High & Wide: Min’s New Blog

After, but still in process. Collected Squamata juniper by Min Hsuan Lo. Deep & wide I was going to call this post Deep & Wide, due to the depth and breadth of Min Hsuan Lo’s work as reflected in his new blog. But Min’s spectacular photos of Jade Mountain prevailed in the end. Either way, I encourage you to take a look if you’d like to enjoy great photos and follow an excellent step-by-step journey through a restyling of a powerful old Sqaumata juniper. Before. Vigorously growing stock with character provides a good starting point. In process. A … Continue reading High & Wide: Min’s New Blog

Floating Clouds, Around the Bonsai World, Before & After, Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

Floating clouds. Here’s an unusual tree for your enjoyment. Or, for your criticism if you feel the profusion of foliage pads is unnatural (given conventions these days, you might also say the pot is a little heavy, but I don’t think so). For me, it’s sheer delight. The tree belongs to Hsiu Yang, one of Taiwan’s many great bonsai artists. Viva Mexico! Found this here. Was intrigued, but didn’t find any other links (Confederacion Mexicana de Artre Bonsai wasn’t current). Here’s the Spanish: Expocisión Anual de Arte Bonsai en Coyoacan. 4 al 7 de Octubre de 2012. Ven con … Continue reading Floating Clouds, Around the Bonsai World, Before & After, Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

Pine Boom

The more I look at this tree, the more I like it. It’s a Japanese white pine by Susumo Sudo. Its rugged, naturally aged look (enhanced by the pot and ground cover) stands in perfect contrast to its simple, graceful lines. From our Masters’ Series Pine book. Pine Boom? As far as I know, there is no Pine Boom. I was trying to type Pine Book as a filler until a more suitable name for this post came to me. Then, viola, there it was; Pine Boom. Anyway, I’m trying to pull myself to together to catch a plane, so, … Continue reading Pine Boom

Bonsai In Black & White part 2 – Big Bonsai Tool Sale

This photo, titled bonsai in black and white turned up on flickr. It was shot in December 2009 at the National Arboretum by Brian Hefele. He was using a Sigma DP2. Bonsai Tool Sale Just a quick heads up on our brand new Bonsai Tool Sale (includes all our bonsai tools and even turntables, sieves, toll rolls and some other tool-related items). The discounts are 10%, 15% or 20% on all Bonsai Tools, depending on how many you buy (sets count as 1 item). Check it out, I think you’ll find something you like. Comments from Bonsai in Black & … Continue reading Bonsai In Black & White part 2 – Big Bonsai Tool Sale

Bonsai In Black & White

Japanese white pine. You can find the color version of this tree on the cover of our Masters’ Series Pine book and on the cover of Bonsai Today issue number 2. The black and white version is the same image with the color photoshoped out. Black and white? I don’t have any answers, though there does seem to be something compelling about a good black and white photo. Maybe the stark quality of black and white highlights features that we might otherwise miss. Or…? Here’s a good one from flickr. It’s titled Black and white bonsai tree, The Huntington … Continue reading Bonsai In Black & White

Snake Dance & Lazy Posting

Snake Dance by Gede Merta of Bonsaibali. It’s a Pemphis acidula. This photo above shows a truly remarkable tree. Enough said. Or…, maybe not. If you look below you’ll see the photo as it originally appeared (on facebook). Clearly, the photo above, without the distracting writing, better shows off the tree. Still, it’s hard to fault Mr. Gede Merta for displaying his name so prominently. Otherwise, you’ll no doubt find the photo displayed on facebook free from any attribution, and in the worse cases, free from any suggestion that the tree might not belong to the person posting the tree … Continue reading Snake Dance & Lazy Posting

Bonsai Pioneers

This remarkable photo is titled Geijutsu Works, Kobayashi’s Garden. I take this to mean that it’s from Kunio Kobayashi’s famous book, Bonsai (see below). Though my guessing is often suspect, I’m pretty sure this distinguished tree is an Ume (Japanese flowering apricot). This is based in part on its remarkable deadwood (if you’re not in a big rush, stop for moment and take a close look). You seldom see deadwood on deciduous trees, with Ume being an exception. This, coupled with the fact that it looks like an Ume, cinches it. Murata, Kato, Kobayashi, Kimura This isn’t the first time … Continue reading Bonsai Pioneers

The Magician At Night

Black pine in the black of night. From the collection of Masahiko Kimura (The Magician). All the photos in this post are from an El Tim Bonsai facebook photo album title KIMURA. Shooting in the dark It’s not too often you see bonsai photographed in the dark. In this case the effects are rather magical (no pun intended). If you look at the entire El Tim KIMURA album, you’ll see a bunch of photos of phenomenal bonsai that were shot during the day, followed by a few photos of phenomenal bonsai that were shot at night. The difference is striking, … Continue reading The Magician At Night

A Quick Potpourri: Gede, Crespi, Fuku, Carlos & Kyoto

This spectacular Pemphis acidula was collected and styled by Gede Merta. You can usually spot Gede’s bonsai immediately; there’s something about the convoluted trunks and branches and the way he carves deadwood. This photo was recently posted on his facebook page. Better hurry if you want to make this year’s Crespi Cup. Robert Steven (and others) will be there, and, it’s in Italy (great food, exciting bonsai and other good things await you in Italy). September 14th to the 23rd. A theory of pruning by Fuku Bonsai. Two of eight illustrations that show how to create different bonsai … Continue reading A Quick Potpourri: Gede, Crespi, Fuku, Carlos & Kyoto

Big, Brawny and Beautiful, But How Many Trunks Can You Count?

Super Mario is at it again. From Mario Komsta’s facebook photos. How many trunks can you count? Does this magnificent tree have four or five trunks? Does it even matter? Actually, I think most of us would say that it does matter and that even though there are only four trunks at ground level, the effect, thanks to the tree on the left, is that of five trunks. What’s the big deal about even numbers? Generally, the Japanese abhor the number four, at least when it come to trunks in bonsai. The same can be said for six, eight and … Continue reading Big, Brawny and Beautiful, But How Many Trunks Can You Count?