Elevated Company, Circling Back from Venezuela to Taiwan

The sheer size and power are of this magnificent tree places it in elevated company. It’s a 50cm (20″) tall Ficus microcarpa by one of our favorite South American bonsai artists, Nacho Marin of Venezuela. The pot is by John Evans from the USA. Though this post was inspired by Nacho Marin’s powerful Ficus (above) and though Nacho is South American, when we start looking at Ficus bonsai we seem to circle back to Taiwan. In this case, much of the elevated company (mentioned in the caption above) comes from that island nation. It doesn’t hurt that they have the … Continue reading Elevated Company, Circling Back from Venezuela to Taiwan

Wild Horses, Tiny Trees

This sweet little quince with its brilliant tiny flowers belongs to Haruyosi. It’s a safe bet that he also made the pot. It has been a couple years since I first stumbled upon Haruyosi and his delightful tiny trees and pots and though I’m usually loath to use the term bonsai master (once you introduce the term, pretty soon you see even moderately accomplish bonsai artists called bonsai master and that just ain’t right), if I were to use it, Haruyosi would be a good place to start. Or, more precisely, Shohin Bonsai Master. While were throwing the term around, … Continue reading Wild Horses, Tiny Trees

Great Close Ups, the Tallest Tree in the World, the Artisans Cup and other Bonsai Wonders

It’s not that often that you’ll find a tall tree like this with great lower branching. When you do, and in the right hands, the result can be striking and quite unique. It’s a Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa) that belongs to Ryan Neil (Bonsai Mirai). All the photos in this post are from Ryan’s facebook photos. One of the things I like about Ryan Neil’s photos are his close-ups. It doesn’t hurt that his trees are phenomenal and so well photographed in the first place. But then to show such vivid close-ups invites you in closer. Like you are there … Continue reading Great Close Ups, the Tallest Tree in the World, the Artisans Cup and other Bonsai Wonders

Bonsai Serpent Hiding in Plain Sight

The serpent is hiding in plain sight. This magnificent tree (with or without the serpent, though I prefer with) belongs to Enrique Castaño, who has this to say about it: “This Terminalia (ucarillo) got the name Kukulcan from the Mayan mythology, Kukulcan was one of the serpents with feathers, kind of like a dragon. Soon I will show Quetzalcotl another more impresive Terminalia.” The more I look at the tree above, the more I notice how well the elements all tie together. The way the color of the pot mirrors the bark and the reddish tips of the leaves. The … Continue reading Bonsai Serpent Hiding in Plain Sight

Your Chance to Own Top Tier Tree from the Private Collection of a Famous Bonsai Artist

One of North America’s favorite bonsai artists is adding more bonsai to the public offering of some favorites from his private collection, including this prize winning Japanese maple. In his own words: “I have decided to let go of one of my favorite Japanese Maples. Some of you may recognize it from 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition 2012* I have enjoyed it for over 20+ years. It’s now time to move into a new home. If you are seriously interested, please call me.” *Ever modest, Suthin doesn’t mention that it won the Finest Deciduous Bonsai award at the Exhibition. This … Continue reading Your Chance to Own Top Tier Tree from the Private Collection of a Famous Bonsai Artist

There Are Bonsai, and then…

There are bonsai and then there are bonsai. This fluid masterpiece belongs to Isao Omachi. There are other adjectives that come to mind, like elegant, graceful and exquisite, but the problem with writing about bonsai almost everyday is these superlatives get used until they lose their meaning. Oh well. Mr Omachi doesn’t say anything about this tree and I won’t venture any guesses. It’s from his facebook photos. All the trees shown here are from Isao Omachi’s facebook photos. If you’ve been following the international bonsai scene, you know that he’s the one who had his entire bonsai collection (and … Continue reading There Are Bonsai, and then…

Whirlpool Dancer

This wild looking Japanese white pine is called Whirlpool Dancer (no explanation necessary). Like many old top-tier yamadori bonsai, its controted shape and ample deadwood tell a story of hardship and survival . It first appeared in Bonsai Today magazine and later had a whole chapter devoted to it in our Pine book (Jewel to Whirlpool). The artist at the time was Tomio Yamada. It’s called Uzushio which as you might guess, means whirlpool. It currently resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. All three of the tree’s shown here have previously appeared on Bark and all three are so … Continue reading Whirlpool Dancer

Walter’s Powerful Rough Bark Japanese Maple

This powerful Rough Bark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Arakawa’) is approximately eighty years old and stands 70cm (almost 28″) high. Walter Pall imported it from Japan this year as semi raw material. Walter has an excellent series of photos on the tree’s transition since he received it. We could devote all of Bonsai Bark to Walter Pall’s trees and seemingly never run out of material. But then, Walter is already doing that with his blog, his website and on facebook, so all we have to do to enjoy his bonsai wizardry, is occasionally touch in. In case you don’t know … Continue reading Walter’s Powerful Rough Bark Japanese Maple

How About Yew?

This rather spectacular, muscular Japanese yew resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama, Japan, along with numerous other top tier bonsai. The pot looks like it could be Tokoname. Though you can’t see the back, it’s possible that the single live vein in the front supports all of the foliage in the tree’s impressively massive crown. Apologies for the bad pun in the title. We’ll blame it on faulty wiring (of the physiological type rather than the bonsai type). While we’re at it here’s another bad Yew pun. One of the great thing about Yews (Taxus) is they … Continue reading How About Yew?

Every Day Is Bonsai Day and Today Is Mother’s Day

The sculpted look. This Mugo pine by Mother Nature and Georg Reinhard combines wildness and elegance with its flowing lines and almost perfectly shaped robust live growth. I particularly like the way the deadwood twists and turns all the way back down to soil and the jagged lightening bolt on the left. Though I know that some people take issue with highly sculpted deadwood, this is so well done that I can’t imagine even the most dogmatic proponents of the naturalistic look being too worked up about it. Too much going on today, so we’ll dip back into our archives. … Continue reading Every Day Is Bonsai Day and Today Is Mother’s Day