It’s About the Flowers

Bonsai Mike’s shohin pyracantha (firethorn). Ordinary bonsai conventions don’t necessarily apply The Japanese (and others) tend to design flowering bonsai to show off the flowers. Other considerations, like taper and branch placement, often take a back seat. So much so that many flowering trees are displayed only when flowering (and fruiting). They pass the rest of their time tucked away in some corner of the nursery. A lot to like Even though it breaks one of the primary conventions of bonsai (the first two branches are next to each other) the bonsai above is so sweet that you could show … Continue reading It’s About the Flowers

Bonsai the Natural Way and the Hand of Man

My best guess is that this powerful old tree is a needle juniper (Juniperus rigida), though I can’t be sure. Whatever it is, it seems to posses an extraordinary number of separate live veins and a massive amount of deadwood to boot. It’s from Gyozan Nakano, Sakai: A 35 Year Anthology (not available in English). Nature and the hand of man Though the tree above is quite powerful and leagues above most bonsai, still, you might fine the busyness around its base (and other places) a little distracting. I’m not sure I’d do anything about it, as attempts to improve … Continue reading Bonsai the Natural Way and the Hand of Man

Rules of Bonsai?

Though I don’t think this has much to do with ‘rules of bonsai,’ I like a well done bonsai drawing and this one qualifies. I found it here. The post is titled ‘?5º Workshop Bonsai Morro Velho.’ Rules or guidelines? I agree with Brent Walston when he says rules is probably the worst word (below). I would scrap it and just use guidelines. Anyway whatever word you like, I thought you might find this useful, or interesting, maybe even interesting enough to provoke a comment and start a discussion. I found it on Bonsai Chat Room. It was posted by … Continue reading Rules of Bonsai?

The Attribution Question

This is a wonderful tree and the presentation is quite good (though it is difficult to make out the companion plant and some of the details on the main tree). I think it might be a hornbeam. It’s from Bonsaimania on facebook. All it says is: La foto de este bonsái pertenece al álbum de Jordi Escaler (The photo belongs to Jordi Escaler’s album). Do you think this tree belongs to Jordi? When I tried to follow the link provided, ‘content unavailable’ came up. When I searched Jordi Escaler bonsai, I struck out. Attribution would be good, no? Facebook and … Continue reading The Attribution Question

Inspired by the Master

I found this striking forest-on-a-cliff on facebook. It was posted by Dario Ascoli. It caught my attention for two reasons: first it stands on its own as decent bonsai with good potential for further development, and second, it is reminiscent of a famous Hinoki forest by Kimura (see below). Though I can’t find any information on this (who’s the artist etc), I’d wager that the trees are also Hinokis. Mature trees vs young trees Though comparisons are often odious (and unfair, especially when it’s with Kimura), still, older trees make for much more interesting forests. In this case, Kimura’s hinokis … Continue reading Inspired by the Master

Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

This remarkable Trident maple turned up on Bonsai Mania via facebook. It’s from the photo album of Alex Probst. A little update (1/7/2011) Now I know that this tree belongs to Walter Pall. I also know that it most likely was not photoshopped. My apologies to Walter. Enhancing color I realize that everyone’s monitor isn’t the same, but still, this looks like a case of photoshopping to enhance color, when color is the point of the photo. In this case it’s yellow that’s enhanced. You can tell by the yellowish trunk and the yellowish wooden slab that the pot rests … Continue reading Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

Bonsai Crazy

Is this bonsai a yew (Taxus)? And is it one of the most powerful and dynamic bonsai around? Or, is it a Phoenix graft masquerading as one of the most powerful and dynamic bonsai around (even if it is a Phoenix graft, it is still quite spectacular)? I suspect it isn’t a Phoenix, though the large hunk of deadwood on the right does give pause. One thing I do know is that it’s from the album Bonsai Crazy by Adrian Lee Eu Wyn. 2011 is closing in. Don’t be caught without your bonsai calendar.

Stewartia: Graceful, Elegant & Not Very Common

This slender delight is showing off its inner charm. It’s late winter and the new buds are swelling. Without the leaves you can better see the subtle beauty of the bark and the delicate fine branching. The nebari is quite strong (but still in keeping with the delicacy of the tree). Much of its size and strength comes from having two trunks. This provides a good tip for creating nebari: leave smaller second and third trunks, at least for a while, if a strong nebari and lower trunk is your objective. Photo is from Bonsai Today issue 6. George Buehler … Continue reading Stewartia: Graceful, Elegant & Not Very Common

Of Scrolls & Tokonomas

This tokonoma with its spectacular scroll, is from Daiza Iwasaki’s house in Japan. A more cropped version of this photo appears in Morten Albek’s book, Majesty in Miniature, Shohin Bonsai. The original completely uncropped photo is below. Bonsai display I don’t think too many people pay very close attention to bonsai display. I’m sure there are some who do, but judging from countless photos on facebook and elsewhere, display isn’t a major concern for most people (especially outside of Japan). Relationships Display is a lot about the relationship of the elements. Though I’m far from an expert on the subject, … Continue reading Of Scrolls & Tokonomas

American Kokufu (Old News but Good News)

Doug Paul’s Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia) was displayed at the 2010 Kokufu ten Exhibition in Japan. Kokufu is widely considered the preeminent bonsai exhibition in the world, and just being excepted to display a bonsai in Kokufu is considered a great honor. Borrowed from Bill The photos and most of the text in this post are borrowed from Bill Valavanis. In Bill’s words (from the Internet Bonsai Club): “The 84th Kokufu Bonsai Ten Exhibition opens tomorrow (February, 2010) in Japan and history is being made. I believe for the first time an American has a bonsai on display. “Doug Paul’s Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia) bonsai … Continue reading American Kokufu (Old News but Good News)