Just for Fun

This Shimpaku juniper with its host of other plants (on an almost completely covered rock) is by Suthin. As are the other two Shimpaku shown here (as well as dozens of other brilliant bonsai by Suthin that we’ve featured here on Bark over the last seven years). If you follow Suthin Sukosolvisit, there are three things it would be hard not to notice. He is remarkably talented. He is also remarkably prolific. And best of all, he likes to have fun. For now, we’ll focus on the fun. In particular, Suthin’s occasional Just for fun posts on facebook. All three … Continue reading Just for Fun

Rebar, Turnbuckles, Stones & Wire for Shaping Bonsai

This is what you can do with a little daring and more than a little skill. The huge crack just up from the base of the trunk is intentional. Without it, there’s no way this old pine is surrendering to that first subtle bend and without the rebar and wooden peg there’s no way the second larger bend is holding. This photo and the before photo below are from David Benavente’s Estudio de Bonsai. We featured this one fairly recently (August of last year), but, because it shows techniques you might never see, I think it’s worth another look. Before. … Continue reading Rebar, Turnbuckles, Stones & Wire for Shaping Bonsai

Natural Transformation: A Tree’s Life Story

After. Robert Steven’s simulation of an Olive that was submitted by Gary Howes. There’s a lot to like about this simulation, including just how natural and untamed it looks (even the pot has an untamed quality). This wild, untamed quality tells a story of a something that has managed to stay alive and even thrive under some of the harshest conditions that Nature can dish out. This is our third consecutive post featuring Robert Steven. If you haven’t seen his bonsai or his critiques of other people’s bonsai, take a look. His critiques are full of useful insights and his … Continue reading Natural Transformation: A Tree’s Life Story

Four Bonsai Masterpieces & Free Critiques

Another Robert Steven bonsai masterpiece. He doesn’t say what kind of tree it is but it looks a lot like a Pemphis. Jammed up this morning so we’ll dip into our archives once again. This one is from last March. We just featured a Robert Steven critique, so this seems like a good time to show a few of Robert’s bonsai. Robert will critique your bonsai for free. All he needs is at least one good photo. Plain background and shot from a good angle and height. If you don’t know what a good angle and height is, just check … Continue reading Four Bonsai Masterpieces & Free Critiques

Smaller Pot, Stronger Tree

Robert Steven’s digitally enhanced version of a Trident maple by Carl Morrow (the photo Carl submitted is below). This is one of our earlier (September, 2010) Robert Steven critiques. And one of my favorites. The tree is great and Robert’s lesson is simple. Reign in the spread of the crown and the pot, and suddenly the already powerful trunk and nebari jump out. Not that they didn’t already claim some demand on your attention, but with the distracting horizon horizontal energy reduced, that demand is more clearly focused and exactly where it should be. There’s more, but we’ll let Robert … Continue reading Smaller Pot, Stronger Tree

The Best (& Most Expensive) Bonsai Market

The impressive deadwood looks like something you’d see on a juniper, as does the bark (what you can see of it). But the foliage looks a little spikey, almost like needles. Maybe it’s just my eyes. This photo and the others shown here were taken by Dave DeGroot. Dave is, among other things, the author of Principles of Bonsai Design. The photos shown here were taken by Dave DeGroot at the the Ueno Green Club’s market near the 2016 Kokufu Exhibition. Though these bonsai are notable (and worth a lot of money), they are not the trees that were chosen … Continue reading The Best (& Most Expensive) Bonsai Market

They’re Here! Green T Professional Bonsai Turntables

Massive Mugo pine resting comfortably on a Green T professional bonsai turntable. The prize winning tree belongs to Paolo Riboli. The turntable could belong to you. Green T Professional Hydraulic Lift Bonsai Turntables have arrived in the USA We are pleased to announce the arrival today of a powerful and essential tool that will help you work on your trees more efficiently, comfortably and enjoyably. You and your bonsai will be happy you got one. And the price is right… only 345.00 including shipping.* In Japan hydraulic lift turntables have been the standard for years, but their prohibitive costs have … Continue reading They’re Here! Green T Professional Bonsai Turntables

Wildly Expressive Bonsai

Blown up and a little fuzzy, but still… astounding! Some days you just get lucky. Yesterday I stumbled across the wildly expressive bonsai you see here. It was posted by John Romano (of Kaikou School of Bonsai fame). Here’s what John wrote about it: “One of my favorite shohin bonsai. Owned by a private collector in South Korea (bought in Japan). My good Japanese friend maintains this person’s trees. The owner is a collector and doesn’t show his trees (doesn’t care!) but has fabulous trees bought mostly in Japan. Is it really shohin? I don’t care! love it! Recent posts by … Continue reading Wildly Expressive Bonsai

Towering Tamarack Bonsai

This towering Tamarack is too tall for the photo, so the top and a tiny piece of the bottom of the pot are missing (you can see almost all of it below). It belongs to Suthin Sukosolvisit. Tamarack is a local name for the American larch (Larix laricina). Suthin identifies it only as ‘larch,’ a genus of trees that numbers about twelve species; so Tamarack is a guess based on geography. Suthin Sukosolvisit is selling part of his personal bonsai collection (see the Tsukomo cypress below). This is a great opportunity to own a masterpiece bonsai by one of our … Continue reading Towering Tamarack Bonsai

Critiquing a Surrealistic Bonsai

After. Robert Steven’s simulation of a photo submitted by Wayan (see below). Here’s another Robert Steven critique from our archives (July, 2011). I picked this one for a couple good reasons: first the tree is uniquely challenging, with it’s mammoth, mountain-like trunk, and second, there’s a great discussion about it with the original. I invite you to take a look. What a difference a pot makes. Though Robert doesn’t mention it in his critique (below), introducing a shallow pot, rather than the original clunky and rather unattractive pot, instantly transforms the whole tree. Nothing outside the box, just a simple … Continue reading Critiquing a Surrealistic Bonsai