Cuttings

Another Immense Bonsai

This photo of what can only be described as a massive Sabina juniper was taken at Bonsaisense in Mallorca Spain, after two days of skillful transformation by Bjorn Bjorholm (and algunos amigos). Flashback. When I first glimpsed the tree above, I thought we were back at the Artisans Cup. I think this connection has a lot to do with this tree’s size and spread and just how many impressively large trees there were at the Cup. In case you wondering, the size of a bonsai isn’t what makes it worthy or not worthy. Still, size does add dramatic effect. Especially … Continue reading Another Immense Bonsai

Japanese White Pine Bonsai

This Japanese white pine shows a strong truck with good taper and nice balanced open branching. Most quality Japanese white pine bonsai have been grafted onto Black pine stock, but this one was grown from seed. When this photo was taken it had just been wired by Michael Hagedorn (Crataegus Bonsai.) It belongs to a client of Micheal’s. The Japanese white pine is one of the world’s emblematic bonsai. In Japan it is one of the two most famous classical bonsai species (the other is the Japanese black pine) and appreciation for its beauty and suitability for bonsai has spread … Continue reading Japanese White Pine Bonsai

…or You Could Just Sit Back & Enjoy Some Beautiful Bonsai

You don’t often see bonsai photographed in front of luminous gold screens or other such strong backgrounds. In most cases a neutral background makes more sense; you want the tree to stand out from the background, not compete with it. But in this case, I think we’re alright. The photo is from The Beauty of Bonsai. Today’s post features photos from some of our excellent bonsai books. You could consider this post one big ad (today is the first day of New Bonsai Book Sale. 30% off our already discounted prices), or you could just sit back and enjoy some … Continue reading …or You Could Just Sit Back & Enjoy Some Beautiful Bonsai

Powerful Pine Bonsai, Books & Wire

This has to be one of the most impressive bonsai pine forests anywhere. Actually, you can scratch the pine part and we’ll just leave it at one of the most impressive forests, period. Most of us would be more than delighted to have any one of these trees in our backyard, let alone the whole planting. Nice pot too. Looks a bit like an escarpment in the Rockies. This and the other photos in this post are courtesy of Robert Steven. We’ve shown all the photos featured here before, but they are so exceptional that there’s no harm in showing … Continue reading Powerful Pine Bonsai, Books & Wire

A Scent of Spring

I like it when azaleas show some leaves when they bloom. Sometimes you see them completely covered with flowers, which can seem a little unnatural. This magnificent Nyohozan Satsuki Azalea belongs to Melvyn Goldstein. Its height is only 10 inches (25cm). It, along with nearly two hundred of North America’s other greatest bonsai, can be found in the 2nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album (out of print – Albums 3 & 4 are still available). We’re not out of the winter woods yet here in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, but there is a slight scent of spring in the breeze. Still, … Continue reading A Scent of Spring

Bonsai Wire Sale Ends Tomorrow Night

Don’t let yourself run out of Bonsai Wire It’s a great feeling to have exactly the right wire at hand when you need it 25% off Bonsai Wire Our Bonsai Wire is now 25% off of our already low prices Sale ends tomorrow (Monday, March 7th) at 11:59pm EST Plus FREE Shipping on U.S. orders 49.00 or more you must select FREE Shipping when you check out Chose from a whole range of roll sizes, diameters and types of Bonsai Wire – All now 25% off 25% off Okatsune Garden & Bonsai Tools Meanwhile, our Okatsune Bonsai & Garden Tool … Continue reading Bonsai Wire Sale Ends Tomorrow Night

Freedom, Artistry & Boundless Enthusiasm

Sometimes the toughest choice I make all day is deciding which tree to show first. All seven bonsai shown here exhibit the sense of freedom and artistry that caught my attention and helped make that other tough decision; what or who to blog about. Finally, this wildly uninhibited juniper (the one I saw first) won out. It and the rest of the trees shown here belong to Isao Omachi. Whether you like Isao Omachi’s bonsai or not (though it’s hard for me to understand why anyone wouldn’t), you have to admire his boundless enthusiasm and playfulness, which even if you … Continue reading Freedom, Artistry & Boundless Enthusiasm

Old Bonsai & Ancient Trees

This magnificent Juniper bonsai is said to be 800 years old, which makes it a very old bonsai. But not the oldest bonsai we know of and nowhere near the oldest living tree in the world. It resides at Kunio Kobayashi’s Shunka-en Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. I borrowed the photo from Bonsai Empire. Old Tjikko. This lonely Norway spruce (Picea abies) is said to be 9,500 years old. But the trunk you see in this photo is only a few hundred years old. The tree above is called Old Tjikko. It originally gained fame as the world’s oldest tree, but … Continue reading Old Bonsai & Ancient Trees

Let’s Twist

This little Shimpaku juniper was grown in Japan and shaped by human hands. Though it’s almost impossible to mimic the raw and rugged look that nature sometimes comes up with, this one isn’t half bad. The final styling was done by Masahiko Kimura. You can find this photo in The Magician, the Bonsai Art of Kimura 2. Is it possible to grow bonsai that have the coveted natural look you find with collected (yamadori) trees? Judging from the photo above, you can at least come close. We don’t do a lot of how-to articles, but now and then we find … Continue reading Let’s Twist

Types & Uses of Bonsai Wire & Why Blogging About Bonsai Is a Total Disaster

Like most bonsai, this one has been wired. In fact, there’s visible wire on it right now. It’s a Shimpaku that’s from a chapter in our Masters’ Series Juniper book, titled Keiko Tamaki’s Deft Touch. Because this post is an attempt to dig into a bonsai topic in some depth (and because it might be viewed as an extended advertisement for our bonsai wire), I’d like borrow a disclaimer (slightly paraphrased) from our friend Michael Hagedorn: “There are plenty of exceptions to everything I’m about to say, which naturally makes blogging about bonsai a total disaster.” Most bonsai are wired … Continue reading Types & Uses of Bonsai Wire & Why Blogging About Bonsai Is a Total Disaster