen). … Continue reading Imagination and Striking Detail

Weekly Wire: Back On His Feet, Nature’s Deadwood & Keeping Things Up to Date

Remember Isao Omachi? Isao’s house and bonsai nursery were swept away in the tsunami. That’s the tough news. The good news is that hundreds, maybe thousands of people in our international bonsai community donated to help Isao and his family get back on thier feet. As a result of this effort (and Isao’s and his family’s determination) Isao is back doing what he loves. This is our good fortune; Isao is one of the featured bonsai artists at the Mid Atlantic Bonsai Societies 2012 Spring Festival. This sweet colorful bonsai is from Isao facebook page. It looks like a Japanese … Continue reading Weekly Wire: Back On His Feet, Nature’s Deadwood & Keeping Things Up to Date

Weeky Wire: World Bonsai Day, Free Bonsai Wire, Kokufu, Boon’s Tips & Much More

Who could ask for more? It wasn’t too long ago we led off a Weekly Wire with a Gedemerta Bonsaibali tree. Now, we’ve gone and done it again. I’m guessing you can see why. Aside from the wildly expressive deadwood, the well-aged textured beauty of the bark, the trunk’s powerful base and perfect taper, the tree’s radiant health, the near perfect play between balance and movement; the photo is also very well done. Who could ask for more? FREE! FREE WIRE, SCISSORS, TOOL CLEANING BLOCKS & CUT PASTE WHEN YOU ORDER FROM STONE LANTERN… …but only if you enter … Continue reading Weeky Wire: World Bonsai Day, Free Bonsai Wire, Kokufu, Boon’s Tips & Much More