Cuttings

Nasty Alligators & Old New Year’s Bonsai

Though any Kokufu bonsai might work to lead with, there’s something about Quince flowers… Here’s Bill Valavanis’ caption: A small size Toyo Nishiki Japanese flowering quince, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo Nishiki’ with multiple colored flowers. Although red, pink and white blossoms are common for this great cultivar, I’ve often seen red branches grafted onto specimens to improve color distribution. Welcome to 2017. Even though it’s a day of rest, alligators don’t really rest (nasty year end alligators today and then inventory tomorrow), so I’ve decided to take the easy way out and show you some photos that we featured in February … Continue reading Nasty Alligators & Old New Year’s Bonsai

Three Pines, a Prize Winning Olive & a Great Display by One of Only Two Americans to Exhibit at the 2014 Kokufu

This knotted pine, along with the two pines below, were recently posted by Frank Cucchiara. Frank doesn’t say anything about them (they look like Japanese black pines), but based on what we know about Frank, we can assume they are his. This post was going to be short and simple. Three pines borrowed from Frank Cucchiara. But, suddenly, after a little research, we’ve got a tribute to Frank’s bonsai. Continued below… 8.50 for 500 gram rolls of Bonsai Wire IS Too Good to Pass UP 13.50 less 30% = 9.45 per roll if your total order is 100.00+ then it’s … Continue reading Three Pines, a Prize Winning Olive & a Great Display by One of Only Two Americans to Exhibit at the 2014 Kokufu

Flowers & Snow (& Too Good to Pass Up)

Japanese Flowering apricot (Prunus mume). This would be a remarkable tree even without the flowers. With the flowers… well, you can see for yourself. The tree resides at Bonsai Aichien in Japan. Speaking of snow, we’re expecting a foot or more over the next day or so. Time to run to the store to stock up on half and half. Meanwhile, we’ll borrow today’s post from February 2014. Both the photos here were posted on facebook by Juan Andrade who is (was?) an apprentice at Bonsai Aichien and a great source of excellent bonsai photos. Continued below… Too Good to … Continue reading Flowers & Snow (& Too Good to Pass Up)

Two Powerful Bonsai for Your Enjoyment

Oaks are often full of character and this one is no exception. It’s a Holm oak that belongs to Raffaele Perilli. Though you can’t see it in this photo, it’s sitting on a Green T Hydraulic Lift Bonsai Turntable. I guess this post might qualify as an infomercial of sorts… but before you move on, you might take a moment to appreciate three things… First, two powerful bonsai for your enjoyment Second, our NEW Tool and Wire Sales Third, our amazing Green T Professional Hydraulic Turntable. Continued below… 2 Brand NEW Sales 2 Continuing Sales… …one with increase discounts NEW … Continue reading Two Powerful Bonsai for Your Enjoyment

Three Juniper Bonsai & One Juniper Bonsai Book

Here’s one that jumped off the page while perusing everyone’s favorite social media site. Looks like a Shimpaku juniper. There’s a lot to like here: the way the living veins merge in an inverted U shape on the trunk (a strange feature that might disqualify the tree from exhibiting in the famous Japanese bonsai shows, but one that you might appreciate for its unconventional effect); the dynamic movement of the trunk from the base to the top and the feel of coiled stored energy in the trunk (it’s the coffee). Then there’s the way deadwood in the middle of the … Continue reading Three Juniper Bonsai & One Juniper Bonsai Book

Enjoy Two Beautiful 2017 Japanese Calendars & Save

These two handsome, colorful 2017 Japanese Calendars can be yours at a New Special price of only 19.90 (list price for both is 30.90). Order yours before they are gone We have been importing beautiful custom Japanese bonsai and garden calendars for so long I’ve forgotten when we started. The response has always been overwhelming, with the same bonsai and Japanese garden lovers ordering year after year Here are a few more photos to stimulate you sense of beauty… Multi-toned Satsuki azalea Shimpaku juniper with swirling scuptural deadwood Another stunning Satsuki   A perfect compliment to your new Calendars…. 30% … Continue reading Enjoy Two Beautiful 2017 Japanese Calendars & Save

Short & Sweet

Here’s what Bob Bailey wrote when he posted this tiny but powerful pine by Koji Hiramatsu: “One of his finest and only 10cms tall.” And just in case you happen to live in one of the three countries* that haven’t adopted the metric system, that’s just under 4″ I’m not sure how we managed to overlook Koji Hiramatsu for so long (in February it will be eight years of approximately 300 posts per year), but we did. Until now. We’re still recovering from the December frenzy and it’s time to wade though digital piles of year end numbers and obligations, … Continue reading Short & Sweet

A Soft Spot for Cedars

When is a Cedar not really a Cedar? Or does it even matter? Either way, this has to be one of the very best Northern white cedars we’ve seen yet. I’ve got a soft spot for Cedars, even when they’re really Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis – aka Northern white cedar – more below) and the one above is certainly no exception. I know I’ve seen it somewhere, but memory is elusive (74) and I know I’ll be embarrassed when you point it out (just heard from a couple bonsai friends north of the border – the artist is Brian Donnely of … Continue reading A Soft Spot for Cedars

Coming Soon! – The Foundations of Bonsai

The U.S. edition of Harry Harrington’s excellent The Foundations of Bonsai is on its way to Vermont. And then from Vermont to you. Stay posted. Stone Lantern Publishing is partnering with Harry Harrington to publish the first U.S. edition of Harry’s The Foundations of Bonsai. The U.K./European edition has been very well received and we anticipate the same here. You can look for it around mid-January. Stay posted. Meanwhile, today is our first post Holiday rush day. Finally, all the gifts are shipped and the dust is beginning to settle. Ric and Martin (our loyal warehouse/customer service/bottle washing crew) are … Continue reading Coming Soon! – The Foundations of Bonsai

Spring Is Coming! Only Fourteen Weeks Until Our Bonsai Awaken

The new growth on some Spruce is often a brilliant yellow. Almost like yellow flowers. In this case the spruce is an Ezo (Picea jezoensis). This one resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum as do the other trees in this post. It’s the shortest day of the year and you know what that means…  SPRING is coming! I know it’s too soon and a little crazy and even a little cruel to think this way when we still have about fourteen weeks of cold stretched out in front of us before our bonsai wake up and start making their … Continue reading Spring Is Coming! Only Fourteen Weeks Until Our Bonsai Awaken