This popped up on Bonsai Mania from a photo of Roelof Jansen van Vuuren’s. It caught me because of its light airy feel and natural look.
A small cut or two?
This sweet Japanese maple (var?) planting reminds me a bit of the Sugar maples on the edge of my property. Sometimes I imagine them small and then start making mental cuts. These trees have the same effect on me; I wouldn’t mind grabbing my scissors and making a small cut or two. Especially on that long left branch on the tree on the right (I think I just disturbed my old fifth grade grammar teacher’s long rest). But then, maybe that’s part of its natural look.
Our Big Book Sale is ending soon
This one (up to 40% off) has been around for a while and I don’t think we’ll run it much longer. Maybe for another two or tree days. Maybe even until next week (no promises though).
Bonsai wire just went on sale
Our wire sale won’t end as soon as our book sale, but still, things get a little unpredictable around here, so don’t wait too long.
Why would a bonsai company offer Netsuke?
John Palmer (the founder of Stone Lantern) liked netsuke and decided to offer them. He had a group of loyal netsuke customers, so I decided to keep offering them when I bought the company almost ten years ago. Now they are on sale.
Kenzans?
I’ll stick with the same story for kenzans (aka flowering pins or frogs). They too are now on sale.
This photo appears on page 55 of the book Four Seasons of Bonsai, by Kyuzo Murata, copyright 1991 Kodansha International Ltd. (adapted from Bonsai no shiki, originally published in 1984). I have spent many pleasurable hours admiring the photos in this book.
It is labelled as Hinauchiwa-kaede (Acer tenuifolium Koidz.). Estimated age over 70 years, 28 inches (72cm).
Many of the trees in the book have a similar wild, natural, and less highly refined appearance (in comparison to most of our current sensibilites 3 decades after this photo’s original publication date.) Wouldn’t you love to see an updated photo of it’s current appearnce?
Hi John K.
Thanks for locating the source. Now I know where I’ve seen it before.
And agreed, that wild, less highly refined feel is spot on.
And yes, it would be nice to see the tree now. I wonder if it is in Mr Murata’s son’s care.