If It Ain’t Fun, It Ain’t Bonsai

This Black Hill Spruce belongs to Andy Smith. As you may have guessed the tree was collected in the Black Hills of South Dakota. By Andy. He estimates that it’s 150-175 years old. The stone was also belongs to Andy. You can find this image and all but one of the other images in this post on Andy’s Golden Arrow Bonsai website. Golden Arrow Bonsai is Andrew Smith (aka Andy), though he no doubt enjoys some help from friends and family. Andrew is a bonsai artist and professional woodsman who specializes in collecting trees from nature. If you would like … Continue reading If It Ain’t Fun, It Ain’t Bonsai

Absolutely Very Cool

This absolutely very cool bonsai pot has to be one of the sweetest hand-painted ceramics around. We’ll call it Village Life (are the two people in the middle dancing?). Part of the description say: “Wei Miao Wei Xiao” This Chines phrase means ‘lifelike, or remarkably true to life.’ The photo is from here as are all the photos in this post. Of the well over two thousand people who visit Bonsai Bark every day, I suspect most don’t bother to read what we have to say (I’ve seen better humble brags but this is the best we’ve got right now). They … Continue reading Absolutely Very Cool

The One Percent

You have your own eyes so there’s no need for me to say much. Except to point out a couple little things, like the bright new rusty red buds and the daring glaze on the perfectly shaped pot that picks us the trunk color and contrasts with the buds. Another thing that distinguishes this bonsai is the amazingly fine ramification (fine branching). And then there’s the perfect mossing job. Photo is from the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. The one percent. I probably look at between fifty and hundred bonsai a day. Online. Some are pretty good and a few are … Continue reading The One Percent

Very Red and Very Rare

You don’t see very many bright red bonsai pots. Red glazes are expensive and I suspect that they are not that easy to do. Then there’s the conundrum they present; what do put in a bright red pot? Not always so easy, but in this case, problem solved (or is it?). The tree is a Elaeagnus pungens (Siverthorn in English, Kangumi in Japanese). Both the tree and pot are by Haruyosi as are all the trees and pots in this post. Red glazes are not that common. Bright red glazes are even less common. Yellow glazes are not all that … Continue reading Very Red and Very Rare

Bonsai Flowers & A Certain Kind of Provincialism

Wisteria bonsai doing its profuse thing. It belongs to Gerard Schoofs of the Bonsai Society of Victoria. Being a North American I just figured Victoria BC, Canada without a second thought, until I read this caption: “I managed to get this photo about Oct 2011…” Turns out, there are several Victorias in this wide world and this one is a state somewhere in that over-sized island south of Indonesia (just kidding sort of, with only a hint of irritation about a certain kind of provincialism that assumes*…. or maybe I’m just cranky). I think it’s a good time to start … Continue reading Bonsai Flowers & A Certain Kind of Provincialism

Four Beautiful Bonsai & An Exercise In Futility and Frustration

I think this tree deserves some attention. Especially the extraordinary powerful trunk that shows massive shari (trunk deadwood) with only a hint of a living vein (peeking out lower left and upper left). Then there’s the foliage which is somewhat groomed but still free-flowing; giving the tree an informal feel. It might also be worth mentioning that it’s slanting style. You don’t see nearly as many quality slant style bonsai as you do upright bonsai. The photo is from Salvador De Los Reyes facebook photos, as are the other three photos in this post. Here’s the caption that appears on … Continue reading Four Beautiful Bonsai & An Exercise In Futility and Frustration

Backcountry Bonsai

This ancient three-quarters-dead Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is clinging for its life on Cusick Mountain in the southern part of Eagle Cap Wilderness in northeastern Oregon. I borrowed both photos in this post from Backcountry Bonsai. Trees like this fascinate me. Obviously, it will never be a bonsai, but only someone stuck on bonsai without real appreciation of wild trees would care. BTW: such poor benighted souls exist (excluding present company of course). Rather than saying more, I’ll defer to our 26th President (TR) “A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as … Continue reading Backcountry Bonsai

Bonsai Wire, Your Choice: Copper or Aluminum? Japanese or Chinese?

Like most bonsai, this one has been wired. In fact, there’s visible wire on it right now. It’s a Shimpaku that’s from a chapter in our Masters’ Series Juniper book, titled Keiko Tamaki’s Deft Touch. It’s time to reach back into our archives once again (from May, 2013). This time our motives are almost purely commercial. We’ve just put up a big Bonsai Wire Sale (20% to 30% off all wire) and that’s something you should know about. BTW: I think this post is worth re-posting even without our commercial motives; you might find the information useful, and I’m sure … Continue reading Bonsai Wire, Your Choice: Copper or Aluminum? Japanese or Chinese?

Focal Point, Balance, Scale, Age & That Elusive Quality…

I stumbled across the European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) by Walter Pall on his Bonsai Adventures blog . The shot looks like spring with some trees lagging behind others. Without the dominant tree this forest planting by Walter Pall would be a whole lot less interesting. With the dominant tree the planting has a focal point, balance, scale, a feeling of age and that more elusive quality we call interest, or beauty. Focal point. Everything organizes around the dominant tree. In other words, your eye goes there first and from that point the rest of the planting falls into place. Balance. … Continue reading Focal Point, Balance, Scale, Age & That Elusive Quality…

Grafting Lesson & A Totally Unrelated Wall of Ice

A few stills captured from Capital Bonsai’s video on grafting that features Ryan Neil. I just got home from a short vacation only to be greeted by a three foot wall of ice blocking my front porch (photo below). Weather and a serious roof design flaw conspiring in an effort to ruin my homecoming. Fortunately, Corey and Ric kept the office and warehouse doors clear, so here I am, jet lagged, cold, happy to be home (strange I know) and ready to go to work. But only ready enough to take the easy archival way out. This post originally appeared … Continue reading Grafting Lesson & A Totally Unrelated Wall of Ice