Bark

Off to Rochester & Good News from Stone Lantern

This Nagasaki Crabapple is from the cover of the 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition album (out of print, but we still have 3 & 4). It belongs to Harvey Carapella of Rochester NY. The 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, a colossal event in our world is this weekend. In a few hours I’ll throw my bags in my car and head west to Rochester. I hope to see you there. If you’re the impulsive type (or just a passionate bonsai lover) and you’re within a days drive or so, it’s not too late to come. You don’t need to preregister. … Continue reading Off to Rochester & Good News from Stone Lantern

Four Big Sales End Tonight – Tomorrow It’s off to the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

This tropical Dwarf black olive (Bucida spinosa) with its melted wax feel and gaping trunk is a truly unique tree that only Mother Nature (and Mary Madison’s skilled hands) could create. It’s from the 2008, 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition album (out of print, but we still have 3 & 4). The 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, a colossal event in our world is this weekend. Later today I’ll pack my bags and tomorrow I’ll point my car west to Rochester. I hope to see you there. Continued below… Big Bonsai Wire & Tool Sales end tonight at 11:59pm EDT … Continue reading Four Big Sales End Tonight – Tomorrow It’s off to the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

The Delights of the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition – Any short term inconvenience will be forgotten when you walk through the door and are swept away by the brilliance & power of the event

I borrowed this brilliant tricolor Toyo nishiki flowering quince from Bill Valavanis, the driving force behind the success of the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibitions. You have three days to change your plans and throw your life into momentary chaos so you can enjoy the delights of  the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. The disruption to you routine may cause a little short term inconvenience (and perhaps the disapproval and even derision of your significant other) but all that will be forgotten when you walk through the door and are swept away by the brilliance and power of the event. Really! … Continue reading The Delights of the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition – Any short term inconvenience will be forgotten when you walk through the door and are swept away by the brilliance & power of the event

Handle with Care & Only When Sober

I’m not sure how Nacho Marin did this. Carefully I suppose. His caption reads: “Ceiba Stick, drunk, choricia…. 65 cm (25.5″)” BTW, drunk refers to drunken stick (palo borracho*) a common name for Ceiba, and not, you can assume, to Nacho’s condition while working on the tree. I don’t know anything about Ceiba speciosa (aka Chorisia or Silk floss tree) beyond what I just read on Wikipedia. And though you might wonder why anyone would bother to bonsai such a difficult tree, there’s always the challenge that some humans seem to thrive on and perhaps there’s an interest in novelty … Continue reading Handle with Care & Only When Sober

The Best Bonsai Tell 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. 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 and easy living. In the case of the tree above, you can see tough … Continue reading The Best Bonsai Tell Stories

See You at the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

I borrowed this dramatic Korean hornbeam from Bill Valavanis, the driving force behind the success of the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibitions. If you’re not planning on visiting the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, you have one week to change your mind and rearrange you life so you can be there. I can say with complete confidence that the 5th will be the best yet (they get better each time) and that the 4th was a breakthrough U.S. bonsai extravaganza. See you there! Bill’s famous Koto-hime Japanese maple. This brilliant tricolor Toyo nishiki flowering quince also belongs to Bill. If you’re … Continue reading See You at the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Harry Harrington’s Spectacular Bonsai

I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a privet bonsai quite this spectacular. It belongs to Harry Harrington. We’ve featured it a couple times over the years, but this latest iteration takes it to another level. Here’s Harry’s caption… “So at last, here it is……..taken last night under lights, my Common Privet bonsai (Ligustrum ovalifolium), height 19″/48cm. In a handmade bonsai pot designed and built by Swedish potter Thor Holvila” Harry Harrington’s bonsai4me has long been one of our default websites when it comes to researching a wide range of bonsai and useful bonsai information. Harry also posts a steady stream … Continue reading Harry Harrington’s Spectacular Bonsai

Fall Transplanting – Timing and a Light Touch

A freshly transplanted Black pine. From our Masters’ Series Pine book. When it comes to transplanting, timing depends on your climate. Here in northern Vermont seasons can change rapidly and winters are very cold. If you live in a warmer climate fall comes later for you and there is more margin for error. One advantage to transplanting in the early fall is when the spring season starts, little or no growing time is lost. Roots grow in the fall when the soil is still warm and after diminished light and cool nights have shut top growth down. By the time … Continue reading Fall Transplanting – Timing and a Light Touch

Pierre Leloup’s Latest Masterpiece Bonsai Landscape

This is what happens when you have a bonsai artist who also happens to be a master woodworker, sculptor and highly skilled Japanese garden designer and builder. His name is Pierre Leloup, and once again we are honored to feature one of his masterpieces here on Bonsai Bark (a photo of Pierre’s now famous 2012 planting is below). I have long been a fan of Pierre Leloup’s masterful bonsai landscapes. And for good reason; there are simply no others quite like them anywhere. Continued below… Here’s a close up of the center section of Pierre’s planting. I first met Pierre … Continue reading Pierre Leloup’s Latest Masterpiece Bonsai Landscape

Sumptuous Satsuki Bonsai & 3 Big Sales End in 2 Days

This sumptuous Satsuki is from Bill Valavanis’ 2014 Japan Satsuki tour. Based on the massive trunk there’s a good chance that it was originally field grown or dug up after a long time in someone’s garden. I was going to make this post about digging from the wild and field growing, but it’s a very large topic and it’s Monday morning and ten thousand emails await, so we’ll just have to postpone until there’s more time to dig (intended) into it. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these two sumptuous Satsuki azaleas. Here’s another powerful Satsuki azalea that may have been … Continue reading Sumptuous Satsuki Bonsai & 3 Big Sales End in 2 Days