Keen Observation & Considerable Skill

sjmain

Windswept bonsai are few and far between. Especially really good ones like this. It's not just a question of pointing everything in one direction. It must be done in a way that's convincing. This involves keen observation and considerable skill

We haven’t seen many bonsai from India, but if these trees are representative, I’m impressed. Beyond impressed really, they are that good. They were posted by Sanjay Dham. No varieties are given.

TWO NEW 30% off SPECIALS
3 DAYS ONLY

see below

sj2

On the surface, literati (bunjin) bonsai seem simple enough. But it's really about feeling  and subtlety. Like the windswept tree above, a literati has to be convincing in its naturalness

 

sj11

Strength, balance, taper (all the way out to the twigs) are a big part of what makes this tree so compelling. And then there are those uro (holes in the trunk) that add age and character

sj3

Three trunk or one? Either way, it's a monster with its massive base. The twisted twigs look like they were wired, but I suspect they grow that way (you don't often see wiring on tropical bonsai)

NEW SPECIAL!
30% off Bonsai & Other Tools

Sale applies to tools that are already discounted
30% discount is applied at checkout
3 Days Only
special ends December 1st at 11:59pm EST
Tools-Koyo1-500x303Tool Special Includes Tool Kits & Set
Japanese Garden Tools
Watering Cans too!
30% discount is applied at checkout
–

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out

–

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Defying Bonsai Convention & Site Wide Sale Ends Tonight

wpmDefying convention and coming out with flying colors. Walter Pall repotted this maple during the heat of mid-summer and it didn't even blink

Just back from a long trip late last night, with plenty of catching up to do, so we’ll keep it simple by rerunning yesterday’s  post (and remind you that our Site Wide Sale ends tonight).

walter-3As long as we’re on Walter and Japanese maples, here one of my favorites from a post we did back in October, 2016. It’s also about repotting, so you might want to take a look

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE
Ends Tonight

All Products

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE

INCLUDES DOUBLE DISCOUNTS FOR ITEMS ALREADY ON SALE

20% off will show up when you check out
THIS SPECIAL ENDS WEDNESDAY, Nov 28th  at 11:59pm EST

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out
–

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Bonsai Essentials Site Wide Special Ends Tonight

All Products

STONE LANTERN’S

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 

MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS*

*ON OUR ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE

AND A MINIMUM OF 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE

 

THIS great SPECIAL
ENDS WEDNESDAY, NOV 28TH AT 11:59PM EST

—

3 new books

All of our large selection of Bonsai Books are at least 20% off

Most are double discounted

 

TKRS-1-ZIP-1

All of our large selection of Bonsai Tool Kits
are also Double Discounted

 

Green-T-Basic-round-table

This is the first time we’ve offered 20% off on our
Hydraulic Lift Green T Turntables

 

Tools-Wire-x3-300x90-1

Now is the time to stock up on Bonsai Wire

–

20% DISCOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED
WHEN YOU CHECK OUT
–

THIS great SPECIAL
ENDS WEDNESDAY, NOV 28TH AT 11:59PM EST

–

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out
–

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Defying Bonsai Convention Without Even Blinking – Site Wide Sale Ends Tomorrow

wpmDefying convention and coming out with flying colors. Walter Pall repotted this maple during the heat of mid-summer and it didn't even blink

So why are we talking about mid-summer when it’s freezing outside? Well, really there’s no good reason except today I’m flying and driving from the Rockies home to Vermont, so we’ll keep it short and simple. Besides I like the tree, and though I’m not surprised, I also like that it didn’t blink. Here’s you link to Walter’s fb post

walter-3As long as we're on Walter and Japanese maples, here one of my favorites from a post we did back in October, 2016. It's also about repotting, so you might want to take a look

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE
Ends Tomorrow Night

All Products

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE

INCLUDES DOUBLE DISCOUNTS FOR ITEMS ALREADY ON SALE

20% off will show up when you check out
THIS SPECIAL ENDS WEDNESDAY, Nov 28th  at 11:59pm EST

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out
–

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Where in the World?

TT4

No caption with this one, but it looks a lot like three Shimpaku junipers growing on a precariously balanced stone, with small ground cover plants and moss

Back to Bill Valavanis’ Japan journey. Today we’ll show you some of his photos from 2018 38th Nippon Bonsai Taikan Exhibition. Just bear in mind that these photos are mere drops in the bucket (Bill is a busy fellow), so it might not be a bad  idea for you to click over to his blog and treat yourself to a whole lot more. And you also might enjoy a more whimsical view of Bill’s  journey with some lighthearted shots titled Where in the World is Bill (on his FB timeline)
Continued below…

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
ends in two days

SEE BELOW

 

TT12

A profusion of brilliant red Cotoneaster berries

Continued from above…
Here’s part of what Bill wrote about the Exhibition… “The crowds are large in the morning each day, then they die down after lunch time. Over 10,000 visitors are expected which is a bit larger than in the past exhibitions under the leadership of Shinji Suzuki, chairman for the event. There were several foreign tour groups from Germany, Italy and other European countries. Often they go through the exhibition then on to the sales area. But occasionally I’ve seen some foreigners actually studying the bonsai and photographing.”

