I don’t think you’ll see plantings quite this distinctively unusual very often. Not that all good bonsai aren’t unique, just that this one is very unique (and no doubt very heavy too). It’s by Colin Lewis, who happens to be one of the featured artists at the LSBF 2013 convention (below).
Bonsai Calendar. We seem to be featuring bonsai events almost weekly now. It’s never was our intention to turn Bark into a bonsai calendar, but still, reminding you of events (and maybe even encouraging you to take the leap and attend one or two) seems like a good thing to do. Even if we have to hustle to keep up.
Your upcoming event. If you’d like to invite our readers to your event, just put a little note about it (preferably with a link) in the comments below.
April 11th – 14th New Braunfels, Texas. You’d better hurry up if you’re going to catch the Lone Star Bonsai Federation 2013 convention. It looks like a good one with a strong supporting cast that includes Dan Robinson, Colin Lewis and Erik Wigert.
April 19th – 21st, Harrisburg/Hershey Pennsylvania. The Mid Atlantic Bonsai Societies Spring Festival is one of the East Coast’s premier bonsai events.
This monster Shimpaku was styled by Minoru Akiyama who is one of the featured artists at the upcoming Mid Atlantic Spring Bonsai Festival.
April 20th & 21st, Portland Oregon. The Portland Bonsai Society is having its annual show at the Portland Japanese Garden on April 20-21, featuring bonsai by some of the best amateur bonsai artists in the United States.
This strange and wonderful experiment is something that Michael Hagedorn and his Seasonal students created more or less out of thin air. I guess you could say the ‘less’ part is that they did start with the tree, a Vine maple, and the ‘more’ part has to do with having an idea, but (in Michael’s own words)… “not the faintest clue how we’re going to do it.” Michael Hagedorn will be the judge for the Portland Bonsai Society’s annual bonsai show (see above).
Shots from the famous Portland Oregon Japanese Garden, which is considered by many to be one of the very best (if not the best) Japanese garden in North America.
May 3rd – 5th, Washington DC. The annual Potomac Bonsai Festival is one of many great events at our National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.
May 10th Port Macquarie Australia. The Hastings Bonsai Group will be showing their bonsai at the Port Macquarie Panthers Club.
May 11th Tulsa Oklahoma. The Green Country Bonsai Society will be featuring a Bonsai Show May 11th at the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Garden Center.
May 18th – 19th, Chicago. The Midwest Bonsai Society is hosting its 9th Annual Spring Bonsai Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
May 24th – 26th, Olive Branch Mississippi. “Great bonsai, fabulous food and Southern hospitality” await you at Brussel’s Annual Rendezvous.
Penjing from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum bonsai photo gallery.
I am brand new to the world of bonsai, though I am a long-time gardener, with some experience in growing many different conifers and a variety of japanese maples. I have a feeling that my first victim should be a very small conifer, perhaps a juniper. Does anyone have any recommendations? What is a good book or DVD for a green rookie like me.
HI Rookie Bob,
I like the Growing Art of Bonsai DVD.
http://www.stonelantern.com/How_to_Bonsai_Tree_DVD_The_Growing_Art_of_Bonsai_p/b1dvdgrow.htm
As for what kind of tree. Indoors Ficus is good. Outdoors Juniper is good choice for a first tree.
There is much more to be said, but maybe this will help just a little.