Unusual Bonsai and a Human Tendency to Orthodoxy

This magnificent old yamadori Shimpaku, with its self framing deadwood just might be one of the most outrageously unusual bonsai you’ll ever ever see. It’s from Taisho-en in Japan. I originally found this image here. Today is catch up day after a hectic week, so once again it’s archive time. This one is from August 2014. It was titled ‘A Magnificent Affront to Bonsai Orthodoxy.’ Trees as unusual as the one above are often controversial. I think some of this controversy is a human tendency to orthodoxy. We get used to things a certain way and next thing you know … Continue reading Unusual Bonsai and a Human Tendency to Orthodoxy

Answers to Questions You Never Knew to Ask

This Rocky mountain juniper is from a post titled Juniper Live Veins and How They Move… on Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai. I got a little busy after the Artisans Cup and the transition into the Holiday Season and forgot to visit Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai for a few weeks. Until this morning that is. And now I remember why I keep coming back. Since my last visit Michael has posted The Difference Between Plant Hardiness and Chilling… Seasonal Care for Cold Weather… and the post featured here, Juniper Live Veins and How They Move… Other stuff too, with lots of … Continue reading Answers to Questions You Never Knew to Ask

Lava Flow Bonsai

This simple and graceful old tree belongs to Ryan Neil (Bonsai Mirai). Here’s what Ryan’s caption says about it: “Lodgepole Pine. Pinus contorta latifolia. Collected in 2009 from a lava flow in the Cascade Mountains. Rapidly becoming one of Mirai’s favorites!” Interesting how the trunk looks kinda like a lava flow. I have no idea why Lodgepole pine bonsai are so rare, but they are. In the entire history of Bonsai Bark (almost seven years and several thousand bonsai) we have shown only three. Counting the three shown here (we’ve shown the one at the bottom before). Which is to … Continue reading Lava Flow Bonsai

Crazy Shimpaku Bonsai

One of several great Shimpaku junipers from a post by Bjorn Bjorholm. I picked this one in part because of the little curlycue jin (dead branch) hanging down. I’ve seen plenty of other intriguing jins, but this one is so distinctive and in a place so prominent that it comes close to stealing the show (in spite of the light background that diminishes its effect, and in spite of the many other wonders of this tree). We’re busy around here, but we’re still trying to post everyday. So, it’s the archives again. This one is from April 2014. I picked … Continue reading Crazy Shimpaku Bonsai

Robert’s Bonsai & Our Disclaimer

Premna is all Robert Steven says about this remarkable tree, but maybe that’s enough; it can tell its own story of a wild life with more than its fair share of abuse (like some people we might know). As you may have noticed, we feature Robert Steven’s bonsai more than any other artist, so maybe it’s time to issue a disclaimer. But before we do that, we’ll note that Robert is one of the most prolific and talented bonsai artists we know. Beyond that, he teaches bonsai to a depth seldom seen and he expresses boundless energy and enthusiasm in … Continue reading Robert’s Bonsai & Our Disclaimer

One of the Most Compelling Bonsai

This has to be one of the most compelling bonsai I’ve seen in a while. It has that wild, not overly refined look and ‘just so’ deadwood (it’s not dominated by deadwood like so many trees). But the real deal is the trunk. When was the last time you saw a trunk with so much power and character? This before and after is more about refinement than styling rough stock. Less daunting perhaps, but only someone skilled in the art of bonsai can do what you see here. In this case, that someone is Gabriel Romero Aguade (Bonsai Sant-boi) (this … Continue reading One of the Most Compelling Bonsai

Can there ever be too much Deadwood?

Mario Komsta (Mariusz Janusz Komsta) recently featured this tree with the following caption: “after refinement by Taiga Urushibata, june 2014.” We’ve featured Mario’s bonsai numerous times, but this is the first time for Taiga. To my eye the tree above is an outstanding bonsai. Powerful, with balance, flow and numerous points of interest (my only question is the chopped off looking jin at the top). Recently a friend mentioned that we’ve been featuring too much deadwood lately. Perhaps he’s correct. There does seem to be a renewed emphasis on creating and carving deadwood. You see massive carved trees everywhere and … Continue reading Can there ever be too much Deadwood?

Large Bonsai with Thick Trunks Are Nearly Always Developed in the Ground

We’ve shown this Harry Harrington privet before, but it’s worth another look. I’ve long been impressed with what Harry Harrington has been up to. Both his bonsai techniques and the results, as well as his willingness to share what he knows (three books and a website full of useful techniques and other information). Yesterday it was a remarkable yew. Today it’s a field grown privet and an excerpt of an article Harry wrote on field growing. Both are from our archives. One reason we’ve featured field growing so much is that the USDA restrictions make importing quality stock from Asia … Continue reading Large Bonsai with Thick Trunks Are Nearly Always Developed in the Ground

Evolution of Remarkable Bonsai

Harry Harrington’s latest iteration of his English yew. Here’s what Harry said about this tree three days ago: ” Finally, work on my Taxus baccata/ Yew bonsai completed with the branches wired and laid-out. Height 25″/61cm, trunkbase (inc root jin) 12″/30cm. Pot by Victor Harris of Erin Pottery.” I’ve been watching the evolution of Harry Harrington’s bonsai for a long time now. In fact, one of our first posts is from Harry’s bonsai4me (March 2009). Now, almost seven years later we have the (you can supply your own adjectives) tree shown here. It’s an English (aka European) Yew (Taxus baccata). … Continue reading Evolution of Remarkable Bonsai

Bonsai from Nothing

Robert Steven’s simulation of a tree that was submitted by David Royinsyah (below). The following is from two years ago today (the first time I rehashed this post): “Even though I promised I wouldn’t do any rehashed posts for a while, my day is already full and it just happens to be my birthday, so I’m going to cut myself a little slack. Anyway, what better to rehash than a Robert Steven critique? This one originally appeared almost three years ago.” After featuring a couple dozen of Robert’s critiques over the years, I’m still impressed. This one is quite unusual … Continue reading Bonsai from Nothing