TT3

A rough and tumble bonsai. No caption and I can't tell for sure what it is, but judging by the bark and the foliage, it could be an Ezo spruce

TT14

This sturdy little Japanese black pine may be my favorite of all the ones shown here, though the competition is stiff.

cam

Hard to mistake a Camillea in bloom

TT1

The tree is a Korean hornbeam and the leaves in the scroll look a lot like Sumac

 

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Great Pots Deserve Great Trees

taiwan-hsiehcheng-huaBarbados cherry (Malpigia glabra) by Hsieh, Cheng-Hua

These three magnificent trees with their equally magnificent pots are from the 2008 Taiwan Bonsai Creators Exhibition booklet which appears on Bonsai Shari Si-Diao, Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s website. All three photo originally appeared her in April, 2011

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
at STONE LANTERN

SEE BELOW
–

taiwan-huangchin-chiFicus microcarpa by Huang,Ching-Chi.
taiwan-trungwen-chiVariety unlisted. By Tung, Wen Chi

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE

All Products

OUR 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE
MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS

ON ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE

AND 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE

20% off will show up when you check out

–

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out



Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

A Literati Red Pine with All the Desired Qualities

rpmain

Here's what Michael Bonsai has to say about this tree... "My Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) recently styled by Bjorn Bjorholm at Eisei-en. Quoting Bjorn 'Reminiscent of the famous #bonsai known as Kuon, this Japanese Red Pine possesses all of the desired qualities of a Meiji era (1868-1912 CE) #literati style bonsai - namely, understated movement, little to no taper, feminine branching.'" Here's a link to Michael on fb if you'd like to see more

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
at STONE LANTERN

SEE BELOW

 

rpfoliage

I like the relaxed open feel of the branches and foliage

 

rpcloserstill

A closer look at the trunk and apex

20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE

All Products

our 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS

ON ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE

(MOST OF OUR ITEMS ARE ALREADY ON SALE)

AND at least 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE

–

20% off will show up when you check out

–

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out
–

 

 

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Kimura’s Bag of Tricks

baBefore and after Shimpaku Juniper by Masahiko Kimura. No wonder they call him the Magician. The tree's height started at 15" (38cm) and ended up at 28" (71cm)

Continuing the Magician thread from the last two days. Part of this post is from our archives (2011). The rest is from today.

Bonsai are reduced in height all the time, but how many have you seen that are extended to almost twice their height? Granted, in this case about half of that increase comes from changing the planting angle, but how about the other half?

NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
at STONE LANTERN

SEE BELOW
–

kim1Before. Not a bad tree. I wonder how many people would think to stretch it to almost twice this height

 

kim2

After. A magic trick. Like sleight of hand in slow motion

 

B1KIM2-33Rebar, bamboo sticks and a generous serving of creative genius are a big part of Kimura's bag of tricks. For a detailed photo journey showing how these trick are employed, check out The Magician, The Bonsai Art of Kimura 2.

 

kim3This'll give you some idea of at least a part of the process. That's the Master, Masahiko Kimura holding the rebar.

NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE

All Products

NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS

ON ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE

(MOST OF OUR ITEMS ARE ALREADY ON SALE)

AND at least 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE

 This is a One Time Opportunity that may not last very long

–

20% off will show up when you check out

–

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out
–

 

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Running Wild in Japan

kimmain

Recognize this trunk? It's a piece of a famous bonsai (see below). Bill Valavanis took this photo just a couple days ago. I cropped it just a bit for a closer look

Bill and his camera are running wild in Japan. We left him at Kimura’s nursery yesterday, so we’ll continue with a couple shots he took of a famous Kimura Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora), and a photo of the same tree from the last century (not taken by Bill)

NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE
at STONE LANTERN

SEE BELOW
–

kim2

Bill's shot of the whole tree

001pine

Here's a photo of the same tree right after Kimura restyled it, sometime around 1996 (it's the same photo that's on the cover of the May-June 1996 issue of Bonsai Today). At the time it was one of the most famous Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora) bonsai in the world and it still may be. The same photo is also in the White pine gallery in our Masters’ Series Pine Book.

 

NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE

All Products

NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE 
MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS

ON ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE

(MOST OF OUR ITEMS ARE ALREADY ON SALE)

AND at least 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE

 This is a One Time Opportunity that may not last very long

–

20% off will show up when you check out

–

FREE Shipping Still Applies
on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more
but only if you select Free Shipping when you check out

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern
Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern