Big tree. A little fuzzy, but you get the idea. From Bonsai Isma Shim’s Photos. Vacay time I’m ducking out for a few days. I’ll try to keep something coming so you don’t forget about us. Easy to do posts like this one. Big summer sale still humming along…
I love this schefflera by Sara Rayner, even though it’s a bit jammed in the photo. It’s completely unique and has a natural uncontrived feel. I found it and the photo below at The Art of Bonsai Project. Sara Rayner, potter plus bonsai artist For a long time I thought Sara Rayner just made fine bonsai pots. I didn’t know she made fine bonsai as well. I would venture a guess that I’m not the only one who has held such thoughts, as Sara is quite well known for her pots, and less well known for her trees (at least … Continue reading More Than Just Pots
Lodge pole pine by Dan Robinson (Elandan Gardens). From The Art of Bonsai Project. Photo by Victrinia Ensor. Seriously, Picasso? I didn’t make the Picasso thing up (though it’s the second time I’ve used it). It’s from a chapter entitled ‘Becoming Picasso’ in Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees: The Life and Works of Dan Robinson – Bonsai Pioneer, by Will Hiltz. No matter who first thought to equate Dan and Picasso, I think it might be apt. Passion, willingness to break with convention, constant experimentation, a profound respect for the medium, and of course, a fair dose of natural talent, accurately … Continue reading Becoming Picasso
Some serious sh-t stuff! Take a look at the before photo below to get a hit of what you can do with a piece of rebar, some nerve, and more than a little skill. All the photos in this post are of bonsai by David Benavente. Before rebar.
Before decandling. Cork bark Japanese black pine from Bonsai Tonight. Decandling, candle plucking, candle pinching… The photos and instructions in this post are all from Bonsai Tonight. The topic is decandling (also called candle plucking or candling pinching) Japanese black pines (specifically a cork bark black pine). The purpose of decandling is to balance growth, develop ramification and reduce needle size. Not all pines are the same, nor should they be treated exactly the same. Still, the basic principles can be applied to pines other than the Japanese black. After decandling. Four zones, twenty days The following is a small … Continue reading Balancing Growth on Pine Bonsai
It’s not so far fetched Most of the time we think day to day or even moment to moment. Occasionally, we need to think a little further out (time wise that is). This is especially true if you want to exhibit a bonsai or perhaps become a vendor at the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Or, given the pressures on your schedule, if you just want to attend. Though it may seem far fetched now, if you don’t plan ahead, other obligations might worm their way into you schedule. BTW: The 2nd was a roaring success.
Here it is. It’s a Pinus densiflora (Japanese Red Pine) that was donated to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by The Imperial Household of Japan. It has been in training since 1795. The Japanese Collection It’s right here in North America and it’s one of the best collections of bonsai anywhere. Here’s an excerpt from the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum’s website: “The Japanese Collection began with the gift of 53 bonsai from Japan on the occasion of the American Bicentennial in 1976. The trees, which were from private collections, were selected by the Nippon Bonsai Association with financial … Continue reading In Training Since 1795
This enchanted (and somewhat fuzzy) scene if from BCI’s (Bonsai Club International) web pages on their upcoming China tour. China anyone? It’s too bad the photo above isn’t sharper. Still, it’s clear that the scene beckons you to sail amongst those towering cliffs (at least in your imagination). I doubt if BCI’s tour includes sailing, but you will enjoy plantings like this one. Disney World? Nope, it’s a little piece of China. From BCI.
Deshojo Japanese maple by Bill Valavanis. It’s been Bill’s day in the sun lately with a successful 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition under his belt, so why not show another side of his talents? One thing that strikes me about this photo the are the five strong colors (black, vermillon, whitish, green and shades of blue) that stand in sharp contrast to each other. This play of colors in such high contrast, along with the simple beauty of the tree, leaves little doubt that bonsai, when done well, is elevated to pure art. Here’s something I grabbed off of facebook … Continue reading Bonsai Art: Deshojo Japanese Maple
Towering tree or a very strong bonsai? It’s from our $100 Photo Art Contest and it’s by Christian Hansen. It didn’t finish in the money, but I wonder if it might have, had people known it’s a bonsai (a very large bonsai). I didn’t realize it was until Christian sent me the photo below. It’s one of only two photos that were actually of bonsai, even though the whole name of the contest was: $100 Bonsai Photo Art Contest. From top to bottom. I think it’s a Chinese elm. It’s a very powerful tree and there’s a lot to like … Continue reading Remember This?