Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees is Back!

Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees: The Life and Works of Dan Robinson – Bonsai Pioneer is back in print! We’ve been waiting for this wonderful, ground breaking book to come back into print for a long time. Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees is surely one of the most important and beautiful bonsai books ever published. Will Hiltz, author and photographer elevates the art of book making, and Dan Robinson, bonsai artist and master, elevates the art of collecting, growing and styling bonsai. Dan Robinson’s approach is uniquely his own and shows profound respect for trees, nature, art; the whole process that we … Continue reading Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees is Back!

The three trunks rising from the fat and robust roots of this Japanese maple bonsai fan out…

Japanese maple in the fullness of summer. From the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. The other day we posted a Japanese maple (Yamamomiji) that we found online. At the time we didn’t know who the tree belonged to, but it didn’t take long for Michael Bonsai to clue us in. It’s from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. The original fall photo is below. Here’s what the Museum has to say, in a rather poetic fashion, about this powerful old tree: “The three trunks rising from the fat and robust roots of this Japanese maple bonsai fan out in the shape of … Continue reading The three trunks rising from the fat and robust roots of this Japanese maple bonsai fan out…

Still Opulent, Outrageous & Outstanding

This Itoigawa Shimpaku (Juniperus chinensis ‘itoigawa’) by Dougie Smith qualifies as opulent for sure. Outrageous? Well there is that huge rock jutting up from the skinny little (but very handsome) pot. As for outstanding; that goes without saying. Note: I don’t know what the smaller trees down low are. Maybe azaleas? Myrtle? This photo and the others in this post are by Philippe Massard, though I cropped them all to bring the trees closer. A quick two day vacation and another dip into our archives. This one is from February 2014. I picked it to show a second time, primarily … Continue reading Still Opulent, Outrageous & Outstanding

Two Beautiful Bonsai & Two Questions

I would love to know more about this this powerful Japanese maple, especially the artist’s name. I recognize the logo in the corner, but there are no credits with the photo. Thanks to Michael Bonsai we now know this tree is from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum collection. NOTE: Since we posted this Oscar from Bonsai Empire has gotten in touch and very graciously thanked us for pointing out the problems. He came up with a solution to attribution and is working on other solutions. My thanks to Oscar and friends. I look forward to meeting you at the Artisans … Continue reading Two Beautiful Bonsai & Two Questions

Tamarix Bonsai – An Unusual Tree

I can think of at least three reasons to be impressed by the tree. First, it’s a Tamarix tenuissima* (a type of Salt cedar), an usual genus and a very unusual species, when it comes bonsai at least. Second, it’s a beautiful, well-balanced, dynamic bonsai. And third, wiring every single little branch down, is a true labor of love. My only complaint is the fuzzy photo and that’s on me (I blew it up to fit our format). It’s Monday morning and I’m already way behind schedule, so we’ll keep it short and simple; one tree, a variety of Salt cedar,* … Continue reading Tamarix Bonsai – An Unusual Tree

Shaping Bonsai with Rebar, Turnbuckles, Stones, Wire – Everything but the Kitchen Sink

This is what you can do with a little daring and more than a little skill. The huge crack just up from the base of the trunk is intentional. Without it, there’s no way this old tree is surrendering that first subtle bend and without the rebar and wooden peg there’s no way the second larger bend is holding. This photo and the before photo below are from David Benavente’s Estudio de Bonsai. This post, which provides valuable tips on some relatively obscure bonsai techniques, is a mishmash from three previous posts. Before. What would you have done? … Continue reading Shaping Bonsai with Rebar, Turnbuckles, Stones, Wire – Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Powerful Pines & Bonsai Wire

This powerful pine with its aged, heavily plated bark (reminiscent of our North American Ponderosa pines, especially the reddish section at the base of the trunk) is one of many spectacular trees displayed at the recent 2012 BCI convention in China. This and all the photos in this post are courtesy of Robert Steven. Summer sun beckons, so we’ll take the easy way out once again. This post, with some text added today (in italics) originally appeared in April, 2013. Pines now, the rest later. Robert Steven just sent us a whole host of great photos from the recent 2012 … Continue reading Powerful Pines & Bonsai Wire

Digging & Field Growing Bonsai in the Early Fall

This sumptuous Satsuki is from Bill Valavanis’ 2014 Japan Satsuki tour. Though I don’t know for sure, based on the massive trunk it’s easy to imagine that it was originally field grown. Early fall is good times to dig and transplant. For me, it’s mostly native larch (some cedar and spruce too) from a friend’s land here in northern Vermont. However, unless you live in the frozen north or blazing tropics, Satsuki azaleas just might work for you. This post (from 2009) is taken from one of many field growing posts we’ve done over the years. I have edited (italics) … Continue reading Digging & Field Growing Bonsai in the Early Fall

Playing It Straight

Straight line raft Juniper. I borrowed this photo from Bill Valavanis’ blog. Bill took the photo at the 2015 38th Mid America Bonsai Exhibit. This is a somewhat failed attempt to finish our series on forest plantings. Specifically raft style forest plantings. More specifically straight line raft plantings. Problem is, couldn’t find good photos of straight line rafts (the exception is above). So rather than spending more time searching, we’ll settle for some informative text on raft-style borrowed from ofBONSAI Magazine (one of the better online bonsai sites). “Raft style bonsai mimic a natural occurrence when a tree topples onto … Continue reading Playing It Straight

Kimura Rocks

The mature look. It helps to start with well developed trees. I think most of us would be happy to have trees like these Shimpaku as single bonsai, let alone as parts of group plantings. It’s hot here in Vermont, my bonsai need water and so do I. Once again it’s time to dig into our archives and vacate this office. This post originally appeared summer before last and again last summer. A question about watering came up when this was originally posted. I’ll preempt this time with my answer: “My guess is the hinoki plantings are kept in shade … Continue reading Kimura Rocks