Bonsai Adventure & a Pot with a Story to Tell

scamcu

A muscular old Camellia full of flowers and buds. This photo and the others in this post, were taken by Bill Valavanis during a recent visit to Shunka-en Bonsai Museum in Tokyo

Shunka-en Bonsai Museum is the home, studio, gallery and growing area of Kunio Kobayashi. All the photos in this post were taken at Shunka-en a few weeks ago by the omnipresent Bill Valavanis (everywhere is the answer to the ‘Where’s in the Bonsai World is Bill‘ question)

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 sperMore color. This one looks like a Persimmon and the pot looks like it has a story to tell
sshim
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spinecu
I cropped the Pine from yesterday to get a closer look at the trunk and bark

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Would You Like to See the Best Bonsai in Japan Up Close & Personal?

spine

This powerful pine resides at the Shunka-em Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. Photo By Bill Valavanis (on his cell phone!) from his recent trip to Japan

As long as we’ve got this shot (above) by Bill Valavanis from his latest Japanese bonsai expedition (stay posted for more tomorrow), here’s an expedition with an invitation just for you…

tour

Looking for a bonsai adventure this winter? Here’s your link to more information, and here’s a link to Bill’s International Bonsai website

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Japanese White Pines at Kokufu

ko1cuClose up of multiple trunk Japanese white pine. It looks a lot like a raft style* planting. This and the other photos shown here were taken at the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition. I cropped the original shot (just below) for a closer look

We’ve got some Japanese white pines (Pinus parviflora) from the Kokufu Exhibition that we found at Kazumatsu Bonsai. They don’t say what year the shots are from, but given that they were just posted, you might guess 2018

Just in case you’re new to bonsai, Kokufu is the oldest and most famous Bonsai Exhibition in the world. It takes place every year in Japan (with a break in the 1940s) and the 2018 Exhibition was the 92nd

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jo1JWP

The original shot. As you can see, it's an exceptional planting with a healthy canopy and just enough holes for the birds to fly through. And the pot suits it to a tee

KOJWP4CU

Another multi-trunked Japanese white pine, though this one is planted on a rock alive with ground cover. I can't tell for sure if it's a raft*

KOJWP4

The original photo

B1PINE605-500x6473Our Famous Masters Series Pine Book
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KOJWP3CU

Another close up. This time of a white pine with an unusual base. Looks bit like sea creature, maybe an octopus

KOJWP3

Here's the original photo. It makes more sense than the closeup above. The 'octapus' is less dominating and the whole effect becomes more dynamic once you see the dramatic sweep to the right

KOJWP2CU

Another close up. This one looks a single twin tree tree with one root system, rather than two separate trunks.

KOJWP2

Perfect!

*A raft is characterized by a single fallen trunk that puts out new roots along the ground and has three or more trunks rising from it. Once you see and understand the concept in bonsai, you might start to notice them in nature (unless you live in NYC and never get out… sorry,  just amusing myself… if you’ve read this far, let me know and we’ll send you 5.00 Stone Lantern coupon)… looks like I made a mistake in assuming sinuous root is a category of raft style, below is a clarification by Bill Valavanis

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Thanks to Bill Valavanis for clarification of raft stye

Your main bonsai featured is a Zuisho Japanese Five-needle Pine trained in the sinuous style, NOT raft style.

The raft, or straight line style, is characterized with a straight horizontal trunk on the soil surface with branches trained upward as individual trunks. Since the horizontal trunk is straight, very little perspective and movement is created as they are all in the same plane. This style is rather rare in Japan. What is popular is the sinuous style.
 
Sinuous Style
The sinuous style, or root connected style, is characterized with horizontal trunk, which is NOT straight but curved with movement, AND sometimes branches, along the soil surface with trunks are also trained upward. The original trunk which is curved, and also the horizontal branches provide an excellent opportunity to create depth and perspective. Most of the bonsai trained in the forest style with connected roots are actually sinuous, not raft. But, unfortunately, westerners prefer to use the incorrect word for this excellent style.
The 1992/NO. 1 issue of International BONSAI is on sinuous and raft style.
I rarely use Japanese terminology but here are the terms in case someone want to research more.
Raft style: Ikadabuchi
Sinuous style: Netsunagari

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Our National Bonsai Treasure

