Back Yard Bonsai Displays #4: A Japanese Touch

This shot doesn’t exactly show off François Jeker’s bonsai (if you squint you can see them way in the back), but it does give you a pretty good idea of his artistry when it comes to building and maintaining a Japanese garden. Speaking of François Jeker Though François Jeker is well known for his masterful work with deadwood (see previous and future posts), his interest and skills stretch far beyond. The gardens and bonsai displays featured here attest to his sensibilities and deft touch, as does his benchmark book, Bonsai Aesthetics.

Back Savers #3: Plan Ahead for Shohin Symposium

Koto Hime Dwarf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Koto Hime’). Bill Valavanis started this sturdy shohin maple from an airlayer taken in June 1986. Height 11 inches, Tokonome pot. 2009 Shohin Bonsai Symposium, Rochester NY. Bill Valavanis’ Shohin Symposium is coming up soon (September). Shohin artists from around the world will be teaching and displaying their talents and enthusiasm for your enjoyment and benefit. Nobuichi Urushibata, Peter Warren, Julian Adams… Harvey Carapella, Sean Smith, Suthin Sukosolvisit, Erik Wigert, Jack Wikle, Bill Valavanis (and you?) will be on hand. And, of course. a host of bonsai friends to hang and play with … Continue reading Back Savers #3: Plan Ahead for Shohin Symposium

Back Savers #2: Shohin & Mame Bonsai Video

This powerful little quince in one of many exceptional small bonsai on a great video (below) I found while wading my way through numerable numerous bad to mediocre bonsai videos on youtube. I’m not complaining though, this gem made the whole journey worth while. Disclaimer: the music may, or may not, be to your taste, but the bonsai and the high quality production certainly will.

Protect Your Bonsai from Two-Legged Pests

This splendid Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) is from the ABS Stolen Bonsai Registry. It’s an unfortunate fact that there are confused people with bad intentions (often arising from bad addictions) that sometimes steal bonsai. ABS (American Bonsai Society) recommends that you keep an up-to-date file, with photos, of your bonsai. Not a bad idea. It’s also not a bad idea to periodically check the ABS registry to see if you’ve come across any stolen trees. Anything we can do to help each other and make it a little more difficult for people who steal, is a good thing.

Backyard Bonsai Displays #3: A Fresh Start

Starting from scratch Morten Albek (author of Shohin Bonsai) recently moved himself and his bonsai. This photo shows an early stage in the process of building his new backyard display. Not a bad start. Morten will be posting photos on his website as the project progresses.

A Timely Watering Tip from Michael Hagedorn

This illustration by Kyosuke Gun is from our Masters’ Series Juniper book. It is a perfect fit for this post that is borrowed from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai. Before the real summer heat hits, consider how you are watering your trees. Have you ever seen your trees grow through spring just fine, only to get fried leaves at the first onset of early summer? Ever wonder why that happens? Those trees just don’t have enough roots. Those are the trees that got overwatered, or simply never dried out, in the cool spring months. Their roots were never encouraged to hunt … Continue reading A Timely Watering Tip from Michael Hagedorn

Lindsay Bebb Gallery at Art of Bonsai

One of my favorite bonsai sites, The Art of Bonsai Project, is featuring a gallery of Lindsay Bebb’s bonsai (that includes this strikingly colorful bougainvillea). Check it out if you get a chance. The people at The Art of Bonsai Project are among the very best at promoting bonsai as an art; exactly as their name implies.

Contest #3: Mystery Tree

Imperfections aside, I still believe this is a remarkable bonsai. This brings us to the first question: Why do I believe that this is a remarkable tree (you’ll have to read my mind on this one)… …and, question two: Whose bonsai is it? The first person who provides the correct answer to both questions will win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern.

Field Growing #6: What’s with S Shaped Curves?

A pretty impressive bonsai with a modified S shape. It’s a Miyajima Japanese-Five Needle Pine (also called Japanese white pine – Pinus parviflora ‘Miyajima’) that was field grown for several years. The artist/owner is Ken Buell. The photo is from the 1st U. S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album. Here’s the text of an email I received from Eric Killian… I think bonsai bark has a lot of potential, but I’d love to see more on field growing. I have about 30-40 trees in the ground now but ground growing is completely new to me. Should I be giving trucks shape … Continue reading Field Growing #6: What’s with S Shaped Curves?

Grafting Lesson: Japanese Black Pine

In this simple and clear video, Brent Walston of Evergreen Gardenworks provides an excellent lesson in grafting scions onto root stock. In this case the scion is a Japanese black pine varietal called Hayabusa (Pinus thunbergii ‘Hayabusa’), which is a dwarf cork barked cultivar (nishiki kuro matsu) with very dense foliage. The root stock is your basic Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii). Brent uses Japanese black pine as stock for a number of black and white pine cultivars. If you want to try your hand at grafting, you’ll need a sharp grafting knife and some grafting tape.