Happy Bonsai Holidays – Merry Bonsai Christmas

Though it’s usually considered bad form to lop off part of the pot, in this case it’s all about the color (and the wildly expressive trunk). The variety is listed as Issho-no-haru. This and the rest of the photos in this post are from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! No matter what you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), may you and your loved ones enjoy the Season and have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. The photos here are from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. In particular, a part of their collection of Satsuki azalea bonsai … Continue reading Happy Bonsai Holidays – Merry Bonsai Christmas

Is This Pot Legal?

Would you plant a Crabapple in this pot? Or a Cherry tree? Winterberry? Persimmon? Pyracantha? Anything? Or maybe Horst was picturing Christmas tree ornaments. We’ve been going archival a lot lately. But then it’s that time of year. This one (from December 24th, 2013) was originally titled ‘Off the Deep End with Horst (Is This Pot Legal?).’ Horst is ceramic artist Horst Heinzlreiter. If you’ve been following Bark for a while you know that this is not the first time we’ve featured Horst Heinzlreiter‘s magical pots, and it won’t be the last. Roman ruins? This is the photo that inspired … Continue reading Is This Pot Legal?

Heads Up! & Deck the Bonsai

Though most Christmas trees have their charm and some are genuine works of art, still, this has to be one of the best I’ve ever seen. Happy Holidays! This tree by Nacho Marin is one of the best, if not the best, bonsai Christmas tree I’ve seen yet. It’s not the first time we’ve shown it (2013 was first) and it may not be the last. Heads Up! Today is our last day shipping day this week. Orders received by noon Eastern Standard Time will be shipped today. Orders received after noon will be shipped next week. The good news … Continue reading Heads Up! & Deck the Bonsai

A Radical Approach to Bonsai Soil

This sturdy, barely tamed beast of a tree is a perfect example of Walter Pall’s naturalistic style. The photo is from Walter’s website. The tree is a European spruce. Yesterday we resurrected Walter Pall’s unique hedge pruning method. Today we’re resurrecting (for the second time) his equally unique take on bonsai soil. It originally appeared here on Bark in June of 2013. Walter Pall, world famous bonsai artist and much more… We’ve feature Walter’s bonsai numerous times here on Bark (and in Bonsai Today) and will continue to feature them for as long as we continue posting. I won’t say … Continue reading A Radical Approach to Bonsai Soil

A Radical Approach to Pruning

The Japanese maple that Walter Pall uses to illustrate his ‘hedge-cutting method.’ This photo was taken four years after Walter started working with this tree. The before photo is below. I think this is the third time for this post, but it’s a good one. So just in case you missed it… Walter Pall’s hedge-cutting method. In a post a couple years ago, we featured a radical approach to soil and feeding by Walter Pall. This post features another of Walter’s radical innovations. This time it’s about pruning broad leaf bonsai. I first learned about hedge shearing bonsai from Jim … Continue reading A Radical Approach to Pruning

Last Minute Bonsai Tools, Books, Wire, Pots, etc

Last minute shopping? Choose from hundreds of great items including our 2016 Bonsai & Japanese Garden Calendars and enjoy 20% to 30% off.* Site Wide Sale, 20% to 30% off Everything is now 20% to 30% off at Stone Lantern. Bonsai tools, books, wire, watering cans, pots and much more.* There’s still time. All orders received by 12:00 noon (U. S. EST) Tuesday, December 22th, will be shipped almost immediately. Orders received after noon on the 22nd will be shipped the week of the 28th. This magnificent Masters’ Sword Shears comes in its own Japanese gift box. Our regular … Continue reading Last Minute Bonsai Tools, Books, Wire, Pots, etc

250 Million Year Old Bonsai?

This is the same tree we showed yesterday. Same pot too. Just a few months earlier. I borrowed the photo from Bill Valavanis’ blog, Welcome to My Bonsai World. You don’t see that many Ginkgo bonsai. My guess is that this is because they are limited in terms of what you can do with them. For the most part the branches grow more or less straight up and tightly bunched and trunks typically lack movement and grace; staying more or less short and squat as they age. Still, once you accept that Ginkgos are unique and unlike most other bonsai, you might … Continue reading 250 Million Year Old Bonsai?

Bonsai You Just Can’t Resist

It’s not just the color. Once the vivid yellow leaves grab you, you might notice there’s a lot going on here. This Ginkgo, like all the other bonsai shown here, belongs to Bill Valavanis. Good Ginkgos aren’t all that common. They have strange shapes and don’t conform to bonsai conventions. The branches tend to grow straight up and the trunks usually lack movement and grace. But sometimes, in spite of all this (or because of all this) you’ll find a Ginkgo that you just can’t resist. Like the one above. All the photos shown here were posted by Bill Valavanis … Continue reading Bonsai You Just Can’t Resist

Before & After – Spectacular & Even More Spectacular

That’s a Japanese yew that this spectacular piece of deadwood is clinging to. It was styled by Naoki Meaoka. The first thought that came to mind when I saw this tree was Yes! The second thought was; ‘is that piece of deadwood for real, or was it just stuck onto an otherwise unspectacular tree? But of course it’s for real. Naoki Meaoka wouldn’t do that. Anyway, it’s that time of year so we’ll keep this short and simple. If you want more photos of this tree, you can find them on facebook. You can also visit Naoki’s website. Before Before. Close up of the deadwood … Continue reading Before & After – Spectacular & Even More Spectacular

Flowering Bonsai Brighten the Darkest Days

A peach. We’ll call this ‘flowering peach perched on a rock with small pond.’ According to our source (see below), it’s a Prunus persica (Peach tree). No cultivar is given, but it looks to me like it may be a variety that was developed for flowers rather than fruit. Even without the flowers it would be a sweet planting with lots of character. With the flowers… well, you can see for yourself. This one is short and sweet. Just two colorful trees to brighten the darkest days of the year. I found both of these trees here. Looks like just … Continue reading Flowering Bonsai Brighten the Darkest Days