Bark

One Bonsai, Four Shots

This artfully swirling Itoigawa Shimpaku juniper (Juniperus chinensis Itoigawa) belongs to Fabio Mantovani. The photo was taken at the recent European Bonsai San Show by Harry Harrington (I cropped it to get a closer look, the original is below). Last week we featured some of Harry Harrington’s photos from last month’s European Bonsai San Show. Because the tree’s are so spectacular and Harry’s photos are equally spectacular, there’s no good reason not keep going. This time we’re focusing on four shots (plus one cropped) of a Itoigawa Shimpaku juniper (Juniperus chinensis Itoigawa) that belongs to Fabio Mantovani. For more of Harry’s … Continue reading One Bonsai, Four Shots

Monster Trident Maple Bonsai in Full Fall Color

In addition to brilliant fall color, this monster Trident maple has almost everything you’d want in a bonsai, including a massive trunk, fluid natural looking nebari, good lines, a well-matched pot and healthy green moss. The artist is German Gomez. Leaving for quick vacation in three days and still have a million things to do, including putting up some new tools and voting. To save some time we’re going back in time. The photos shown here first appeared on Bark way back in 2010. I’ve changed most of the text.  Though fall color is rapidly fading here in Vermont, I … Continue reading Monster Trident Maple Bonsai in Full Fall Color

Bonsai Tool Sale Ends Tomorrow Night

25% off Bonsai Tool Sale Ends Tomorrow Night Thursday, November 3rd at 11:59pm EDT Plus an extra 10% off on any orders 100.00+* and FREE Shipping for U.S. orders 50.00+ A great opportunity to upgrade you tool selection and enhance your bonsai experience 200 Different Tools, Tools Sets & Kits Roshi Bonsai Tools Koyo Bonsai Tools Bonsai Aesthetics Tools Yoshiaki Bonsai Tools Okatsune Bonsai Tools Others too GREAT BONSAI WIRE SALES 20% off 500 gram Bonsai Aesthetics Wire 20% Copper Bonsai Wire 20% off Yoshiaki Japanese Bonsai Wire Our Amazing Green T Turntable* with tools & wire *extra 10% does … Continue reading Bonsai Tool Sale Ends Tomorrow Night

Brilliant Fall Bonsai Color

Brilliant fall color. Sweet tree too. It belongs to Harry Harrington. Here’s his caption: “A quick shot of my English or Field Elm bonsai today (Ulmus minor), showing autumn colour. Height 17″/42cm. Developed from an airlayered branch 12 years ago, some of you may recognise from my book Bonsai Inspirations 1. Pot by Victor Harris of Erin Bonsai.” Got a couple Harry Harrington beauties in fall color for you today. I lifted them from Harry’s facebook feed. Harry also has an excellent website, bonsai4me.com and three books in print in England. You can look for the U.S. edition of Foundations … Continue reading Brilliant Fall Bonsai Color

Scary Bonsai

Halloween? At first glance you might just see the tree and the cobwebs and miss the hands. This photo and the one just below are from Robert Steven’s 2014 International Bonsai Art & Culture Biennale. This special Halloween post first appeared one year ago today. There’s something about those ‘severed’ arms that’s just a little ominous. Is this where the recent ‘Black Scissors’ rage started? NEW Bonsai Wire Sale 20% off 500 gram rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire plus an extra 10% off orders 100.00+ and FREE Shipping on U.S. orders 50.00+ I think this contorted little gem makes for … Continue reading Scary Bonsai

Four Sturdy Bonsai & One Very Sturdy Turntable

Old European olives are often full of character as well as muscle, and this one is no exception. I believe the tree belongs to Luis Vallejo, though I couldn’t find evidence on his website. Taking some time off today, so we’ll resurrect an old favorite from our archives. While we’re at, we’ll give a nod to our powerful Green T Turntable. There’s something compelling about bonsai with powerful trunks. Assuming that I’m not the only one so compelled, below are three more very sturdy bonsai and one very sturdy turntable for your enjoyment. Myrtus communis by Rui Ferrreira. I’ve never … Continue reading Four Sturdy Bonsai & One Very Sturdy Turntable

An Eight Year Bonsai Journey

Boon Manakitivipart’s transformed Sierra juniper. If you go to Styling on Bonsai Boon you can see how Boon took this tree through an eight year bonsai journey. Yesterday’s post was about a magnificent old California juniper, so we’ll just stay right there in the Golden State and take a look at another native, a Sierra juniper, a very close cousin to the California juniper. I borrowed the photos and some of the text from way back in the first year of Bonsai Bark. We’ve featured Boon Manakitivipart on this blog before, and for good reason. He’s a highly accomplished bonsai … Continue reading An Eight Year Bonsai Journey

California Bonsai Dreaming Again, but this Time in the Right Sequence

It would have been better (and correct) if I had used this as the lead (and final) photo in this morning’s post. Had I been paying attention, I could have figured out that I had the third and forth iterations backwards in this morning’s California juniper post (if you don’t like humiliation, be careful what you say and be doubly careful what you write. Especially on the internet). Michael Andrews just emailed me to gently help clear things up (and to mention that the tree is ‘huge’). Though the tree does belong to Mauro Stemberger, Michael recently worked on it … Continue reading California Bonsai Dreaming Again, but this Time in the Right Sequence

California Bonsai Dreaming

This rather impressive California juniper has come a long ways in about three years (based on the Mauro Stemberger’s caption – see below). It still needs to find a massively large pot, but otherwise it looks like it’s getting ready for showtime. The only caption Mauro Stemberger lists with the photos shown here is: CA juniper / 2016-2015-2014 (facebook). I was hoping to flesh out the story with a visit to Mauro’s website, Italian Bonsai Dream, but no such luck. Still, just the photos tell a pretty good bonsai story.   Before. There’s lots of character in this old yamadori … Continue reading California Bonsai Dreaming

Bonsai Art & the Art of Bonsai

The day has barely started and I’m already running out of superlatives. I guess spectacular will do in this case. It’s a Korean hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninowii) by Ian Stewartson. The photo is from Bonsai Art’s website. After three straight new posts it’s time to delve into our archives . This one originally appeared March 2013. Bonsai Art magazine is very well named. As bonsai magazines go, it is as well-done, beautiful and professional as they come. The problem, for most of us at least, is that it’s in German. But really, the photos and overall presentation are so good that … Continue reading Bonsai Art & the Art of Bonsai