Photo Art Contest: Entry #6

Submitted by Tyler (no last name given). “I took a trip to visit a buddy of mine who lives in the Bitterroot Mountains in western Montana. I found many naturally occurring bonsai but this one really looked the part. It was just jammed between these huge rocks on the side of a mountain overlooking a river valley. Hope you like it!” What it is? It’s best when people send along the name of the tree (as well as their last name), though I suspect that people often don’t know what it is. In this case, my first guess was lodgepole … Continue reading Photo Art Contest: Entry #6

Photo Art Contest: Entry #5

Susan Richards submitted this entry to our $100 Bonsai Art Photo Contest. The photo was taken at 7-mile Lake in Colorado. It’s not too late for you to enter We’ll keep the contest going until we have at least ten entries, maybe many more if interest remains high. So don’t be lazy, send us your photo. It’s a good thing to share your inspiration. The prizes First prize is a $60 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Second prize $30 gift certificate. Third prize $10 gift certificate. The rest of the details

Grow Your Own (Moss)

Moss Milkshake. Just add water. Grows up to 20 square feet of just the kind of moss you want for your bonsai. Something new We haven’t had a new product for a while now (except for some rare out of print issues of Bonsai Today… not exactly new really), though there is a new Japanese gardening book that’s on its way (stay posted). Field grown bonsai stock… …is coming soon too.

Photo Art Contest: Entry #4

James Miles submitted this entry to our $100 Bonsai Art Photo Contest. It’s a juniper somewhere in the high Sierras. That’s granite that is appears to be growing on. How do they do that? The contest Here are the details. Don’t be shy, send us a photo. You might win a gift certificate to Stone Lantern. Speaking of Stone Lantern, our current deep sale ends tomorrow morning Even though we always seem to have sales, this one is particularly good, with a range of items double discounted. Check it out.

World Class Bonsai Shear

Many people don’t know about Okatsune tools. Those that do, love them, though many of those people don’t know that Okatsune makes a bonsai shear. I’ve been using mine for over ten years and I’ve never had to sharpen them. To be sure I use other shears (it’s good to work with all the tools we sell), but I always return to my Okatsunes. This is a good time These Okatsune shears are discounted (really double discounted) right now. So are over 250 other items. Here’s another Okatsune shear that I use all the time. It’s a wonder for heavier … Continue reading World Class Bonsai Shear

Photo Art Contest: Entry #3

There was no description with Christian Hansen’s entry. The photo does speak for itself; still, it would be good to know what and where (though it’s true that I didn’t say anything about sending descriptions). The contest Here are the details. Don’t be shy. Stone Lantern

Whoops! Beech Not Birch

My Mistake. In the original post for the photo contest I labeled this partial tree Southern birch. Should be Southern beech (or Mountain beech?). Here’s what Richard Warner (it’s his photo) said about it: “Don’t know if this is really art but the framing came out nice. A photo of a Mountain Beech on the Routburn Track near Millford Sound ‘Lord of the Rings’ Country in New Zealand. Branch looks a little like a Dragon. (Southern Beech not Birch as the photo title incorrectly says).” I imagine those are beeches covering the hillside also. Reminder This photo is the inspiration … Continue reading Whoops! Beech Not Birch

Photo Art Contest: Entry #2

Here’s what Mike Viljak has to say about his entry: “I found this tiny ‘planting’ while poking around in a river bed in Wyoming, near the Tetons. I don’t know what type of plant it is, but I was more intrigued by its choice of a beautiful, yet tiny driftwood planter. I call it ‘Microsai’. Formal upright style perhaps? I like how the red stem pops out against the background, asserting its presence.” In case you’re not aware Here’s the first entry and the specifics. Now, let’s see yours.

Bonsai Art by Bonsai Art

Aha! Something new and different. I borrowed this exciting shot from Bonsai Art magazine. It’s a Chinese juniper ‘Itoigawa’ by Guido Braun. 12 inches high (30cm). Bonsai Art Magazine Every two months I get my copy of Bonsai Art Magazine in the mail and I’m never disappointed. In fact, I’m always delighted. So delighted that I’ll go out on a limb and say that it’s the most artistic, best designed bonsai magazine anywhere. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s only in German. Now to get them to publish an English edition. Here’s another highly creative bonsai … Continue reading Bonsai Art by Bonsai Art

Tax Us? Taxus? What About Yew?

This dynamic Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) with is fluid play of strikingly attractive dead and live wood, and its perfectly balanced foliage, is from cover of Bonsai Today issue 89. Unfortunately, the artist’s name was lost somewhere in translation. In praise of the under appreciated yew Bad puns aside, I feel like I’ve praised yew before (right here on Bonsai Bark), but can’t find it anywhere (I didn’t look all that hard). Anyway, at the risk of repeating myself, I like yews. For landscaping and for bonsai. Landscaping Yews are often over used in landscaping and as a result their … Continue reading Tax Us? Taxus? What About Yew?