I think this one qualifies as Mame (‘bean’ in Japanese). Bonsai-wise, mame is a common word for the very smallest bonsai. I found it on Pinterest. It says Repinned via Luciano Guimarães. I’m not sure exactly what that means but my best guess is that this tree does not belong to Luciano. The photo had the Bonsai Empire logo in the corner (now cropped out to magnify the tree), but I couldn’t find it on their site. In any case it’s a sweet little gem and so’s the pot.
“Shohin are small bonsai. When compared to large bonsai, shohin cost less, take less time to develop, take less space, are easier to move, and are less apt to be overwatered. Perhaps best of all, shohin-bonsai are a delight to behold.” From the back cover of Morten Albek’s Shohin Bonsai, Majesty in Miniature (copy written by yours truly back in the days when we used to publish books).
I love the uncontrived free flowing feel of this little Japanse maple. Like the photo above this one is repinned via Luciano Guimarães on Pinterest. If you know anything more about this tree or the one above, please let me know.
One of Morten Albek’s wee wonders. Of all of Morten’s trees that I’ve seen, this has to be one of the very best. Perhaps Morten has a shot somewhere without any background noise (not to argue with Morten’s photography, which happens to be great… just that it would be nice to see in a formal shot as well as in this more artistic type shot).
I found this fat-trunked little Japanese black pine, with it’s excellent burnished Tokoname pot, in Bonsai Smiths gallery. Turns out we featured them a couple months in a post about Redwoods (and, the more I look at this tree, the more familiar it looks and the more I think we may have featured it in one of our approximately 700 posts to date).
This brilliant little Persimmon (Daisuke variety, identified by Ryan Bell, Japanese Bonsai Pots Blog) is from a Bark post (Luminous Fruit) from one year ago. Not everything we show on Bark deserves an encore, but this one is hard to argue with (even with its spotted leaves).
Wayne. I love your emails and marvel at your ability to find amazing examples of great trees. I marvel again today as these are special. I like the Maple particularly.
I write as I want to comment that Mame and Shohin aren’t hard to over water. They are hard to water enough! It’s small soil in a ceramic container. Regarding costs, in the real world of Bonsai great Mame and Shohin can be quite pricey.
Dealing with Bonsai at this level is more difficult than larger trees especially as a hobbyist who can’t step outside and check water on a hot or windy Tuesday afternoon because they are at work.
Small bonsai in my opinion are a goal after success with medium and larger size Bonsai.
Not a complaint, just a comment.
Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s great for our community.
The very top tree belongs to Haruyosi. Please look him up on Facebook. He does great work with Mame, I think that’s all he grows. He also makes wonderful pots with beautiful scenes on them! He is on my friends list & posts new pics everyday of trees & pots. Check him out!
Hi Todd,
Thanks for your comments.
“are less apt to be overwatered” is meant to mean that they dry out fast, so under watering is more of an issue than over watering.
Regarding price, though it is true that there are some very expensive and valuable shohin, in general though, they are less expensive if for no other reason than the cost of the pot. And if you are making your own from stock, small less developed stock is usually less expensive.