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This Sargent juniper (Aka Shimpaku) resides at the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It was donated by Doug Paul, owner of the Kennett Collection. This photo and the others shown here, were taken and generously offered by Robert Vitale. The plant varieties and names of the donors are courtesy of Janice Vitale and Michael James
We just featured a post about a great job opening at the  U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, so let’s stay on theme
The U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum is one of our true national treasures and a great place to visit next time you’re in or around DC.  And just in case you’re not familiar with our bonsai collection (it belongs to all of us), maybe these photos can serve as a brief introduction. This is the second time for this post (May 9th, 2018), but it’s worth another look… 
 

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bestofDCgraphic
The following is from our friend Felix Laughlin, President of the National Bonsai Foundation…  “We are delighted to announce that the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum has been named the “Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner” in Washington City Paper‘s Best of D.C. 2018 awards. Thanks to everyone who voted and helped spread the word about the national bonsai collection. We look forward to seeing you (and your out-of-town visitors) at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum very soon.”
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n10
Closeup of Sedum in Rock Penjing “Li Jiang river in Spring.”  Donated by the Shanghai Botanical Garden.
n1pine
This iconic Japanese White Pine ‘Miyajima’ was donated by Daizo Iwasaki, one of the world's great bonsai benefactors. Iwasaki sama passed away in 2011.
 
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Closeup of a Japanese White pine, that was gifted to Nancy Reagan by Hassan II King of Morocco. It has been in training since 1832

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Hinoki Cypress donated by Muriel Leeds. In training since 1964
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A piece of a Pitch pine that was also donated by Muriel Leeds. In training since 1967
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Close up of Chinese Elm penjing forest that was donated by Yunhua Hu. In training since 2004
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One Year of Some Serious Bonsai Training

Here’s a once in a lifetime job opportunity if you’re looking for serious bonsai training while working with some of the best bonsai in the world and a crew of dedicated people. Sounds like a great way to spend a year…

THE NATIONAL CAPITOL COLUMNS

To apply: Please send a cover letter indicating availability, resume, references, and transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) via email to USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov
Questions? Contact the internship office at (202) 245-4563 or USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov

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Just in case you think your monster bonsai is too big for a Green T Hydraulic Lift Turntable... "Matsuda san is the new entry in the Masahiko Kimura Bonsai family... has already gained world recognition." And of course Green T is an important part of Kimura's workshop (see below).

A  Green T Turntable will change the way your work on your bonsai
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gtkob

That's famous bonsai artist, Kunio Kobayashi on the right, getting ready to tackle his monster demo tree at last year’s World Bonsai Convention. And yes, that's a Green T not even straining to hold the behemoth up.

 

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The famous Masahiko Kimura with his demo planting sitting on a Green T Plus at the World Bonsai Convention.

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Even though this is a poorly doctored photo, we have it on good authority that Sumo wrestlers like Green T Turntables

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One of the Most Unique Pines in Our Ten Years of Blogging

JBPOMIYA

This Kuromatsu, aka Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) was featured at the 27th Japan Bonsai Writer Association exhibition (Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyokai exhibition), where this photo was taken. I cropped the original photo (see just below) for a closer look at just the tree

I found this magnificent tree on The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum‘s timeline. This famous museum is home to some of the best bonsai in the world and this Japanese black pine is certainly no exception. To my eye it is one of the most unique pines we’ve featured in our ten years of blogging (well, nine years and 10 months). It’s so wild and rugged that no matter what, it will never look like a more conventionally styled bonsai. Let alone many Japanese bonsai (some people complain about over-styling in Japan – a half formed notion in my opinion – and a topic for another time)

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JBPOMIYASCROLL

Here's the original photo

 

B1PINE605-500x6475

STONE LANTERN & BONSAI TODAY'S FAMOUS PINE BOOK
jbpcuCropped and blown up for a closer look at the gnarled old trunk

 

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The Emperor’s Bonsai

I21

At least two things set this Root-over-rock  Trident maple (Kaede Ishitsuki - maple planted on a rock) apart from thousands of other root-over Trident maples on this planet. First there it's exceptional quality, and second, it's part of Japan's Imperial Bonsai Collection. The tree's age is about 90 years. Its height is 57 cm (22.5"). Here's a quote from the Imperial website... "Among 'zoki' deciduous trees, 'momiji' (Japanese maple) and "kaede" (maple) (I'm not sure why this isn't translated as Trident maple) are particular favorites of bonsai lovers because of the way they show off the four seasons. Aficionados appreciate the young buds in early spring, the fresh green leaves in May, the red foliage in autumn, and the bare trunk and branches in winter. Kaede does not turn as red in fall as momiji does, but its autumn leaves -- a mixture of yellow and red hues -- are equally prized.
 "At the Imperial Palace, this kaede tree has been transplanted almost every year according to the condition of its roots. Due to its beautiful appearance, it is used for ornamental purposes throughout the year."

