Large Bonsai with Thick Trunks Are Nearly Always Developed in the Ground

We’ve shown this Harry Harrington privet before, but it’s worth another look. I’ve long been impressed with what Harry Harrington has been up to. Both his bonsai techniques and the results, as well as his willingness to share what he knows (three books and a website full of useful techniques and other information). Yesterday it was a remarkable yew. Today it’s a field grown privet and an excerpt of an article Harry wrote on field growing. Both are from our archives. One reason we’ve featured field growing so much is that the USDA restrictions make importing quality stock from Asia … Continue reading Large Bonsai with Thick Trunks Are Nearly Always Developed in the Ground

Evolution of Remarkable Bonsai

Harry Harrington’s latest iteration of his English yew. Here’s what Harry said about this tree three days ago: ” Finally, work on my Taxus baccata/ Yew bonsai completed with the branches wired and laid-out. Height 25″/61cm, trunkbase (inc root jin) 12″/30cm. Pot by Victor Harris of Erin Pottery.” I’ve been watching the evolution of Harry Harrington’s bonsai for a long time now. In fact, one of our first posts is from Harry’s bonsai4me (March 2009). Now, almost seven years later we have the (you can supply your own adjectives) tree shown here. It’s an English (aka European) Yew (Taxus baccata). … Continue reading Evolution of Remarkable Bonsai

Bonsai from Nothing

Robert Steven’s simulation of a tree that was submitted by David Royinsyah (below). The following is from two years ago today (the first time I rehashed this post): “Even though I promised I wouldn’t do any rehashed posts for a while, my day is already full and it just happens to be my birthday, so I’m going to cut myself a little slack. Anyway, what better to rehash than a Robert Steven critique? This one originally appeared almost three years ago.” After featuring a couple dozen of Robert’s critiques over the years, I’m still impressed. This one is quite unusual … Continue reading Bonsai from Nothing

Boon Again

This stupendously powerful little Japanese black pine had just been refined at a Bay Island Bonsai workshop by Peter Tea when Jonas Dupuich (Bonsai Tonight) took this photo. The tree belongs to Boon. Yesterday we featured five of Boon Manakitivipart’s bonsai, so let’s stay on theme and stick with Boon for the moment. This time the emphasis is on Boon as a bonsai teacher as well as an accomplished bonsai artist. The photos shown here and some of the text as well, are borrowed from three earlier Bark posts (here, here and here). Michael Hagedorn working at one of Boon’s … Continue reading Boon Again

Boon’s Juniper Bonsai & Our Juniper Book

This Sierra juniper by Boon Manakitivipart is one of three trees by Boon that appears in the gallery section of our newly reprinted Juniper Masters’ Series book. Boon Manakitivipart (Bonsai Boon) is very well-known and highly respected bonsai artist and teacher (a teacher’s teacher). He also has the distinction of having three of his trees in our newly reprinted Juniper book. All three and a couple others appear here. Including one that is on the cover of our final Bonsai Today issue from way back in 2007. At least four of the trees (maybe all five) shown here are yamadori … Continue reading Boon’s Juniper Bonsai & Our Juniper Book

Juniper Bonsai Book Is Back!

Our famous Juniper book is back. Just in time for the gift season and for your winter bonsai study sessions. It has been thirteen months since we sold our last copy (number 5,000) of our Masters’ Series Juniper book. Too long really, but somehow time just slipped away. Anyway, we just got another 1,000 from the printer, so off we go. If you already own a copy, you can buy one for a friend (or, if you have more than one friend…). Rocky mountain juniper by Boon. From the gallery section of our Juniper book. Developing fine branching over … Continue reading Juniper Bonsai Book Is Back!

Ficus, the Exotic Bonsai

This powerfully built gem is from Ficus, the Exotic Bonsai by Jerry Meislik. It’s a Ficus Microcarpa. In addition to its rugged good looks, small leaves and a strong penchant for survival make it a bonsai favorite. The photos shown here originally appeared way back in January, 2010. I enlarged them to fit our current format and I’ve tried to bring the text up to date. If you want to grow bonsai indoors (winter or year round), you’ll be hard pressed to find subjects better suited than Ficus. But not all Ficus are created equal when it comes bonsai and … Continue reading Ficus, the Exotic Bonsai

Full Attack Mode

Aggression. Everything is moving to the left. The deadwood, which is so dominant appears to be in full attack mode, while the crown and living branches provide some contrast (speaking of contrasts, you might notice the piece of wood pushing a piece of the trunk up and the wire pulling another piece down). Whether you like this tree or not, my guess is you’ll remember it. I found these photos here. Due to the language I don’t know much beyond that. Feel free to do your own research (you could start with the face below). The long needles and … Continue reading Full Attack Mode

Subtle yet Simple

Sweet tree, nice pot and brilliant fall color. But do you know what kind of tree it is? Mark Arpag (it’s his tree) doesn’t say, but based on the leaves and the bark, I’m going with Chinese elm. If I’m right, this is tree is quite small (Chinese elm leaves are tiny). One thing I like about Mark Arpag’s bonsai is that they are so accessible. Unlike many of Kimura’s most phenomenal bonsai for example, or the monster first prize tree at the recent Artisans Cup, ordinary bonsai enthusiasts might imagine styling trees like Mark’s. This is not say Mark’s … Continue reading Subtle yet Simple

Before & After (x2) with Crazy

After. The pot got chopped in this photo, but beggars can’t be cheesy. Way back on November 2nd, 2015, we did a post on an old Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata juniper, titled An American Classic (it’s worth a trip back in time). Now we’ve got two more Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata bonsai. Both freshly thinned and wired by Uchida yusuki, aka Crazy; the same Crazy that trinned and wired the American Classic. BTW, both of the trees here look as though Shimpaku foliage has been grafted on, to replace the coarser Prostrata foliage. Before. The same tree (the one at the top of the post) … Continue reading Before & After (x2) with Crazy