The Last Day!

This perfect Pemphis acidula by Robert Steven doesn’t have much to do with the last day of our Big Winter Sale. Except that Robert’s excellent book, Mission of Transformation is one of the items you can save on (the photo originally appeared in a Bark post way back in 2009). Our Big Winter Sale is running out of time. Today is the last day to save 20% to 25% on everything we offer at Stone Lantern. Just in case you’re one of those people who reads this blog but never visits our Stone Lantern website, you should know that we … Continue reading The Last Day!

If I Had A Complaint…

After. Choosing Branches for Flow- is Michael Hagedorn’s title for his latest post which features this extraordinary Japanese white pine. If I had a complaint about Crataegus Bonsai, it would be that Michael doesn’t post often enough. But I really don’t have a complaint, because: 1. Michael has a whole bonsai nursery to run, classes and tutorials to teach, a travel schedule to keep and maybe even a life (who knows?). And 2. When he does post, it’s always something worth my time. Before. For what happens between before and after you can visit Crataegus Bonsai. While we’re at it, … Continue reading If I Had A Complaint…

Sticking with Our Cedar Theme

Jim Gremel had a Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica – one of the handful of true Cedars) that looked a lot like this one at the 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Winging to Boston and then driving back to the ice palace today (from sunny SF), so let’s indulge in one more foray into the archives. We’ll stick with out Cedar theme while we’re at it. This one was titled Real Cedar Bonsai & A Good Neighbor (June, 2012). Deer Meadow Bonsai & the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Some of the trees that were offered for sale at the … Continue reading Sticking with Our Cedar Theme

When Is A Cedar?

You like unconventional? Crazy? How about daring and masterful? Notice how the color and design of the pot plays with the wild shari (deadwood) and the small touch of moss on the left mirrors the foliage. Just another bonsai from left field by crafty old Nick Lenz, master left fielder, author, and preeminent master of cedars, larches and other collected North American gems. This photo is from North American Bonsai (American Bonsai Society – compiled and edited by Martin Schmalenberg), now on sale at Stone Lantern (that was then – it’s gone now). I’m not really on vacation all the … Continue reading When Is A Cedar?

Japanese Cedar, Few and Far Between

This Cryptomeria japonica is reminiscent of the unimaginably vast and towering Giant sequoias in California’s Sierra Nevada. This effect could be enhanced by photographing it from a little lower (see the photo below), but you still get the drift. Still on a vacation of sorts, so we’ll continue our archival adventures. This one was originally titled Quiet Dignity (July, 2011). Far and few between What a great tree. It’s from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai. You seldom see a real good formal upright bonsai (you don’t see very many formal uprights at all) and you don’t see many good Cryptomeria bonsai … Continue reading Japanese Cedar, Few and Far Between

Trunks & Trunk Chopping Techniques

I borrowed this mesmerizing ancient black pine trunk from Andy Rutledge’s ‘the bonsai journal.’ I’m traveling again for awhile. I’ll try to find the time put together some new posts, but meanwhile, a little digging into our archives provides an easy way out. This post originally appeared almost three years ago (May 2011). I picked it for a couple reasons: I am enamored of the lead photo (above) and, we don’t do many ‘how-to’ posts. There’s a reason for the dearth of ‘how-to’ posts; people don’t seem that interested, at least based on comments (which is all we have to … Continue reading Trunks & Trunk Chopping Techniques

Nest of Cranes, Whirlpool Dancer

Mulitple trunk, raft-style Japanese white pine. This is a truly spectacular example of raft style bonsai. It’s mature and abundant, with a flowing natural feel that is the result of bonsai artistry at its best (nature too). In fact, it’s so spectacular that it has a name (Maiko – Dancer). In Japan, names are usually reserved for the best bonsai. This tree resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, as do all five trees in this post (from Omiya’s timeline on facebook). All the trees in this post are Japanese white pines that reside at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum … Continue reading Nest of Cranes, Whirlpool Dancer

Bonsai Aesthetics Tool Sale

All of our Bonsai Aesthetics Tools are now 30% off Bonsai Aesthetics is our most affordable line of Bonsai Tools & now they just got a lot more affordable Over 30 different Bonsai Tools and Tool Sets Bonsai Aesthetics set of 5 Carving Tools Bonsai Aesthetics Folding Saw Our famous Bonsai, Garden and Household All-Purpose Shears by Bonsai Aesthetics Over 30 different Bonsai Aesthetics Tools and Tool Sets

A Good Year for Bonsai Events

I like the flowing deadwood and the strong cinnamon vein on this powerful old tree. It’s from the 2013 Noelanders Trophy poster. The 2014 Noelanders Trophy poster is just below. While the year is still fresh, it seems like a good time to talk about some major bonsai events for 2014. Note the word some, no attempt will be made to list everything. Just a few to get started, with more to come later. Chronologically works best, so here goes… January 18-19. Fifteen straight years gives the Noelanders Trophy some real cachet. Great cast of characters too. February … Continue reading A Good Year for Bonsai Events

Bonsai Wire Sale Ends Tonight

Don’t let yourself run out of Bonsai Wire. It’s a great feeling to have exactly the right wire at hand when you need it. 20% to 50% off All of our Bonsai Wire is now 20% to 50% off of our already low prices. But don’t wait. The sale ends tonight (Sunday January 5th) at midnight (U.S. EST). Chose from a whole range of roll sizes, diameters and types of Bonsai Wire. All now 20% to 50% off. 30% off all of our Okatsune Tools and all other Garden Tools Meanwhile, our Okatsune and Garden Tool Sale is rolling … Continue reading Bonsai Wire Sale Ends Tonight