Yesterday we featured a tree that was donated to the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by The Imperial Household of Japan. Going to the source today, here’s are some more from the Imperial Collection. Only this time, they’re ones that are still there

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i08ad"Bright reddish leaves cover a 'De-Shojo momiji (Acer palmatum 'De-Shojo') in the budding season in April, as shown in a photo. Most of those leaves turn green in summer, but some remain red. They turn red again in autumn before the tree loses leaves toward winter. " From the Imperial Bonsai website. 
The tree is about 50 years old. Its height is 95cm (37.5"). If you'd like to dig in further, there's more on this tree and the others shown here at the Imperial site

I24

Another momiji  (Japanese maple). This one is a Seigen (Acer palmatum 'Seigen'). It's age is about 100 and its height is 74cm (29"). Here's teaser from the Imperial site... "Red leaves bloom from the tree in April. The color is not as vivid as hues found in the leaves of "deshojo," another momiji species (above), but it is a cherished spring color.
 "The tree features radial "nebari" (surface roots) and dynamic "tachiagari" (the initial rise of the trunk) that help balance the shape of the whole tree. Its "mikihada" trunk surface gives a sense of old age and represents an ideal momiji bonsai work. Given that its leaves grow strongly in summer, the tree was planted in a relatively large vessel. This makes viewers think of a tree growing from Mother Earth." There's more on this tree here

I23

This Fuji Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda Fuji) is about 450 years old! It's height is 83 cm (almost 33"). This time we'll show you the entire quote from the Imperial site...."The tree age is astonishing. Despite the great age, this tree continues to bloom flowers powerfully every year without showing any signs of weakening. 
 "The viewing season falls in late April. But this year, the Fuji tree sent out flowers a bit earlier than usual. The Fuji was in full bloom in mid-April with its long bunches hanging down.
 "After the flower season is over, what appears to be a dent which looks like a hole comes to be seen in the lower part of its trunk. But it is not a hollow hole, but a work of natural formation that has grown into something like a dent over a long period of time.
 "Despite the large size of the tree, it is planted in a relatively small pot. The vessel is overcrowded with tree roots. So, the Fuji tree is transplanted once in every two years with the roots being unstiffened (untangled?). 
 This is considered to be a species of the original Fuji, or the so-called yamafuji (silky wisteria), that had not been modified."

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Imperial Bonsai in Training for 220 Years

pnecu

Here it is. It's a Pinus densiflora (Japanese Red Pine) that was donated to the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by The Imperial Household of Japan. It has been in training since 1795. My apologies for the fuzz. I cropped the original photo (from 2010, see below) for a closer look at the texture on the trunk

The Japanese Collection. It’s right here in North America and it’s one of the best bonsai collections outside of Japan. Here’s an excerpt from the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum’s website... “The Japanese Collection began with the gift of 53 bonsai from Japan on the occasion of the American Bicentennial in 1976.  The trees, which were from private collections, were selected by the Nippon Bonsai Association with financial assistance given by the Japan Foundation.”
Continued below…

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cam

Not 1795, but not exactly yesterday either. This striking Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Higo') with its full display of remarkable flowers has been in training since 1875. It was donated by the Kyushu Branch of the Nippon Bonsai Growers Cooperative.

Continued from above…
Does the reverse taper on the camellia above jump out at you? When it comes to flowering bonsai, Japanese growers don’t seem to mind features that would be considered flaws in non-flowering bonsai. As long as the flowers themselves are beautiful and well displayed, much is forgiven.
Continued below…

 

pine2This old Japanese Black Pine was donated by Saichi Suzuki. It has been in training since 1895.

Continued from above…
Quarantined. Due to FDA rules, all the bonsai in this collection spent a year in quarantine before they could be displayed.

pine

The original photo of the Imperial red pine

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