Be a Fearless Bonsai Warrior

This American larch (Larix laricina) was sent to us by John Romano. It was selected as 1 of 100 in JAL World Bonsai Photo contest 2004. It was purchased as raw collected stock from American larch hero Nick Lenz. John Romano has been devoted to teaching bonsai for the past ten years and has developed Kaikou School of Bonsai (a two year program at at New England Bonsai). Kaikou is a somewhat archaic Japanese term that means ‘unexpected encounter’ or ‘crossing paths’. Your turn Our Fearless Bonsai Warrior program is about you and your bonsai. In other words, I want … Continue reading Be a Fearless Bonsai Warrior

In Whose Eye? Eccentric Bonsai

This strange, jumbled profusion of colorful leaves in a bonsai pot is from Morten Albek’s Shohin-Bonsai Europe website. It’s a Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) by Jacques Graulus of Belgium. BTW: Morten Albek is the author of Majesty in Miniature: Shohin Bonsai (Stone Lantern Publishing). No harm intended This is our first post on eccentric bonsai. Our intention is to explore and expand our bonsai horizons. Hopefully our observations are not too aggressive or offensive. However, it’s my view that anyone who is daring enough to put a photo of their bonsai on the web, should be prepared for evaluation and … Continue reading In Whose Eye? Eccentric Bonsai

Broken Branches: The Superglue Solution

Bonsai4me.com (one of my favorites) has a nifty little article on repairing snapped branches (and plenty of other valuable bonsai tips). BTW: the tree is a privet and that’s superglue in the anonymous hand.

Over Wintering Your Bonsai – Lecture & Tour

There is going to be a Bonsai overwintering lecture and tour on November 14 at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. If you haven’t been there, it’s a rare treat. Mark you calendar. John Naka’s famous Goshin and numerous other world class trees reside at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

Fall Fertilizing: Nitrogen

Fish seaweed is mild and well-balanced for fall fertilizing. Reduced nitrogen Horticulturists, bonsai teachers and others have long been advising people to reduce nitrogen fertilizing in late summer and fall. The keyword is “reduce.” Some nitrogen is necessary when you fertilize otherwise the phosphorous, potassium and other nutrients can’t do their job properly. Fall growing season in mild climates Here’s what Michael Hagedorn of Crataegus Bonsai has to say about nitrogen and the fall growing season: “We might also begin thinking about fall fertilizing. I think fall fertilizing is more important for bonsai, particularly developed ones, than spring fertilizing. In … Continue reading Fall Fertilizing: Nitrogen

Michelle & Andy’s Bonsai Soup

I wonder what it tastes like… I lifted this mind stopping image from Michelle Dougherty’s Bunjin Journal. For some of us, the image alone speaks volumes (a picture is worth a whole bunch of words). For others, it opens the door to a discussion that, before it plays out, may generate more words than anyone cares to count. If you are one of those others, check out Bunjin Journal and The Art of Bonsai Project for some in depth ruminations. Thumbs up! Every since I stumbled upon Michelle’s blog, I look forward to her posts. I find her take on … Continue reading Michelle & Andy’s Bonsai Soup

Deadwood South Dakota: Yamadori part 1

This Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is going to stay put right where it is. Photo by Andy Smith, from the home page on Andy’s Golden Arrow Bonsai. Andy Smith Andy Smith is a bonsai artist and professional woodsman who specializes in collecting trees from nature. Though I’ve only met Andy once, and have never been collecting with him, I can say with some degree of certainty, that Andy knows what he’s doing when it comes to collecting and caring for yamadori. If you would like to learn how to collect the right way, check out Andy’s DVD, How to Collect … Continue reading Deadwood South Dakota: Yamadori part 1

Masters’ Gallery #3: World Bonsai Contest

As you can see, this tree by Zhuang Weijun is the Grand Winner of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation‘s 2009 Bonsai Photo Contest. I was very taken with this tree as well as the runner ups, and several of these entrants. As far as ascertaining the types of trees and other pertinent information (with the exception of the artist’s names and countries), maybe you’ll have better luck than I.

Shin-Boku’s Very Big Bonsai

This Weeping eastern white pine (Pinus Strobus ‘Pendula’) is from Shin-Boku Nursery in Wentworth NH. It’s pretty impressive as is, but if you wanted to turn it into a very large bonsai, you might want to cut off (or air-layer) everything above the large first branch on the left (the branch that’s about even with her left hand). Shin-Boku Nursery We mentioned Shin-Boku a few posts back when we were discussing some Cole’s prostrate hemlocks. It’s worth mentioning again if you like landscape trees that look like bonsai, as well as some great potential bonsai. Here’s a couple more trees … Continue reading Shin-Boku’s Very Big Bonsai

Jin & Shari #6: Carving an Old Hornbeam

Here’s a great example of an English hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) that started as large tree that was cut down and carved. The artist is Graham Potter of Kaizen Bonsai. Carving video by Graham Potter If you are interested in carving as well as reducing large field grown trees, check out the video below. It might just open up an entirely new way of doing things for you and your bonsai.