Year: 2010

Inspired by the Master

I found this striking forest-on-a-cliff on facebook. It was posted by Dario Ascoli. It caught my attention for two reasons: first it stands on its own as decent bonsai with good potential for further development, and second, it is reminiscent of a famous Hinoki forest by Kimura (see below). Though I can’t find any information on this (who’s the artist etc), I’d wager that the trees are also Hinokis. Mature trees vs young trees Though comparisons are often odious (and unfair, especially when it’s with Kimura), still, older trees make for much more interesting forests. In this case, Kimura’s hinokis … Continue reading Inspired by the Master

Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

This remarkable Trident maple turned up on Bonsai Mania via facebook. It’s from the photo album of Alex Probst. A little update (1/7/2011) Now I know that this tree belongs to Walter Pall. I also know that it most likely was not photoshopped. My apologies to Walter. Enhancing color I realize that everyone’s monitor isn’t the same, but still, this looks like a case of photoshopping to enhance color, when color is the point of the photo. In this case it’s yellow that’s enhanced. You can tell by the yellowish trunk and the yellowish wooden slab that the pot rests … Continue reading Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

Bonsai Crazy

Is this bonsai a yew (Taxus)? And is it one of the most powerful and dynamic bonsai around? Or, is it a Phoenix graft masquerading as one of the most powerful and dynamic bonsai around (even if it is a Phoenix graft, it is still quite spectacular)? I suspect it isn’t a Phoenix, though the large hunk of deadwood on the right does give pause. One thing I do know is that it’s from the album Bonsai Crazy by Adrian Lee Eu Wyn. 2011 is closing in. Don’t be caught without your bonsai calendar.

Stewartia: Graceful, Elegant & Not Very Common

This slender delight is showing off its inner charm. It’s late winter and the new buds are swelling. Without the leaves you can better see the subtle beauty of the bark and the delicate fine branching. The nebari is quite strong (but still in keeping with the delicacy of the tree). Much of its size and strength comes from having two trunks. This provides a good tip for creating nebari: leave smaller second and third trunks, at least for a while, if a strong nebari and lower trunk is your objective.  Photo is from Bonsai Today issue 6. George Buehler … Continue reading Stewartia: Graceful, Elegant & Not Very Common

Of Scrolls & Tokonomas

This tokonoma with its spectacular scroll, is from Daiza Iwasaki’s house in Japan. A more cropped version of this photo appears in Morten Albek’s book, Majesty in Miniature, Shohin Bonsai. The original completely uncropped photo is below. Bonsai display I don’t think too many people pay very close attention to bonsai display. I’m sure there are some who do, but judging from countless photos on facebook and elsewhere, display isn’t a major concern for most people (especially outside of Japan). Relationships Display is a lot about the relationship of the elements. Though I’m far from an expert on the subject, … Continue reading Of Scrolls & Tokonomas

American Kokufu (Old News but Good News)

Doug Paul’s Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia) was displayed at the 2010  Kokufu ten Exhibition in Japan. Kokufu is widely considered the preeminent bonsai exhibition in the world, and just being excepted to display a bonsai in Kokufu is considered a great honor. Borrowed from Bill The photos and most of the text in this post are borrowed from Bill Valavanis. In Bill’s words (from the Internet Bonsai Club): “The 84th Kokufu Bonsai Ten Exhibition opens tomorrow (February, 2010) in Japan and history is being made. I believe for the first time an American has a bonsai on display. “Doug Paul’s Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia) bonsai … Continue reading American Kokufu (Old News but Good News)

A Perfectly Beautiful Bonsai, Berries and All

This showy cotoneaster is from our 2010 bonsai calendar. The pot looks like a temporary show pot (for health purposes, the tree will most likely spend most of its time in a somewhat larger pot). Beyond that, the tree speaks for itself. Speaking of calendars Our 2011 calendars are in.

Robert Steven’s Super Mini Bonsai

Super mini Premna microphylla by Robert Steven. I took the liberty of cropping it a bit, but I think you get the drift anyway (The uncropped original is below). The smaller the more difficult… Robert sent us these incredibly tiny bonsai a few days ago. Here’s what he has to say about them and small bonsai in general: As you know, the basic concept in bonsai is to make a mature looking tree that is scaled way down. The smaller the bonsai, the more difficult it is to make. This is because it is difficult to form ramification (branching) and … Continue reading Robert Steven’s Super Mini Bonsai

Slow Motion Gallery

I’m pretty sure this is an Ume (Japanese flowering apricot), though I can’t be %100 sure. Whatever it is, it sure combines some very showy flowers with impressively ancient looking bark. It’s from a Japanese book (not available in English) called Gyozan Nakano, Sakai: A 35 Year Anthology. Mr. Nakano is a rather famous (in Japan) Master Potter (this is not the first time we’ve featured him). Most of the book is devoted to his pots sans trees. However, there are a few in the back with trees. This is one of them. Slow motion gallery In this case, slow … Continue reading Slow Motion Gallery