Welcome to the first post on our new blog. We’ve decided to call it Bonsai Bark. This name, in addition to being easy to remember, says something about what we would like to communicate. Bonsai stripped bare down to the bark; revealed, open, visible, exposed. Accessible to anyone willing to take a close look.
I once read that the first Westerners to see Japanese bonsai thought there was some sort of magic involved. Now we know better; bonsai, like any art, requires a mix of desire, vision, feeling, technique, experience and patience. Nothing supernatural needed. Some talent doesn’t hurt, but even the least artistic or clumsiest of us can learn to grow and style bonsai that bring us some pleasure.
I think we all started out a bit like those first Westerners. We liked what we saw, but had no idea how get there. So we started a journey towards understanding. Some of you are well along on that journey, while some have just scratched the surface. Hopefully this blog will have something for all of you, no matter where you are.
We plan on posting two or three times a week. Once or twice will be informative or how-to stuff. Other posts might be book reviews, bonsai events and other news, and some promotional stuff to keep you up on our products and services.
The photo at the top of the post is from Bonsai Today issue 106.
We are interested in your feedback, so don’t hesitate to comment.
Great way to start the New Year! I am excited about this. I would love, someday, to own my own garden and nursery, but need feedback from all fields of bonsai, nursery, and Asian inspired garden experts. I am a 30 yr old visual development artist in the entertainment industry and have a huge passion for bonsai(only 4 yrs experience) and the like. Hopefully this blog will help me to pursue this dream and make it a reality. The first post gives me great hope for bonsai in the U.S. Hopefully it will flourish into something spectacular.
Cheers,
Braden Matt (Cincinnati, Oh)
I can see this growing Wayne….Kudos to you for doing it!
Irene
I like the start, and look forward to future posts. I grow future bonsai in my yard, but only have a total of 3/4 of an acre, so my inventory is much smaller, but I too have found it very advantagous. I have a trident maple that I bought for less than $10, and it has tripled in trunk size, and I have cut it back every year for the last three years. Thanks for your work.
wonderfoul, beautiful.
This will evolve into a great blog and will provide tremendous help to all artists. I am from India and have been excited and addicted to Bonsai since 30 years and have started benefitting only recently. All the while I grew the plants in pots with scant manure etc etc and on subscribing to your magazine realised how much more goes into growing these beauties. I can already see my trees changing and i have the yearly pictures as well.I am content and happy and plan to grow then now the Japanese way . I look forward to future posts… all the best Wayne ..Anjali Sinha
Field growing … fantastic way to develop strength in plants. A nursery person shared this with me over 20 years ago when I was trying to ‘fatten up’ topiarised garden plants.
I live in Adelaide, South Australia. Currently we are in the midst of a heatwave with daily temperatures for the last week in excess of 38C and not expected to give any relief for at least another week.
My field grown plants – I live with a small yard but have access to a community garden – are doing well. While the vegetables around them are dying, tomatoes cooking on the plants; the field grown Ash, Chinese Elms, Olives and Celtis are growing strong.
Importantly, so as not to allow the plants to develop strong tap roots, my plants are lifted and root pruned every 12 months. They are pruned severely for taper, shape and movement a number of times through the growing season (not during extreme heat however). The results have been aged looking plants in a relatively short period of time.
I believe that the transition from ‘field’ to pot needs to be through a process – not merely planting into a ‘bonsai pot’. Again, through this process, growing in boxes and shallow pots – branch ramification may be achieved … relatively quickly (given that the plant is already has good strength from its time grown in the field).
Dear Wayne – I had the opportunity to be in Japan this March, and seen these pictures remind me how beautiful they are.
Walking through those magnificent trees is something magical.
You can spend hours and hours just looking and wondering around.
Great blog, I am sure it will be very grateful.
Thank you all for your kind words. I’d like to reply to you each individually, but this will have to do, given time and other constraints.
Anyway, thanks again and do come back!
wayne,
i have always loved bonsai trees
would love to learn more…
they are very pleasing to look upon