A Magnificent Affront

This magnificent old yamadori Shimpaku, with its self framing deadwood has to be one of the most outrageously unusual bonsai we’ve ever posted. It’s from Taisho-en in Japan. I originally found it here. Spectacular smokey Yosemite (day before yesterday with a fire detour), Rustic old Jamestown (Yesterday), San Francisco to Portland (today, more fires) and back home to Vermont (Monday). It’s a wonder we even have time to answer our email – but we try – and a wonder we have time to whip up a new post. Again, we try, but today we’re re-whipping one from August, 2014 Trees as unusual as … Continue reading A Magnificent Affront

A Magnificent Affront

Marc’s Masterpiece & Bonsai Warsaw with More Answers

Here’s that close up of Marc Noelander’s monumental masterpiece Wall Bonsai that we featured last week (the uncropped photo is below). We’re showing it again because now we have some answers to your questions (courtesy of Marc)… “The wall planting is a Juniper procumbens. More than one… 3 big plants and 4 days work.” Sometimes we post without the information you want. In this case, there was one recent post that was short on facts (see above) and one that involved a simple act of forgetting (see below) NEW BONSAI BOOK SPECIAL Kilo Bonsai Wire Only 16.50 per roll Roshi Tool Sale … Continue reading Marc’s Masterpiece & Bonsai Warsaw with More Answers

Bonsai Stories

The smaller trunk was blown over in storm and saved when it landed on a tiny rock island. Fortunately, just enough of the roots are intact and a surviving branch has grown up to become the new crown. One of several stories told by this remarkable planting. The artist is Nacho Marin, a frequent presence here on Bark Traveling today so it’s archive time. This one is from one year ago yesterday The best bonsai tell stories. Usually it’s about hostile environments and hardships, though you could have a robust and stately tree that speaks of a more gentle climate … Continue reading Bonsai Stories

More European Bonsai – Poland this Time

We found this Japanese white pine (Goyomatsu) at Bonsai Warsaw. The other photos shown here are from the Warsaw Bonsai Show. They were posted by Will Baddeley (links for both are below) Polish bonsai anyone? And just in case you think I’m a mole planted here to showcase European bonsai… well, it’s true, I do appreciate what’s going on in the European bonsai community and how rapidly they’ve advanced over the last 20 to 30 years.* But really, anywhere you find quality bonsai is good enough. Here’s your link to Bonsai Warsaw. And here’s Will Baddeley KILO BONSAI WIRE ONLY 16.50 per roll Only 14.85 off with your 150.00+ discount … Continue reading More European Bonsai – Poland this Time

Boxwood Bonsai – Before & After Armageddon

Michael Hagedorn’s Japanese boxwood. Here’s part of what Michael wrote about this tree (from his Crataegus Bonsai blog)… “And after the new flush of leaves came out, summer 2017. Defoliation creates regrowth with smaller leaves. This photo is after minimal wiring and pad cleanup. There is a scale shift from the earlier, un-defoliated 2017 photos, and the structure of the tree comes out a bit better than the earlier attempt 14 years ago as a well-manicured foliage ‘mop.’ Which was fine for dusting or generally shrubbery use in Monty Python movies, but less good for bonsai.” Up to our old … Continue reading Boxwood Bonsai – Before & After Armageddon

Adding Drama to an Already Dramatic Bonsai

Is this spectacular Juniper in its equally spectacular pot, listing just a tad to the left? Or is it just me? No matter, to my eye at least, the tension set up by this feeling adds a little more drama to an already very dramatic tree Here’s a post from our archives (Novemeber, 2012). It was titled Getting It Right This Time (you can visit the original if you’d like to know what we were getting right). I picked it mostly because I thought you might appreciate the rather spectacular tree above, though the others aren’t half bad either The photos you see here … Continue reading Adding Drama to an Already Dramatic Bonsai

Before & After Bonsai, Artists & Philosophers & the Strangest Cat Video I’ve Ever Seen

Here’s a fairly simple maintenance before and after. I found it on Mariusz Janusz Komsta’s timeline. Here’s Mariusz’s caption… “Taxus Stavrakos – good job Stavros Stavrakis, from now it can be only better – refinement of dead wood, new pot, more density and clean trunk needed … in the near future” Mariusz Komsta’s caption above provides a few answers about this tree and raises at least as many questions. First, as you may know, Taxus Stavrakos is not a Yew species (though the tree is a Yew). More like a little joke on Mariuzs’a part. Second, when I followed the link provided, … Continue reading Before & After Bonsai, Artists & Philosophers & the Strangest Cat Video I’ve Ever Seen

Marc’s Masterpiece

Whoa! Marc Noelanders posted this exquisite composition and my guess is he’s the artist behind it. Here’s his caption… “Another huge wooden wall.Hopefully we’ll see you all next year at Bonsai namaste Convention.” Not a bad idea. Here’s your link to 2018 If you follow Marc Noelanders on facebook you’ve already seen this masterpiece and its 10,000 rave reviews. If not, I’m happy you can see it here I cropped this one for a closer look, though I’m a little nervous about messing with something like this. Maybe you can just imagine that you are standing very close. While you’re here … Continue reading Marc’s Masterpiece

At a loss for something to do over Labor Day weekend?

Looking for something to do over Labor Day? How about bonsai with Bill and friends? – A piece of Bill’s nursery and here’s a little good news from Stone Lantern… time TO STOCK UP ON WIRE Deeply Discounted Bonsai Wire 500 GRAM (1.1 LB) ROLLS ONLY 7.95 Only 7.15 off with our 150.00+ discount plus FREE Shipping in the Continental U.S. for orders 75.00+ (U.S. only – Orders outside the U.S. will be charged shipping)