Weekly Wire: Ancient Bones & the Wheel of Bonsai Wisdom

Ancient bones. I like the way the fresh foliage seems to hang from the tree’s ancient bones (though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a stand so in need of refinishing). This strikingly unique bonsai is one of many excellent trees at Taiwan Bonsai World. Free Advertising! What if you could advertise your bonsai event for free on a Bonsai Blog with over 30,00 visitors a month? Turns out, you can! Right here on Bonsai Bark. Just put your event (with links please) in the comments below and I’ll take from there. Have you seen this issue? Neither have … Continue reading Weekly Wire: Ancient Bones & the Wheel of Bonsai Wisdom

Eighty Two and Still Going Strong

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bunjin style bonsai in such a deep pot. You almost always see them in shallow round or near-round pots. No problem though, this one works to perfection; a spectacular tree with a simply lustrous pot. I think the heavy foliage (unusual for a bunjin) helps balance the heavy pot. Thanks again to Mr. Tea The photos in this post are all courtesy of Peter Tea, our current favorite bonsai apprentice (nothing personal to the rest of our apprenti in Japan, it’s just that Peter keeps sending great stuff). Meifu-ten, a show for … Continue reading Eighty Two and Still Going Strong

A Cozy Companion

I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a potted companion sitting on the soil surface of a larger bonsai. I found the photo on facebook (unattributed, which seems to be a norm). I think the companion is a Mondo grass. Is the tree a Serissa? Just a quickie this time I’m still trying to catch up between vacations, so we’ll have to settle for a one tree post. Next time we’ll give you a little more to sink your teeth into.

Backyard Bonsai Dream

Backyard Bonsai #12 This is the 12th post in our long and venerable (all the way back to 2009) Backyard Bonsai tradition (here’s the 11th). In their own way, each backyard is uniquely compelling; a reflection of human tastes and lifestyles, and also a reflection of culture. In this case the culture is Italian, which makes it a little romantic for us Americans; we just don’t see backyards and surrounding buildings that look quite like the ones in these photos. Now if the Euro would only come down a bit… Italian Bonsai Dream All but one of the photos in … Continue reading Backyard Bonsai Dream

Weekly Wire: The End of Lime Sulfur?

This Trident maple root-over-rock belongs to Jonas Dupuich. It’s from a Bonsai Tonight article about the 11th Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. The Bay Island Bonsai 13th Annual Bonsai Exhibit is coming very soon (Jan 13-14 14-15). Judging by photos from previous exhibits, it looks like it’s one of the better bonsai shows in North America. It’s at the Oakland Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. For more information: (510) 919-5042 or visit their website. The following turned out to be much ado about almost nothing (12/24/12). Bad news about lime sulfur. It’s hard to imagine bonsai without lime sulfur. But … Continue reading Weekly Wire: The End of Lime Sulfur?

Mario’s Almost Bonsai

The third to last photo in a long sequence by Mario Komsta. Mario’s comment on this photo is ‘almost bonsai.’ Pretty good for an ‘almost.’ From a facebook album by Mario. From freshly dug to ‘almost bonsai’ The photos here present a sampling of a step-by-step series on a very creative (and skillful) bonsai transformation by Mario Komsta. We’ve featured Mario’s bonsai several times on Bonsai Bark, and for good reason. To my eye, Mario is one of the West’s elite young bonsai artists. You might even say that Mario is one of the elite bonsai artists, period. You can … Continue reading Mario’s Almost Bonsai

Happy New Year from a Bonsai Artist with a Magic Touch

This dazzling digital New Year’s card is from our friend and colleague, Robert Steven. Contributor, friend, colleague… I just did a quick count; Robert Steven’s name appears in 65 of the 500 or so Bonsai Bark posts so far. A large percentage of these are Robert’s now famous bonsai critiques. Robert is also a business partner of sorts. We (Stone Lantern) are distributors of Robert’s excellent Bonsai Aesthetics tools and bonsai wire as well as his ground breaking bonsai books, Vision of My Soul & Mission of Transformation. All this adds up to relationship that benefits Stone Lantern and Bonsai … Continue reading Happy New Year from a Bonsai Artist with a Magic Touch

A Rare & Wonderful Bunjin Bonsai

This Eastern white pine (Pinus Strobus) was donated to the Chicago Botanic Garden by Jim Doyle (Nature’s Way Nursery). The photo is by Steve Moore (Bonsai in Hoosierland). Common but very uncommon There are three things that I find striking about this tree: first, it’s an Eastern white pine, a tree that you almost never see as a bonsai, even though it’s quite common here in the Northeast. Second, it’s skinny but old (the bark gives it away). Another rarity when it comes to Eastern white pines. Third, it’s a good bunjin bonsai, healthy and understated, with just enough graceful … Continue reading A Rare & Wonderful Bunjin Bonsai

Eccentric Bonsai: Too Strange, or Just Strange Enough?

Strange as this magnificent old tree is, it all works together to with a perfect blend of eccentricity and balance. But the nebari? That takes some getting use to. (This photo and the others in this post are from Peter Tea Bonsai.) A good place to start resurrecting Way back in 2009 and early 2010 we ran a series of posts that we called Eccentric Bonsai (here’s the last one). Maybe it’s time to resurrect the series. If so, this absolutely unique Trident maple seems like a good place to start. Borrowing from Peter… As you may have noticed, we’ve … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: Too Strange, or Just Strange Enough?

Bonsai Art Stamps for 2012

Three of the five 2012 bonsai stamps. You’ll notice that each one gives the common name of the tree. Bonsai stamps For a long time, our (U.S.) stamps were a lot like our money, monochromatic, often difficult to tell apart at a glance, and frankly, a little boring at times. In the last twenty five years or so, all that has changed. Now, just like stamps in most other countries, colorful, sometimes even beautiful US stamps abound. You can even see famous (and not so famous) art celebrated on US postage stamps. Which brings us to the stamps shown here; … Continue reading Bonsai Art Stamps for 2012