Tool Sale Last Day

This set of carving tools from China has been extremely popular. It’s a good idea to be careful with Chinese tools as so many are inferior (especially scissors and to some degree other cutting tools). However, we are fortunate in that regard; Robert Steven goes to the factory and rejects tools that don’t meet his standards. This has worked quite well for us, especially with these carving tools; so far we’ve sold over 100 sets with not one complaint. All tools (and some other stuff) 30% to 40% off The tool and related other stuff includes turntables, cut paste, grafting … Continue reading Tool Sale Last Day

No Interior Buds, Now What?

One down, one to go. Decandling two Japanese black pines. Photo by Jonas Dupuich. Akio Kondo discovers a problem and offers a solution I lifted all the photos in this post from Bonsai Tonight. They present a small piece of a much larger post (actually two posts). I won’t attempt to flesh too out much (you can just go there and see the whole thing), except to say they are about solving a problem (lack of interior buds on black pines). Akio Kondo pointed out the problem to Jonas Dupuich and also offered a solution. He’s a pro Speaking of … Continue reading No Interior Buds, Now What?

Ornate Elegance: Bonsai Pots As Fine Art

Hirato-Yaki peacock pot. This pot may be from as far back as 1598. 22 inches (59cm) across the top. That’s a very large pot. From Bonsai Today issue 61. Pot lovers? We don’t get much response when we post pots. I guess powerful old bonsai or flashy flowering trees excite people more. Still, pots are the other half of bonsai, and the best pots rise to the level of fine art. Where are the trees? Maybe the reason people don’t show much interest in these fine art type pots is that they are almost always empty. Sometimes you see these … Continue reading Ornate Elegance: Bonsai Pots As Fine Art

Rebalancing & Restyling a Bunjin Pine

After. The trunk is strong and fluid, the overall balance is good and the new pot is suited to bunjin style. By Furube Tetsuyi. From Bonsai Today issue 33. See below for the before photo. Changing the potting angle and rotating the trunk Though Mr. Tetsuyi did a few other things, the most obvious (aside from the new pot) is the fairly radical change in the planting angle. This along with rotating the trunk to soften the sharp almost 90 degree angles, are the first two major steps in restyling this old tree. The final steps involve pruning and wiring … Continue reading Rebalancing & Restyling a Bunjin Pine

NEW BOOK! Gnarly Branches Arriving Any Day!

It’s somewhere in the northeast and getting closer by the minute. Any day now, any minute now, Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees will come rolling in. I’ll stake my reputation I’ve seen most of the photos and much of the text, and I will stake my reputation (whatever it is) on this being one of the most inspirational and exciting bonsai books ever published. 30% – 40% off Book Sale It’s a good time to order. Books, tools, bonsai wire, turntables and more on sale now.

Another Forest, But Mixed This Time

This mixed forest is from Spain. The Museo del Bonsai Marbella, to be exact (from Bonsais del Sur). It’s too bad the pot is chopped off and the whole photo is cramped, but that’s the way we found it. Still, from what we can see, it looks pretty good. Mixing it up Forests with mixed species can be a little tricky; not only does the planting have to make sense aesthetically (particularly when it comes to questions of scale), but the various types of trees should make sense growing together (would you find them growing together in nature?) Not that … Continue reading Another Forest, But Mixed This Time

Another Powerful Old Forest

This Japanese white pine is from our 2010 bonsai calendar. It brings to mind the pines on Point Lobos (California central coast). Though it’s difficult to be certain, it has the feel of a sinuous root (netsuranari) style forest (it appears that perhaps the large trunk is separate and the rest is a netsuranari, but again, it’s difficult to be certain). Netsuranari or not, all the trees seem to be cast from the same genetic mold. The appearance of age It is somewhat unusual to see forests here in West that use old trees. Most older stock, when you can … Continue reading Another Powerful Old Forest

Make Your Own Scroll

New book. How to Make Handmade Wall Scrolls by Jonathan Maples. A good scroll can go a long way… … in enhancing any bonsai display. Though most of us have developed some bonsai appreciation and some skills (rudimentary, at least), few of us have bothered to learn much about bonsai display; both the various pieces (mostly stands, scrolls, companion plants & suiseki) and the overall aesthetics of a display. Your chance How to Make Handmade Wall Scrolls will afford you the opportunity to learn about an important display feature, and beyond that, how-to instructions for making your own. From the … Continue reading Make Your Own Scroll

Contest Winner (Better Late Than Never)

This planting (River in India by Lew Buller) was the subject of a critique contest that we posted back on September 2nd. Note from the present (March 19, 2014): This planting is NOT by Lew Buller. It is from his book Saikei and Art, but isn’t his. My apologies to Lew. Plenty to choose from Thanks to all of you that bothered to send a critique. We got plenty of good ones and just as I expected, they ranged all the way from very positive to critical. We even got one from Robert Steven (see below), author of Vision of … Continue reading Contest Winner (Better Late Than Never)

Achieving that Natural Look

We found this forest and plenty of other excellent trees (and stones) here. The photo is by Nicola Crivelli. I don’t know who the artist is. Anyone? There’s a lot to like There’s a lot to like about this forest. It has a natural feel that looks easy to achieve, but isn’t. The trees are planted in a way that might looks random, but is actually well thought out. The dead trees add to the natural feel and convey a sense of age, as does the other deadwood. Older larger trees contrast well with the small ones and add to … Continue reading Achieving that Natural Look