Planning Ahead: Francois Is Returning

I picked this pine (Scot’s?) up off of Francois Jeker’s website. I had a feeling we’ve used it before (we’ve posted around 1,000 bonsai on this blog so far, so it’s hard to keep track) and sure enough, we used a slightly different version of it exactly one year ago today to promote Francois’ 2010 visit to Rosade Bonsai Studio (auspicious coincidence, eh?). It’s a classic yamadori and even though it doesn’t show too much of Francois’ masterful carving, I like it’s simplicity and power. Altogether a very handsome tree (and in an amazingly small pot). Return engagement Francois Jeker, … Continue reading Planning Ahead: Francois Is Returning

Dragon Tail & Other Random Shots

Dragon Tail. Wood sculpting by Mother Nature and Father Time. Photo by John Palmer. John is the blissfully retired founder of Stone Lantern and Bonsai Today. Have you visited Stone Lantern lately? On March 13th of this year, we started seriously lowering prices on our website. We’ve pretty much lowered everything at this point: bonsai books (other books too), bonsai tools and other tools, fertilizers, bonsai soils, the works. So, if you haven’t visited for a while, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. A great shot of a convoluted old pine trunk. My apologies to the owner, but I’ve lost … Continue reading Dragon Tail & Other Random Shots

New Leaves & Broken Conventions

Spring! Japanese maple by Morten Albek, author of Majesty in Miniature: Shohin Bonsai. Could it really be? Today we are experiencing our first real taste of spring here in northern Vermont, though we’re still a ways from leaves and flowers (unlike in Denmark, where this little maple lives, and where it never gets real cold). A sweet little tree I don’t know what the variety is, but it’s obvious that this very sweet little bonsai is a Japanese maple. Even though the tree is very small, the nebari is quite strong and lends a feeling of both age and stability. … Continue reading New Leaves & Broken Conventions

Bonsai in the Bluegrass

June 16-19, 2011. This looks like a good one. If you are thinking about it, but not sure, check out the impressive list of visiting bonsai instructors. List of instructors with profiles Enrique Castano, Jim Doyle, Robert Kempinski, Min Hsuan Lo, Boon Manakitivipart, Jonathan Maples, Ryan Neil, Chiara Padrini, Doug Philips, Martin Schmalenberg, Andy Smith, John Thompson, Ed Trout, William Valavanis List your event here Just send us the information with a good image or two (72 dpi, 680 pixels wide). <wayne@stonelantern.com> Celtis (Hackberry) in fall color. By Min Hsuan Lo, one of the symposium’s headliners. Min has been featured … Continue reading Bonsai in the Bluegrass

The Meta-Natural Bonsai Look

The natural look? Beyond the natural look? This wild and wonderful tree is by our friend Robert Steven (Robert is often featured on Bonsai Bark). I found the photo on facebook. A little help The lower trunk (on the tree above) looks like it just grew that way, somewhere on a rugged cliff overlooking the ocean. The top twisty section of trunk looks like maybe it had a little help from Robert’s hands and some bonsai wire. And there’s no doubt that Robert shaped the foliage. But then, only Robert knows the whole story. My guess is he’ll tell us. … Continue reading The Meta-Natural Bonsai Look

BABA & Boston Ivy Bonsai

Boston Ivy bonsai at the Bay Area Bonsai Associates 29th annual exhibition. As usual when it comes to BABA, I’m borrowing from The three photos shown here are by Jonas at Bonsai Tonight. Consistent high quality bonsai I’m impressed with what the Bay Area Bonsai Associates has been up to. High quality bonsai just keep coming from that dynamic Northern California group. A big part of their excellence is due to the energy and skill of Boon Manakitivipart, founder and operator of Bonsai Boon and BABA’s prime player. But he’s not alone. (Whoops! Boon is associated with Bay Island Bonsai. … Continue reading BABA & Boston Ivy Bonsai

That Natural Look

Natural beauty in fall color with a single root system and multiple trunks. Another facebook find (somewhat crudely cropped for a closer look and to eliminate background distraction – the uncropped original is below). It looks like it might be a hornbeam, but that’s just a guess. Moss I’m not sure about the moss. It look good, but can’t be that healthy for the tree in terms of aeration and related issues. Normally, it’s better to leave some exposed soil. My guess is that it’s just for show and some of it will be removed later. That natural look A … Continue reading That Natural Look

Our Friends Still Need Help: NBF’s Tohoku Disaster Relief Fund

As news shifts away from Japan, it’s easy to forget how much suffering is still taking place. In our case, we remain concerned for all the Japanese people, and especially for our friends in the bonsai community. In this light we at Stone Lantern have pledged to send 10% of all sales of Japanese products (about a forth of what we sell comes from Japan) to the relief effort. If you are interested in joining us in helping, please take the time to read the following letter from Felix Laughlin of the National Bonsai Foundation about the Tohoku Disaster Relief … Continue reading Our Friends Still Need Help: NBF’s Tohoku Disaster Relief Fund

Simple Bonsai Beauty

This Brazilian Rain Tree’s lush, perfectly balanced canopy almost shimmers with life. It comes from Photos from Bursa Bonsai Indonesia. It was added by Budi Sulistyo. Budi is a well known Indonesian bonsai artist and author (Tropical Bonsai Gallery). I don’t know if the tree belongs to Budi or someone else (though I imagine someone will clue us in soon). It speaks for itself This tree is strikes me as a good example of an unselfconscious naturalness that’s not always that easy to find. It looks like it just grew that way, no human hand necessary (except that it’s in … Continue reading Simple Bonsai Beauty

Robert Steven Provides a Lesson in Improving a Group Planting

Robert Steven’s simulation of a group planting on a rock. The original (below) was submitted by Jemmy Liauw. Where’s yours? Go ahead, send us a photo of a bonsai <wayne@stonelantern.com>. Don’t be shy. Robert’s critiques offer you something that most of us never get: free, in depth personal instruction and a simulated photo of what your tree could look like. From a world famous bonsai artist, no less. Jemmy Liauw’s fuzzy original. Robert’s Comments There are unlimited ideas to make different views of group style bonsai. There can be a close-up view, a distance view, a forest view or a … Continue reading Robert Steven Provides a Lesson in Improving a Group Planting