A Not-So-Well-Kept Bonsai Secret

This wild, Wild apple, appears on the back cover and in the chapter titled ‘Wild Apple’ in Bonsai from the Wild. A confession and a little insignificant history I’ve never met Nick Lenz. I don’t think we’ve even talked on the phone. Andy Rutledge (a student of Nick’s who’s been featured on Bonsai Bark) introduced us via email years ago because he thought we’d enjoy each other (we share certain unrelated-to-bonsai views). The upshot was a flurry of emails and finally, a decision to reprint an enhanced version of Nick’s now famous book, Bonsai from the Wild. So what’s the … Continue reading A Not-So-Well-Kept Bonsai Secret

Out Stealing Bonsai Ideas

Major surgery. From a Bonsai Tonight post entitled ‘Best repotting of the year.’ Rapid evolution There’s a lot going on with bonsai these days, and it’s happening fast and right before our eyes. If you look at the evolution of bonsai, you’ll find slow but steady development up until sometime in the 1980s when the explosion began. Kimura was introducing power tools and Bonsai was becoming international. Suddenly bonsai books and magazines were springing up everywhere, and, at the same time, along comes the internet. Now, new (and old) ideas abound everywhere. Black ponderosa pine? Japanese black pine grafted onto … Continue reading Out Stealing Bonsai Ideas

Bonsai Today Back Issues 55% off

Bonsai Today, the benchmark English language bonsai magazine Bonsai Today magazine has long been revered for its depth, range and quality of bonsai articles. For years it was the benchmark English language bonsai magazine, with each issue full of tips and instructions from the masters, dramatic cutting-edge bonsai, and bonsai news from around the world. Making space We’ve decided to sell out our remaining back issues to make space in our warehouse for a host of new products we are planning to introduce (stay posted). Some issues are almost gone. Eventually they will all be gone and you’ll have to … Continue reading Bonsai Today Back Issues 55% off

Small Is Beautiful

Caught in the act of flowering. This ubiquitous little hawthorn belongs to Morten Albek, shohin bonsai artist, author and teacher. The display appeared during a visit to Denmark by Tomohiro Masumi. Tomohiro Masumi, Morten Albek & Shohin bonsai Rather than bore you with my take on things, I’ll just post a few photos I think you might appreciate. If you want more (photos and information), you can visit Morten’s facebook post on Tomohiro Masumi’s visit to Denmark, or you can go directly to Morten’s website. If you’d like to dig deeper, you can also visit Tomohiro’s website. And then there’s … Continue reading Small Is Beautiful

Flowering Bonsai, Fleeting Bliss

Satsuki azalea displaying a perfect blend of white with a touch of pink and soft green. 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. Mis Arboles by Andres Alvarez Iglesias The first three photos in this post are part of a photo album by Andres Alvarez Iglesias that appears on facebook. The title of the photo album is ‘Mis Arboles’ (my trees). The forth photo appears on Andres’ website. All too fleeting It’s flower time here in northern … Continue reading Flowering Bonsai, Fleeting Bliss

Our Pine Book: Better Late…?

A good way to check out new planting angles. Photo is from our Masters’ Series book, Growing and Styling Japanese Black and White Pines. You can still pre-order and pre-pay for a $5 discount. If the ship sinks, we’ll send you a full refund. New ETA for what it’s worth Our star-crossed second printing of our famous pine book has a new ETA: If the ship doesn’t sink, or isn’t ambushed by pirates, it should arrive in harbor about July 4th. Normally, red tape, plus delivery time, takes another 10 to 12 days. So, if the gods give us a … Continue reading Our Pine Book: Better Late…?

How About Yew (Carving Deadwood)?

Every time I open Bonsai Today issue 106 and lay my eyes on this wickedly powerful, dynamic old English yew, my mind does a little double take. It may not look exactly like anything you’ll see in nature, but it certainly jumps off the page. It’s by Kevin Willson, bonsai artist and deadwood carver extraordinaire. Photo by Simon Carr. A labor of love Yew wood is very hard. Harder than almost any other type of wood. In this light, take a look at the photo below and then at the photo above. Now imagine all that carving with only hand … Continue reading How About Yew (Carving Deadwood)?

NEW! Bonsai Embroidered T-Shirts

Brand new. Embroidered bonsai logo on all cotton black T-shirts. Kimura’s legendary formal upright Japanese white pine Long time bonsai embroidery maven Cindy Cones did a remarkable job of replicating Masahiko Kimura’s magnificent formal-upright Japanese white pine bonsai; probably the most distinctive, well-known formal-upright bonsai in the world. So distinctive and well-known that it appears in our Masters’ Series Pine book (2nd printing due in July), in The Magician, The Bonsai Art of Kimura 2 and on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 80. Discounted prices We’ve come up with new pricing formulas that are well below list prices on … Continue reading NEW! Bonsai Embroidered T-Shirts

You Can Still Enter (and Win) Our $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Some of these drawings look like bonsai that aren’t too far from scratch. Don’t be intimidated! Anyone can enter our Bonsai from Scratch Contest. Everyone’s entries will be respected, and your entry won’t be published on Bonsai Bark unless you are one of the winners. So, not to worry. Here’s one reason why you can win At least twelve prizes will be awarded and only about ten people have entered so far. It’s not too late You have until October 15th for your final submission. Your final submission can be in a nursery container or a bonsai pot Some trees … Continue reading You Can Still Enter (and Win) Our $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Pine Book Now Due in July

This amazingly powerful and well balanced cascading Japanese Black Pine is from our book: Pines, Growing and Styling Japanese Black and White Pines. Apologies are in order Originally, I said the reprint of our Pine Book would be here in April. Then May. Then June. Now July. I won’t bore you with the details, except to say, that the root of the problem was overly optimistic misjudgement on my part (some lost digital files didn’t help either). In any case, I owe all of you who pre-ordered and pre-paid an apology. And a thank you for your patience and understanding. … Continue reading Pine Book Now Due in July