Denny Susila’s Bonsai of the Day

This one caught my eye a while back. I’m not sure what it is (Phemphis?), but I do know that it’s by Denny Sulisa. Bonsai Mania posted it on facebook.

Photo Art Contest: Entry #10

Almond tree by Rodrigo Sousa. In his own words: “This photo it was taked by me in winter of this year in the month of February, at my region Algarve-Portugal. The species, Prunus Dulcis/amigdalus, normally known as Almond tree. About this species, they haven´t many followers, but have a little bit in their ,native regions, where they make very beautiful Bonsai. Her “strong point”, just like many Prunus, is in the end of Winter, with your white flowers in the naked branches.”

Stone Lantern’s Spring Sale Is Rolling Along

The Magican is one of the over 275 discounted items in our Spring Sale. Its discounted price is $12.00 (retail is $29.95). With volume discounts it’s price can be as low as $9.60. Over 275 items are individually discounted With purchases of $50 or more, all 275 plus  items are doubly discounted. This makes for some very good prices.

Photo Art Contest: Entry #9

“I shot this photo in October 2008 in Stony Mountain park near Atlanta. The sole pine growing on bald rock was very dramatic…” Alex Shapiro. Don’t wait We will accept entries for one more week (thru May 24th), so don’t wait to send yours. Contest details

Photo Art Contest: Entry #8

That’s Jeremiah Lee sitting on the huge surface roots of a tree in Santa Barbara, California. His girl friend Courtney Hood took the photo. Jeremiah believes that the tree is a variety of ficus. It’s not too late for yours We are still accepting entries for our $100 Bonsai Art Photography Contest, though it seems to be turning out to be a contest about photographing trees in the wild. That’s okay, full sized trees, or parts of full sized trees are acceptable. It would be interesting however, if someone would send in an artistic shot of a bonsai (or part … Continue reading Photo Art Contest: Entry #8

When to Hack Off 98% of a Tree

Why is this man smiling? Is it something he did? Who is he and what did he do? He’s Michael Hagedorn (we just featured him the other day) and he just did some very fierce hacking on a Zelkova. If you count carefully, you’ll see that there are 1,376 leaves on this tree. If you subtract the 31 remaining leaves (top photo) you’ll see that he cut off almost 98% of the leaves. That’s pretty radical. BTW: don’t try this on your pines. Not that you’d want a broom style pine anyway.

A Wonderfully Eccentric Bunjin by Budi

We’ve featured bonsai by Budi Sulistyo before, and for good reason; his bonsai are innovative and daring. Budi isn’t afraid to try new ideas and break with convention. I’d say on balance, that this has served him very well. Budi’s tropical gallery book In addition to being an innovative bonsai artist, Budi is a photographer and the author of an excellent gallery book on tropical bonsai (now on special at Stone Lantern).

Photo Art Contest: Entry #7

Margaret Wong submitted this photo along with her comments: “I thought it looked like a lovely inspiration for a group planting. It is a small island off the coast near Nelson in New Zealand.  I take lots of  photos of trees for inspiration wherever I travel :)” Richard Warner’s beech has set something off Margaret also has something to say about the photo that got the contest started: “Kiwis never, as far as I have heard (I am a kiwi living in Australia) call the tree a birch. It is a mountain beech, most likely Nothofagus solandri  var. cliffortioides (New … Continue reading Photo Art Contest: Entry #7

So You Think Winter Is Over?

Icy larches from my back yard this morning (May 11). 25 degree Fahrenheit (-4 celsius) last night here in the lovely, underpopulated (now you know why) Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. I left a mist on all night to protect these newly dug and newly sprouted larches. It worked, the ice has melted (it’s sunny and around 50 now) and all is well. Photos by Amy Palmer. An ugly little Eastern white cedar (Cham thyoides) made beautiful by icing. Eastern white cedars (not to be confused with Northern white cedars ‘Thuja occidentalis’ which are abundant around here) don’t do very well here, … Continue reading So You Think Winter Is Over?