You can judge a book by it’s cover. The wild and wonderful tree on the cover tells a small piece of a story about an American bonsai pioneer who gets it right. Though we could say much more about this unique and beautiful book, we’ll save that for later. Meanwhile, stay posted; we expect it by late August. Five more days and counting Time is running out on our biggest and most popular sale ever.
Branching tips from Bonsai Today issue 107. It’s about Pomegranates, but is applicable to any plant with opposite leaves (as opposed to alternate leaves – Wikipedia has a good description of leaf arrangement).
While we are waiting for photos from the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, thought you might like to see the National Award Masterpiece from the 1st Exhibition. It’s a Sargent’s juniper by Jim Gremel. You can find it and a host of other world class bonsai in the 2008, 1st National Exhibition’s Album. It is also featured on International Bonsai’s website. Patiently waiting Though we’ve heard some rumors, as of now, we have no official word from the 2010 Exhibition. It will be a while until the album is out, but I expect some news and a few photos to … Continue reading Waiting for News
This stone speaks of Death Valley or some remote spot on the edge of the North African desert. It”s from the California Suiseki Society’s 15th Annual Show, via Bonsai Tonight. A great debate? I don’t think we’ve ever featured suiseki (viewing stones) on this blog. We used to feature them regularly in Bonsai Today, with occasional objections by some readers. I’ve always felt that suiseki is a natural with bonsai, so mixing in a few makes sense to me. Perhaps this is a Japanese influenced view, as it seems that you see suiseki and bonsai together with much greater frequency … Continue reading Suiseki & Satsuki
You could win… …or maybe just enjoy yourself in the process. So far eighteen people have put on their judges robes. Join them and and enjoy some great photos and maybe, just maybe, win a gift certificate to Stone Lantern. 17th century Spanish judge in full gowns, by Velázquez.
We get so used to looking at exception bonsai that sometimes we stop really looking. For me, this bunjin style Japanese while pine (seven tree clump) on a slab, is near perfect in every regard. If you just look for a while, free from ideas about what it is or should be, then it has the power to transport you to someplace natural and free. From the cover of Bonsai Today issue 25. I doubt if these shears have the same power to transport you as the bonsai above, but they will help you style your own trees. Now on … Continue reading Near Perfect in Every Regard…
From the cover of Bonsai No Satori, Chase and Solita Rosade’s new newsletter. Send us your news We are happy to post bonsai news from around the world. We get around sixteen thousand visits a month from pretty much everywhere. Some of these just might be interested in what you are doing. Send your info to: wayne@stonelantern.com Our news (mostly larches) I’m still digging larches (Larix laricina) and a few Northern white cedars (Thuja occidentalis). A friend of mine has a swampy area on his land that is full of larches. Nothing too old (the swamp was cleared about fifteen … Continue reading Bonsai No Satori
Talk about maximizing space. This photo is from somewhere in Japan via BonsaiNet on facebook. If it weren’t the guy on the right, you might think we’re somewhere in the 19th century. This one, also from BonsaiNet, has a caption: Kanuma & Abe bonsai nurseries.
This illustrious forest is from Bonsai Today issue 23. Among other things, it shows how one very strong tree can add drama and power to a forest planting. Though the original doesn’t say, I’ll guess that it’s by Saburo Kato (Japan’s most revered bonsai artist) and that the trees are Ezo spruce. Other treasures like this Most of the content in Bonsai Today magazine is from the old Japanese masters, and even though there is much to be excited about in contemporary Western bonsai, you would be hard pressed to find a forest with this level of refined precision anywhere … Continue reading Japanese Slab Forest & Other Issues
This Trident maple root-over-rock is from Bonsai Today issue 24 (a special issue devoted to rock planting). Root-over vs root-on Root-over-rock is where the roots grow over the rock and down into soil below. Root-on-rock is where the roots grow in a soil pocket (or soil pockets) in the rock (see below). A Black pine in the root-on-rock style. The way the tree is growing to the right serves to balance the part of the rock that thrusts out to the left. From Bonsai Today issue 24 (all of the photos in this post are from issue 24). Issue 24, … Continue reading Rock Plantings