Backyard Bonsai #11

A slice of John Pitt’s backyard. Nice fence and simple plank on concrete block benches. Continuing a Bark tradition This our 11th Backyard Bonsai post. The first was Wolfgang Putz’ way back in May 2009. Aside from their voyeuristic value, I think these posts might serve as useful examples, or even inspiration for the rest of us. If you’ve been inspired to put together your own backyard display, we’d like to see photos if you get a chance. Mr. Pitt John Pitt is an award winning bonsai potter and bonsai artist who lives in Derbyshire, England. In addition to his … Continue reading Backyard Bonsai #11

What About Deciduous Bonsai?

You can find this magnificent elm and other seriously stupendous deciduous bonsai at Andy Rutledge’s The Bonsai Journal in an article by Andy with photos by Boon Manakitivipart. In a bonsai world dominated by conifers and tropicals… …it’s a good idea to remember the wonder of deciduous bonsai. Okay, this may be an overstatement, but still, how many top notch elm bonsai do you see on the internet? Warehouse vacation Our warehouse is on vacation until July 12th (it needs a break, not to mention a new paint job). Orders placed before then will be shipped on, or soon after, … Continue reading What About Deciduous Bonsai?

There’s Something About Shohin

Itoigawa juniper by Michael Hagedorn. Michael is one of our favorite American bonsai artists. If you haven’t visited his site (Crataegus Bonsai) this is as good a time as any. BTW: Michael is the author of Post-Dated – The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk a fascinating read, bonsai or otherwise. The advantages of Shohin (small) Bonsai On the back of our Stone Lantern book Majesty in Miniature; Shohin Bonsai (by Morten Albek) it says “When compared to large bonsai, Shohin cost less, take less time to develop, take less space, are easier to move, and are less apt to … Continue reading There’s Something About Shohin

Bonsai Hot Bed Meets America’s Premier Bonsai Show

Thanks to Bill Valavanis for pointing out that this pine is one and the same as the Randy Knight freshly collected pine that we featured in a previous post (American Bonsai Heaven). It won the Meco Bonsai/Kiku Award at the 2nd US National Bonsai Exhibition (June 2010) for the Finest Evergreen. It’s by Scott Elser of Portland, Oregon (that famous bonsai heaven/hot bed). Less than a year By the way, we are just less than one year away from the 3rd US National Bonsai Exhibition, June 9-10, 2012. I think you might want to put it on your calendar right … Continue reading Bonsai Hot Bed Meets America’s Premier Bonsai Show

Draw! (Your Bonsai)

This excellent bonsai drawing looks like a Japanese black pine, but that’s just a guess. As you can see, it and the others in this post are by Eduardo Guedes. Another worthy facebook find. (Note: the copy below is from an earlier Bonsai Bark post, but the drawings in this post are all first timers). You can do it! It’s vacation time here, so I’ll borrow a little copy from last year: We’ve featured bonsai drawings way back in the early years of Bonsai Bark (2009). We still think it’s a good idea and suggest you try your hand at … Continue reading Draw! (Your Bonsai)

Whoops! Mea Culpa

This one is an olive. And it is by Andres Bicocca. Who is from Argentina and isn’t from Uruguay. BTW: the way the foliage mass clings to the trunk, makes for a unusual looking bonsai. Though it has a wild, ‘work in process’ look, there’s something compelling about it with its strong nebari and well aged bark. Egg all over my face First, apologies to Argentinian (not Uruguayan) bonsai artist Andres Bicocca (see three posts ago). Second, apologies to Wild Bonsai; not only did I mis-attribute one of their trees but I mis-identified it as well (doubly embarrassing when you … Continue reading Whoops! Mea Culpa

Local Bonsai Styles 2: Growing Conditions, Native Species & Culture

This venerable, naturally dwarfed Ponderosa belongs to American/British bonsai artist and teacher, Colin Lewis. Colin lives on the coast of Maine. Ponderosa pines grow in the inland mountains of the western U.S.; two distinctively different environments. Climate, native species and culture If you get a chance, take a look at the comments from the last post. They expand and provide insight into what started as a simple post with a single idea: the effects of culture (human rather than biological culture) on local bonsai styles. The first three comments deal mostly with nature (climate and other growing conditions, and native … Continue reading Local Bonsai Styles 2: Growing Conditions, Native Species & Culture

Local Bonsai Styles

Uruguay anyone? Do this and the other trees in this post, reflect a regional or local bonsai style? (from facebook; Andres Bicocca wall photos.) Correction: Andres is from Argentina. An open question Though there are no doubt styles that develop around certain teachers and certain types of trees, and in some cases there are certainly cultural influences (Japan seems the most obvious here), still, pinning down what you might call a local style may not be all that easy. You and your next door neighbor may have quite different approaches to bonsai and your trees might bear little resemblance to … Continue reading Local Bonsai Styles

A Not-So-Well-Kept Bonsai Secret

This wild, Wild apple, appears on the back cover and in the chapter titled ‘Wild Apple’ in Bonsai from the Wild. A confession and a little insignificant history I’ve never met Nick Lenz. I don’t think we’ve even talked on the phone. Andy Rutledge (a student of Nick’s who’s been featured on Bonsai Bark) introduced us via email years ago because he thought we’d enjoy each other (we share certain unrelated-to-bonsai views). The upshot was a flurry of emails and finally, a decision to reprint an enhanced version of Nick’s now famous book, Bonsai from the Wild. So what’s the … Continue reading A Not-So-Well-Kept Bonsai Secret

Happy People, Healthy Bonsai

Happy people make for healthy bonsai (not to mention a healthy business). BTW: there are some household bonsai names above. Can you spot them? Breaking with our tradition Bonsai Bark is all about bonsai. We usually (almost always) leave the people photos to others. But just this once, we’re breaking our own rules by mixing in photos of people enjoying bonsai and just enjoying themselves. New England Bonsai Gardens All the photos in this post are from New England Bonsai. If you’re ever in their neighborhood (on the Mass/RI border, an hour from Boston), definitely stop by. They’ll be happy … Continue reading Happy People, Healthy Bonsai