Bark

Bonsai Serpent Hiding in Plain Sight

The serpent is hiding in plain sight. This magnificent tree (with or without the serpent, though I prefer with) belongs to Enrique Castaño, who has this to say about it: “This Terminalia (ucarillo) got the name Kukulcan from the Mayan mythology, Kukulcan was one of the serpents with feathers, kind of like a dragon. Soon I will show Quetzalcotl another more impresive Terminalia.” The more I look at the tree above, the more I notice how well the elements all tie together. The way the color of the pot mirrors the bark and the reddish tips of the leaves. The … Continue reading Bonsai Serpent Hiding in Plain Sight

Dazzling Death Threats

This Nikko Satsuku Azalea is from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s Japanese collection. It was donated by Masayuki Nakamura. This post features three azaleas from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and a book about azaleas. Specifically, Satsuki azales. Satsuki means fifth month in Japanese. We’ll let you figure out why they call them that … This and the next paragraph were lifted directly from Wikipedia: Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron, particularly sections Tsutsuji (evergreen) and Pentanthera (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under … Continue reading Dazzling Death Threats

Your Chance to Own Top Tier Tree from the Private Collection of a Famous Bonsai Artist

One of North America’s favorite bonsai artists is adding more bonsai to the public offering of some favorites from his private collection, including this prize winning Japanese maple. In his own words: “I have decided to let go of one of my favorite Japanese Maples. Some of you may recognize it from 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition 2012* I have enjoyed it for over 20+ years. It’s now time to move into a new home. If you are seriously interested, please call me.” *Ever modest, Suthin doesn’t mention that it won the Finest Deciduous Bonsai award at the Exhibition. This … Continue reading Your Chance to Own Top Tier Tree from the Private Collection of a Famous Bonsai Artist

Spring Flowers, Fleeting Bliss

Satsuki azalea displaying a perfect blend of white with a touch of pink and the soft green of the new leaves. The flowers dominate right now, but it’s no accident that the color of the pot enhances the not-so-shabby trunk and nebari. An earlier shot of the same tree appears below. On the road again so we’ll resort to our old tricks and plunder our endless archives (from May, 2011). Today it’s the Guggenheim (NYC) and then home to Vermont. Mis Arboles by Andres Alvarez Iglesias The first three photos in this post are part of a photo album by … Continue reading Spring Flowers, Fleeting Bliss

Watering Bonsai by Installing Alarm Bells in Your Head

This Japanese white pine won the Prime Minister’s Award at the 2005 Sakufu Ten Bonsai Exhibition. Though it has nothing more to do with watering than any other bonsai, the photo is from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai, as is the text below. Yet Another Watering Problem… The following is by Michael Hagedorn from his website Crataegus Bonsai. “Probably the worst thing we might encounter when we have a hose in our hand is a tree that, when we think about it, has not dried out in three days of sunny summer weather. That ought to send off all kinds of … Continue reading Watering Bonsai by Installing Alarm Bells in Your Head

Whirlpool Dancer

This wild looking Japanese white pine is called Whirlpool Dancer (no explanation necessary). Like many old top-tier yamadori bonsai, its controted shape and ample deadwood tell a story of hardship and survival . It first appeared in Bonsai Today magazine and later had a whole chapter devoted to it in our Pine book (Jewel to Whirlpool). The artist at the time was Tomio Yamada. It’s called Uzushio which as you might guess, means whirlpool. It currently resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. All three of the tree’s shown here have previously appeared on Bark and all three are so … Continue reading Whirlpool Dancer

Walter’s Powerful Rough Bark Japanese Maple

This powerful Rough Bark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Arakawa’) is approximately eighty years old and stands 70cm (almost 28″) high. Walter Pall imported it from Japan this year as semi raw material. Walter has an excellent series of photos on the tree’s transition since he received it. We could devote all of Bonsai Bark to Walter Pall’s trees and seemingly never run out of material. But then, Walter is already doing that with his blog, his website and on facebook, so all we have to do to enjoy his bonsai wizardry, is occasionally touch in. In case you don’t know … Continue reading Walter’s Powerful Rough Bark Japanese Maple

Help Us Celebrate World Bonsai Day (Shop at Stone Lantern!)

Brian Donnelly’s entry in the 2013 World Bonsai Friendship Federation’s photo contest. Brian lives in Canada. I know Canada is big country but the WBFF don’t say where. However, I did find this video of him teaching bonsai in French, so I’m guessing he lives somewhere in PQ. As you can see, the tree is a Bougainvillea and a very good one at that. Okay, the Shop at Stone Lantern part of the title is somewhat tongue in cheek. But only somewhat. After all, Bonsai Bark and Stone Lantern wouldn’t happen without your support. So, on behalf of our staff, … Continue reading Help Us Celebrate World Bonsai Day (Shop at Stone Lantern!)

FREE Bonsai Fertilizer

FREE Bonsai Fertilizer. We are giving away Green Dream, our favorite Bonsai Fertilizer And not just in dribs and drabs, but in generous amounts but you must put FREE in the comments when you order to get yours FREE Green Dream Fertilizer with orders of 10.00 or more but only if you put FREE in the comments when you check out orders 10.00 to 19.99 – 4oz FREE Green Dream (value 4.95) 20.00 to 39.99 – 8oz FREE (value 8.95) 40.00 to 59.99 – 12oz FREE (value 10.45) 60.00 to 79.99 – 16oz FREE (value 11.95) and so forth… with … Continue reading FREE Bonsai Fertilizer

Clip-and-Grow – Back to Bonsai Basics

You can see the large scar from the first cut on this powerful old Chinese elm (Ulmus parviflora). If you follow the trunk up a ways, you can see the change of direction where the second cut took place, though you can’t see a scar from this view. This tree appears in the 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album.* It was started from a large collected tree in China. The owner/artist is Melvyn Goldstein. The fuzzy image is due to enlarging to fit our newer format. It’s full tilt spring around here now. Digging and potting season in all its … Continue reading Clip-and-Grow – Back to Bonsai Basics