Cuttings

Bonsai Evolution: Display

The two photos in this post were taken at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Japan. You can view the uncropped originals and other photos from the Museum at Bonsai Network Japan. Evolution.? Has bonsai evolved as it has moved from Japan (and China) to the rest of the world? If you look at experimentation and innovation, I’d say yes, there is plenty of positive movement beyond Japan (and in Japan as well). However, if you look at display, you might draw a different conclusion. Laziness and neglect, or spontaneous freedom? I spend a lot of time perusing bonsai on … Continue reading Bonsai Evolution: Display

Backyard Bonsai #9

A piece of Christian Przybylsk’s garden (I took the liberty of cropping his photo a little). If you visit his site you can see the uncropped original, as well as over a dozen backyard photos that are not included in this post. Like this one, they are more about the garden than the bonsai, but still, there are enough bonsai sprinkled around for you to get the idea. Picking up an old thread Way back in May 2009 we started a series called Backyard Bonsai. Most of the eight previous posts are from 2009 and early 2010, though the last … Continue reading Backyard Bonsai #9

Digging Around Pays Off

You can find this monarch of bunjin pines and other great trees on Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai website. This one is from the 2004 Taikan Ten show in Japan and is part of an article called Japanese Shows that Michael posted in 2008 (the caption says White pine; however, it looks like a Black pine to me). Digging around Sometimes digging around through old material pays off (if you call 2008 old). I found this powerful, stately old pine (above) and several other magnificent trees while digging around Michael Hagedorn’s postings on Crataegus Bonsai. It’s part of a posting called … Continue reading Digging Around Pays Off

Bill’s Bonsai & Stone Lantern’s Sale

I don’t think there are very many genuine Tokonomas in North America. Of the few I’ve seen, this is one of the very best. The funky curvy wood on the right and the wildly voluptuous wisteria contrast perfectly with the formality of the rest of the display. For your enjoyment Bill Valavanis of International Bonsai recently posted a series of excellent photos on facebook. We’ve included a few for you to enjoy. You can view them all here. Also for your enjoyment Stone Lantern (that’s us) is having a wild and woolly book sale and Bonsai Today sale right now. … Continue reading Bill’s Bonsai & Stone Lantern’s Sale

David Benavente’s Excellent Bonsai World

An elegant bonsai enhanced by an equally elegant photograph. From David Benavente’s website. Why not smile? Señor Benavente offering you a chance to buy a sweet little Shimpaku. If one were inclined to jealously I don’t advocate jealousy; it’s a nowhere kind of emotion. But if you were the type to get jealous about someone’s bonsai scene, David Benavente’s would be a good place to start. I won’t say much more; the photos can speak for themselves. And no, I don’t think I’m jealous…. but still, such a well put together backyard nursery with such great bonsai and the climate … Continue reading David Benavente’s Excellent Bonsai World

Bonsai Journey by Lo Min Hsuan

I was just reminded (on facebook, where else?) that Lo Min Hsuan has a new book. I don’t know to much about it, except that the cover makes me want to know more. Well, the cover and the fact it is by Lo Min Hsuan. Continuing a thread We’ve been featuring Lo Min Hsuan some lately (here, here and here). For good reason; he seems to be a the cutting edge of bonsai right now (at least one of the cutting edges) and he has this new book. There is some info about the book on his website, but the real … Continue reading Bonsai Journey by Lo Min Hsuan

Repotting The Imperial Pine

The Imperial Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) at The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. In training since 1795. Photo by Jonas Dupuich of Bonsai Tonight. Rusty, are you out there? I came across  a link to the article below in a post on Bonsai Tonight. The post is about the National Bonsai & Penjing museum. The link to the articled appears in the post’s comments by someone named Rusty. Unfortunately, Rusty didn’t give his last name (maybe someone out there knows who he is). A complex task with a simple name The article is entitled Repotting the Imperial Pine. It’s … Continue reading Repotting The Imperial Pine

This Time From Robert

He’s not really that small! Bonsai wishes from Robert Steven; famous bonsai artist, author and teacher. Not too bad with photoshop either. Can you imagine Santa leaving you this tree? Celebrate the New Year with Robert Well, actually with his great bonsai books: Mission of Transformation and Vision of My Soul.