Useful Tips for Those of Us Stuck in Beginner Level Bonsai Skills

Robert’s digital simulation of a Ficus nerifolia that was submitted by Tom Kreugl. Busy traveling so we’ll dig up another post from our vast archival past. This one is from September, 2010. It’s one of numerous Robert Steven critiques that provide simple lessons in bonsai design, with several useful tips. I think it’s particularly good for beginners and those of us who have been stuck with beginner level skills for too long (all of Robert’s critiques are good for beginners and for more advanced enthusiasts too). While we’re talking about Robert Steven, this might a good place to mention … Continue reading Useful Tips for Those of Us Stuck in Beginner Level Bonsai Skills

A Fascinating Mix of Insight & Opinion

Unfinished, but wild and wonderful. I wonder what this Scot’s pine bunjin beauty looked like before it was collected somewhere in the wilds of Sweden. It belongs to Muaro Stemberger. It’s from his facebook page. Mauro also has a website. It’s called Italian Bonsai Dream. Traveling once again, so we’ll resume our archival explorations. This one, originally titled Bunjin Bonsai Bliss is from October, 2011 (with some current editing and elaboration), though any Bark discussion of Bunjin warrants a mention of Moving Out of the Bonsai Mainstream with a Deft and Delicate Touch (from December 2012), whose comments are the longest … Continue reading A Fascinating Mix of Insight & Opinion

Random Pages & A Messy Desk

This unusual Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) is not representative of most of the trees that appear in Fine Bonsai, which tend to be powerful mind-stopppers. Still, there’s something about it, beyond just the fact that it’s so different… Packing and leaving for the West Coast today, so it’s archive time. This will be the third time for this post, which you might view as excessive and I’d have to agree. Except that these photos from Fine Bonsai are great. And, there’s a motive for resorting to a post about a book. We just put up a 25% off book … Continue reading Random Pages & A Messy Desk

Summer Relief

Deciduous Award at the 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition for the Finest Deciduous Bonsai. It’s a Japanese Maple by Suthin Sukolosovisit of Royal Bonsai. It has nothing to do with the topic of this post, at least directly, but the 3rd (2012) U.S. National Bonsai Exhibiton is now on special at Stone Lantern. This post originally appeared here on Bark last summer. It’s important enough to run again, especially given the season we entering. While we’re at it, I’d like to remind you that our 50% off Sale for 10 or more 100 gram rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire ends … Continue reading Summer Relief

Twenty Eight Questions for Peter Tea

Kishu shimpaku grafted onto a Seirra juniper. Several artists have contributed to the styling of this powerful old collected tree. The latest (when this photo was taken back in 2013) is Peter Tea. You can follow the progression of Peter’s work on this tree and much more on his excellent blog. The other day I happened upon a unique and worthy new (for me) bonsai blog that had been hiding in plain site (see our last post) since October of 2011. It’s called Yenling Bonsai and it belongs to Jeremiah Lee. In the course of familiarizing myself with Jeremiah’s handiwork … Continue reading Twenty Eight Questions for Peter Tea

Hiding in Plain Sight

This has got to be one of the most magnificent Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis) bonsai anywhere. Though the distinctive split trunk needs no comment, you might also notice the highly developed ramification (fine branching). The tree was donated to the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection by Ben Oki. We’ve featured it before, but it’s certainly worth another shot. Another dig into our archives. This time unintended… Today I decided it’s time to visit the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. It’s one of North America’s premier collections and we haven’t featured it for a long time. I was delighted to see the Rim’s … Continue reading Hiding in Plain Sight

Remarkable Even Without the Flowers

This would be a remarkable bonsai even without the flowers. This photo and the others in this post were taken by Bill Valavanis during his visit to the Shunka-En Bonsai Museum of Kunio Kobayashi. Mr. Kobayashi is known for his Satsuki azaleas and Japanese black pines too. Renowned American bonsai artist, author, teacher, nurseryman, publisher, impresario, blogger and tireless traveler Bill Valavais is in the midst of a Satsuki azalea tour of Japan. Rather than trying to steal Bill’s thunder, we’ll just whet your appetite with a few photos from Kunio Kobayashi’s Shunka-En Bonsai Museum and encourage you to visit … Continue reading Remarkable Even Without the Flowers

Stepping Out of Character for Just a Moment

The first thing that caught my eye in this photo is the tree’s overall graceful fluid movement. Next is the swirling gnarl that, for lack of a better word, we’ll call the trunk (see below). This photo and the others shown here are from a recent facebook post by Robert Steven. Robert Steven is, without a doubt, the artist most featured here on Bonsai Bark. You can chalk that up to him being one of the most accomplished and innovative bonsai artists in the world. Prolific too. But there’s more. We don’t usually do lists here nor do we usually … Continue reading Stepping Out of Character for Just a Moment

The Godfather of Naturalistic Bonsai & Friends

We can assume this Azalea (I imagine it’s a Satsuki) belongs to one of the four exhibitors listed below. Actually, we might be able to narrow it down to one of three of the exhibitors (I couldn’t find it on Walter Pall’s website so, I’m assuming it is not his). The photos here are from a current Bonsai Exhibition at the Munich Botanical Garden. It ends June 1st, so you still have a little time. I originally saw the photos on Walter Pall’s facebook feed and then on his Bonsai blog. I couldn’t find any info of the individual trees … Continue reading The Godfather of Naturalistic Bonsai & Friends

What’s Wrong with this Picture?

Snake Dance by Gedemerta (with a distracting bright spot that someone has added). As you can see, this Pemphis acidula is an exceptional bonsai. It’s also famous. We’ve featured it at least twice and it’s all over facebook and elsewhere. Many of the artists who style these trees are professionals trying to make a living. What’s wrong (in addition to the unnecessary bright spot)? This photo was posted on facebook by someone who goes by Aus Bonsai, one of several regulars who put up photos of bonsai. There are many others, including one self-named Bonsai Master. Facebook is more than just … Continue reading What’s Wrong with this Picture?