Can’t Really Pick a Favorite, But…

Suthin has a way with Hinoki cypress. And a way with bonsai altogether. The more I look at this tree, the more I like it. If I were to go back through our nine hundred or so posts so far and pick my favorites, this one would surely make the grade. This photo and the others in this post are from Suthin’s facebook timeline. It would be very difficult if we had pick a favorite bonsai or a favorite bonsai artist. There are simply too many good ones, with so many different types of trees and styles. However, if I … Continue reading Can’t Really Pick a Favorite, But…

Good News for Bonsai Art & Culture

A good example of the kind of results Cheng Cheng Kung gets with his Sidiao method. Hint: it’s the deadwood. We just heard that Cheng Cheng Kung has confirmed to be one of the demonstrators at Robert Steven’s International Bonsai Art & Culture Biennal 2014. This is good news indeed for those of us who are planning on attending (here’s the registration form if you haven’t gotten around to it yet). Just in case you don’t know Cheng Cheng Kung, here’s the short version: Mr Cheng is one of the most famous bonsai artists in the world and the creator of … Continue reading Good News for Bonsai Art & Culture

Trout Fishing in America (off the Bonsai Mainstream)

I like this full cascade with its flowing lines and unusual perspective. It’s from Ed Trout’s facebook photos as are the other four bonsai photos in this post. I’m going to guess that it’s a Lantana, but my guessing record isn’t all that good. Ed Trout’s bonsai are unique. Distinctive is another word that comes to mind. It’s as though he branched off from the bonsai mainstream (please accept my apologies – twice) years ago and followed his own inclinations and now those inclinations have borne fruit. You might have to see more of his bonsai to get a feel … Continue reading Trout Fishing in America (off the Bonsai Mainstream)

Bonsai Book Sale 25% – 30% off

Our Big Book Sale even includes our already discounted sets like this recently back in print SET OF 3 HASKILL CREEK BONSAI BOOKS BOOK SALE 25% TO 30% OFF ALL BOOKS & DVDs 1-2 Books 25% off – 3 or more 30% off (off of our already discounted prices) sets count as 1 book final discounts will show up when you check out sale ends March 2nd, 2014 Visit Stone Lantern and choose from our vast selection of already discounted Bonsai Books, Japanese Gardening books and other related books. We also offer a large selection of Bonsai Tools and … Continue reading Bonsai Book Sale 25% – 30% off

Snow & Flowers

Ume (aka Flowering apricot, aka Prunus mume). This fantastic tree resides at Bonsai Aichien in Japan. Both the photos here were just posted on facebook by Juan Andrade who is an apprentice at Bonsai Aichien and a great source of excellent bonsai photos. Bonsai Aichien Nursery. This photo could almost pass as black and white with the snow and the diminished light. It’s snowing here in Vermont too. More than 14 inches of fresh pow so far the last couple days. BTW: have you ever noticed all the power lines in photos from Japanese nurseries?

Walter Pall’s Hedge Cutting Method

The Japanese maple that Walter Pall uses to illustrate his ‘hedge-cutting method.’ This photo was taken four years after Walter started working with this tree. The before photo is below. We ran this last year, but it’s so good and the season for bonsai hands on is almost here for most of us (already here for some), so just in case you missed it… Walter Pall’s hedge-cutting method. Our last post presented a radical approach to soil and feeding by Walter Pall, the great bonsai innovator. This post features another of Walter’s radical innovations. This time it’s about pruning broad … Continue reading Walter Pall’s Hedge Cutting Method

Raw Energy & Backwards Bonsai

This powerful Nea buxifolia by Nelson Hernandez won 3rd place in the 2013 World Bonsai Federation Bonsai Photo Contest. You don’t see too many Nea bonsai outside the tropics, though they do pop up from time to time. Buxifolia means ‘box leaf ‘or ‘boxwood leaf’ which seems suitable for a variety with such tiny leaves. This one is resides in Puerto Rico. This and the other two photos in this post are from the North American Bonsai Federation. Third first? I’m not trying to make a statement by showing the 2013 WBFF photo contest third place tree first and the … Continue reading Raw Energy & Backwards Bonsai

Horst Just Might Be the One

This just turned up on facebook. Horst Heinzlreiter posted it. The tree’s a Hawthorn. It belongs to Hans Van Meer and the pot is by Horst. If I had to name my favorite bonsai potter Horst just might be the one. Especially if the number times his pots have been featured on Bark is any indication. No, I didn’t decide to post this because I wanted to mention our bonsai pots. But now that it’s done…

An Irresistible Ponderosa Pine

Couldn’t resist. We featured a tree and pot by Sara Rayner a few posts back, so I was looking for some pots by Sara as a follow up, when I stumbled upon this little gem at The Art of Bonsai Project. The caption says ‘Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) pot specially made for this bonsai by Sara Rayner bonsai and photograph by Andy Smith.’ One of the reasons I couldn’t resist this sweet little tree, is because it’s by Andy Smith, one of the best known and best North American wild bonsai (yamadori) collectors* and owner of Golden Arrow Bonsai. As … Continue reading An Irresistible Ponderosa Pine

Shed Some Light & Win a 25.00 Gift

Cropped photo of an amazing Sabina juniper (uncropped version below). It’s from KINGII blogspot. Here’s the Spanish caption Nombre de esta sabina rastrera de Luis, se le puso tras el primer modelado, ya que la primera rama era tan amplia que parecía una bandeja. Nunca había salido en ningún lado, asñiq ue se puede considerar una presentación en sociedad, a pesar de que lleva unos 5 años en casa. Here’s how you can win a 25.00 Stone Lantern gift certificate Be the first person to send a sensible translation of the Spanish above (in perfect or near perfect English). Don’t … Continue reading Shed Some Light & Win a 25.00 Gift