Azalea Tips #3: A Little Timely Trimming

Azalea flowers from the cover of Satsuki Azaleas for Bonsai & Azalea Entusiasts. Satsuki shears are used to shape azaleas after the spring bloom and before the new buds set in the late summer/early fall. Not only does this technique keep azaleas in shape, it can also increase next years flower crop (be careful though, sometimes too many flowers can stress a bonsai – see below). All three drawings in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 1. Thinning overly vigorous and dense growth. This helps open up the tree and forces energy into weaker zones. In this illustration the … Continue reading Azalea Tips #3: A Little Timely Trimming

We Have a Winner!

Ferry Freriks’ stout-trunked little Honeysuckle takes the grand prize in a down to the wire contest for a $100 gift certificate from Stone Lantern. Congrats Ferry! Oh so close Altogether 41 people (including me) submitted their choices. The total count for the first three finishers (see below for photos of the other two) were: Ferry’s Honeysuckle 84. John Romano’s Erodium 80. Brian and Jill’s (no last name) Serissa 80. Next time When I started this contest it didn’t occur that it would be so close. Next time I’ll divide the prize among the first three finishers. Meanwhile, John and Brian … Continue reading We Have a Winner!

Masters’ Bonsai Gallery: Let’s Rock!

This group of Needle junipers on a large rock by Norboru Kaneko won first prize at Sakufu-ten #12. It originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 24 (long out of print). It also appears in our Bonsai Today Masters’ Series Juniper book (still in print). Root-on-rock vs root-over-rock The bonsai shown in this post are all root-on-rock, which means that the roots are growing in soil that is in pockets in the rock. Root-over-rock is where the rock sits in soil in a pot and the roots are trained to grow down over the rock and into the soil. We’ll do … Continue reading Masters’ Bonsai Gallery: Let’s Rock!

National Bonsai Foundation 2010 Calendar

This massive white pine was donated to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum by Daizo Iwasaki. Though I’ve never met him, I have long admired Mr. Iwasaki’s dedication to promoting the art of bonsai. Few people in our world bonsai community rival Mr. Iwasaki’s tireless energy, boundless generosity and devotion when it comes to bonsai. This tree is just one of many world class bonsai that he has donated to our National Bonsai and Penjin Museum. BTW: did you notice how the enormous base of the trunk nearly fills the whole pot? 2010: A good year for bonsai and related … Continue reading National Bonsai Foundation 2010 Calendar

You Be the Judge: Only Two More Days

Vote Now and Get a Free $5.00 Gift Certificate It’s so easy, but don’t wait, tomorrow (Sunday Feb 7) is your last day to vote. (For how to vote, check our post entitled You Be the Judge (& We’ll Grease Your Palm) from Feb 2nd. And BTW We’ve got a Site Wide Sale (10% to 40% off everything) over on Stone Lantern.

Native Americans at BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

I lifted this sinuous Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) off of a great gallery at Bonsai Tonight from the 2010 Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. Though I can’t tell for sure, it looks like at least five full twists in the trunk. Not something you see every day. Here’s another heavy-trunked bunjin. It’s a Sierra juniper, also known as Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). It and it’s close cousin, the California juniper (J. californica) are becoming favorites of bonsai enthusiasts here and abroad. Natives It’s good to see is the use of native trees and their increasing acceptance as subject for high quality … Continue reading Native Americans at BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

Big Sale at Stone Lantern: 10% to 40% off

Our biggest sale is happening now Our Site Wide Sale is our biggest and best. Everyone is rewarded on any purchase, and the more you purchase the bigger your reward. Double discounts Dozens of items are already discounted. This means you get double discounts on those items. Not bad eh? For bonsai lovers A large selection of books, quality tools, fertilizers, wire, turntables and more For Japanese (and other) garden afecionados One of the best selections of quality Japanese garden tools anywhere, books and more. Plus Ikebana stuff including a large selection of flower pins (kenzans), ikebana books, suiseki books, … Continue reading Big Sale at Stone Lantern: 10% to 40% off

Judge Judy’s Sweet Little Bonsai & Votes Are Rolling In but It’s Not Too Late for You

Almost forgot. We try to attribute whenever we use a borrowed bonsai. The problem is, I can’t remember where we got the sweet little gem JJude is holding (two posts ago) and we want to make right. Anyone? Vote Now and Get a Free $5.00 Gift Certificate It’s so easy! And BTW We’ve just begun a Site Wide Sale (10% to 40% off everything) over on Stone Lantern.

Eccentric Bonsai: Fearless Master Kimura Again

Though it’s not as powerful as many other Kimura trees (see below), nor is it considered one of his classics, still, I can’t say enough about this tree, so I won’t say much except I apologize that it is a little cramped on the left side and that it’s a Yew and it’s from The Bonsai Art of Kimura (out of print though occasionally the ‘let’s reprint’ thought flits around). There are eccentric bonsai and then… … there are eccentric bonsai. That is, some trees we feature are just eccentric. Others are masterpieces that are also eccentric (unusual in some … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: Fearless Master Kimura Again

You Be the Judge (& We’ll Grease Your Palm)

Judge our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest and receive a $5.00 gift certificate Become a bonsai judge and receive a $5.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. The basics The 11 bonsai below (placed roughly in the order we received them) have been entered in our $100 Unique Bonsai Contest. The winner will be determined when 25 judges have sent in their decisions, or by March 31st (whichever comes first). Anyone can judge (see below if you entered a bonsai in the contest), but only one time per person.