Month: April 2010

Another Budi, Another Pemphis

Pemphis acidula by Budiman Darmansjah. Here’s Budiman’s reply when I asked him if I could use it: “You can use it as you want. It is Pemphis acidula, grow on limestone rock at seaside. I collected this tree in 2000. Length of trunk is 105 cm.” (105 cm = 41 inches) Doubled down Just yesterday we posted a Pemphis acidula by Budi Sulistyo, a well known Indonesian bonsai artist and author of Tropical Bonsai Gallery. Now we have another Pemphis by another Budi (actually Budiman). Though it may not be quite as eye-popping as yesterday’s, still, it’s a good tree … Continue reading Another Budi, Another Pemphis

Say Goodbye to an Old Classic (Well, Almost)

Almost gone. Our classic Pine book is down to less than 40 copies. We originally printed 5,200, so it’s been a pretty good run. One per person please While it lasts (and it won’t be long) we request that you limit yourself to one per person (or one per company). Thanks. No plans At this point, we have no plans to reprint, though in a year or two, we could change our minds.

Budi’s Stupendous Bonsai

Stupendous is a good start in the search for words to describe this old full cascade Pemphis acidula by Budi Sulistyo. Ahh, to live in the tropics where stuff like this grows everywhere (well, not exactly like this, but still…). I first saw it in facebook in an album entitled My bonsai by Budi. Budi’s book If you’d like to impress your friends, you can buy Budi’s excellent Tropical Bonsai Gallery book, cut out the pictures and frame them, and tell everyone the bonsai are yours and that the reason you don’t have them anymore is they were blown away … Continue reading Budi’s Stupendous Bonsai

Felix Laughlin’s Photos from Japan

Rarely so red. You don’t see too many Junipers in red pots. For that matter you don’t see that many bonsai in red pots. It’s a tough color to work with, especially when it’s this bright. And no, the juniper isn’t dead; it just has a strong case of winter color. It resides at Mr. Daizo Iwasaki’s Takasago-an. A few friends and a camera Not too long ago Felix Laughlin, President of our National Bonsai Foundation (and the second World Bonsai Friendship Federation chairman) packed up his camera and took a trip to Japan with some friends. The photos shown … Continue reading Felix Laughlin’s Photos from Japan

Piece of Cake (Let Them Eat Bonsai?)

This is not a real bonsai! It’s a Cake. Cake pot, cake soil, cake trunk, cake leaves, cake berries. The story behind the cake “I had a birthday recently and my husband ordered the most extraordinary cake.  Sharon Berke, an artist and baker in Boston, Mass., made the cake you see in the picture.  I’m a bonsai novice, but I believe it is meant to be a cotoneaster.  Every bit of the cake was edible, with the exception of the wires used to make the branches.  Even the tray was edible.  It was a great surprise.  Some of your readers … Continue reading Piece of Cake (Let Them Eat Bonsai?)

Current Sale: Only One Day Left

Monday is a new day We are going to change our sale on Monday, so don’t wait if you like this one. Next one Our next sale will be 25% off tools, magazines and kenzans (flower pins). We’ll continue the extra 10% off for orders over $100.

A Simple & Instructive Little Quiz

Which branches would you remove? I’ll look for your answers in the comments below. BTW: this quiz originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 21. But don’t go running to look it up before you answer!

Thinking Inside the Box

This radically tilted Prunus mume (Flowering Japanese apricot) is by Chiharu Imai. It’s from Bonsai Today issue 56. After. Mr. Imai saw something when he put it in the box, and this is it. Before the big tilt and some well executed artistry that included removing the strange second trunk that runs up to the first branch.

Bonsai Segment on CBS Sunday Morning

This Sunday, April 18th, 2010 We just received this email from Johann Klodzen, Executive Director, National Bonsai Foundation “As many of you know, Rita Braver, a correspondent for the CBS News Sunday Morning program, has been working on a segment for that show on bonsai and the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the bonsai collection of Felix Laughlin, President of the National Bonsai Foundation. We have just learned from Rita that this piece is on the schedule for the upcoming broadcast of that program on Sunday – April 18. Please check your local television listing for the exact time … Continue reading Bonsai Segment on CBS Sunday Morning