Cuttings

Bonsai’s Big Leap: The 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibiton

This palatial planting by Pierre Leloup may have been the most talked about bonsai in the entire exhibit. Unfortunately, because Pierre is Canadian, it was not part of the judging (the same goes for several other worthy Canadian bonsai). As you might surmise, there’s no way that a photo can capture the whole splendid wonder of this planting. Viewing it in real space is one of those mind stopping experiences (The photo is courtesy of Pierre Leloup and Sangi Louise Drolet, my sweet Exhibition neighbors. You can find it and other great photos on Pierre’s facebook page and his website). … Continue reading Bonsai’s Big Leap: The 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibiton

Bougainvillea Bonsai: Brilliant Or A Little Too Brazen?

You have to use your imagination for the pot, but not much imagination when it comes to color. This photo and the others in this post are from an article on Chinese bougainvillea on Bonsai-Penjing. You be the judge One of the many things I like about southern climes are the colorful bougainvilleas that you often see gracing balconies and draped along buildings and walls. It’s as if bougainvilleas and walls were made for each other. But what about bougainvilleas and bonsai? In some cases the two go together very well. I’ll let you be the judge of the trees … Continue reading Bougainvillea Bonsai: Brilliant Or A Little Too Brazen?

Making a Point with Deadwood

Going down? There’s a lot to love about this old tree: that little piece of wood that hangs over the edge of the pot, the remarkable texture and color of the bark and the way the powerful old trunk seems to cling to the pot. There’s also the fact that the tree is a Southwestern White Pine (Pinus strobiformis), not your everyday bonsai species. And then there’s that remarkable jin that seems to be unconcerned if it fits or doesn’t fit with the rest of the tree. The tree belong to Greg Brenden. The photo is from the 2010 2nd … Continue reading Making a Point with Deadwood

Arts of the Earth

Beech with vase. The tree is a Japanese beech ‘Fuji’ by Kazuhiro Ohashi. For more information, including the name of the artist who made the vase, you can visit the Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Arts of the Earth Exhibit Traditions and Transitions: Arts of the Earth Exhibit Digging way back to the early days of this century (2006), we turned up this unique exhibit from Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. Aside from saying that I very much enjoyed the photos and the concept, we’ll leave the rest to David De Groot, the curator of the collection. In Curator David De Groot’s … Continue reading Arts of the Earth

Celebrating 30 Years of Bonsai

All the drawings in this post are by Hoichi Kurisu, Master Garden Designer and accomplished illustrator. Thirty years of dedicated service Hats off to the dedicated folks at the the National Bonsai Foundation on its thirtieth anniversary.  Just in case you haven’t been paying attention, the NBF is a nonprofit organization established in 1982 to sustain the U.S. National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Did you know that you can join the NBF? You can help promote, sustain and expand one of our true national treasures (for as little as $35 a year). Go ahead and let us know you did … Continue reading Celebrating 30 Years of Bonsai

Wiki Bonsai

The back? Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about this tree: “A Dwarf Japanese Juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’) bonsai on display at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the United States National Arboretum. According to the tree’s display placard, it has been in training since 1975. It was donated by Thomas Tecza. This is the “back” of the tree.” This explanation begs at least two questions: why isn’t this view the front (you can scroll all the way down to see the front and decide for yourself)? and, is this a phoenix graft (isn’t the trunk way too massive … Continue reading Wiki Bonsai

Weekly Wire, Bonsai Comic, Shohin Maffia & A Colorful Bonsai Celebration

Look familiar? You may have seen this most excellent Mario Komsta pine before. In fact, it’s possible that we’ve already featured it right here, though I can’t find when or where. Anyway, if we did already show it; it was good then and it’s still good now.   Do you recognize this tree? If so, It’s not too late to enter our Bonsai Detectives $250 Mystery Contest.   Shohin Maffia? I guess you know what shohin means and you probably have a pretty good grasp of maffia too (even with the double f). Now you can see what happens when … Continue reading Weekly Wire, Bonsai Comic, Shohin Maffia & A Colorful Bonsai Celebration

Nick’s Bonsai & FREE ITEMS Last Day

I know many of you have already seen this somewhat unruly apple, but many of you haven’t. Either way, it’s a very distinctive bonsai, and it’s flowering no less! You can find it on the back cover of Nick Lenz’ landmark book on collecting, Bonsai from the Wild. Larch master Lenz It seems like high time to return to our old friend Larch Master Nick Lenz. Especially since we just received some new photos of some of Nick’s trees from Candy Shirey, who is now their proud owner. This isn’t the first time we’ve featured bonsai of Nick’s that now … Continue reading Nick’s Bonsai & FREE ITEMS Last Day

A True Gentleman & A Very Large Tree

It’s not often we feature photos of people on this blog, but, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to show you this photo of Jim Smith, one of the true gentlemen in our bonsai community, and a master of large tropical trees (this one looks like a Portulacaria). The photo was posted on facebook by Mareta Martell today with this caption: ‘big bonsai 300 years old by Jim Smith’ (we know it’s not really 300). A remarkable place It’s been way too many years since I visited Jim Smith’s Durastone Nursery in Vero Beach. Florida. It’s a remarkable place; just … Continue reading A True Gentleman & A Very Large Tree

Massive Trunk, Beautiful Pot & Much More (FREE ITEMS too)

To my eyes, this is a stupendous tree. So stupendous that nothing more needs to be said and you need not read any further… unless you need help seeing the obvious. If you do need help, then you might notice that when you combine this tree’s unusually generous size and spread with its highly refined ramification (all the way out to the tiniest twigs), the aged character written on the surface of the trunk and the clutch of its many fingered nebari (on a lesser tree this nebari would completely steal the show); its easy to see that it’s much … Continue reading Massive Trunk, Beautiful Pot & Much More (FREE ITEMS too)