Michael Hagedorn reworked this Sierra juniper (grafted with shimpaku) in a refinement session at the Weyerhaeuser bonsai collection (now the Pacific Bonsai Museum), way back in 2009. The before photo is below.
This is the third time for this post (nonwithstanding some key changes and additions). And though today is not yet Labor Day, it is Labor Day weekend. Time to chill with family, friends and late summer bonsai chores.
It’s rare to find writing that explores our thoughts when we work on our bonsai. So I was surprised and delighted when I read Michael Hagedorn’s post on Crataegus Bonsai, Sight of the Blind Mind.
In Michael’s own words: “When I was in graduate school learning ceramics, a friend of mine asked our sculpture teacher when he was demonstrating assembling a work with clay slabs, sticks, and coils, ‘When you’re making those decisions, what are you thinking?’ The teacher paused and replied simply, ‘I’m not thinking at all.’ And he looked at us and carefully warned us of creating and analyzing at the same time, ‘You’ll fail at that. It’s the worst trap of all, thinking while making…” You can read the whole article on Crataegus Bonsai.
Michael Hagedorn's Portland Bonsai Village in his own words. "From the swift guerrilla visit to a Villager’s nursery during a vacation to the long-term stay of an apprentice, our goal is to serve all of you. At its core, the Village is designed to be the place where the next generation of bonsai artists will find their wings."
Portland Bonsai Village offers tours. Including two all day tours to the Pacific Bonsai Museum during the Artisans Cup weekend.
Before photo of the old Sierra/Shimpaku juniper at the top of this post.
Michael Hagedorn writes regularly and he writes very well. Some of Michael’s best writing can be found in his delightful and humorous book, Post-Dated – The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk.
Michael’s book, still the best bonsai read
Our Tool Sales end tomorrow night
25% off Bonsai Tool Sale
25% off Garden Tool Sale
plus an extra 10% off for any order 100.00 or more
end tomorrow night, Sunday, Sept 6th at 11:59pm EDT
I must say I find the before picture much more attractive. The after picture looks like a trunk with a crown on top, while foliage and trunk are integrated and work together to form a convincing tree in the before picture.