Choosing a New Pot – Oval or Rectangle?

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Which pot would you choose for this Western juniper (please reply in the comments - Im trying to keep my email traffic down to 7,000 a day)? This and the other photos shown here are from a 2013 Boon Manakitivipart post.

Sooner or later every serious North American bonsai artist is influenced by Boon Manakitivipart (aka Bonsai Boon). For some this influence is face to face (if you’re lucky). Or indirectly though one of his students that now teach bonsai (Michael Hagedorn comes straight to mind, though there are others). And then there are his regular posts on facebook that are full of generous pointers and bonsai inspiration (lots of good meals too).

Speaking of pointers and inspiration, are you inspired to point out which pot you’d choose? If you are, please use the comments and share with everyone (my inbox might explode if you email me).

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Tea, Poetry & Flowering Bonsai

Ume (Prunus mume) flowers. Once again we find ourselves borrowing from Peter Tea. This photo and the next three photos shown here are from a post of Peter's that provides a sweet moment's glimpse into a small private bonsai show. Something you don't see everyday.

Can’t go too long without borrowing from our archives (and indulging our passion for flowers). This one is from March 2013. At that time Galway Kinnell was still alive and writing and reading his poetry. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a poetry reading couple years ago through a good friend who was his personal assistant the last few years of his life. I had just turned seventy at the time and he told me that the 70s are the best years of life… “because you know.”

“The last memory I have
Is of a flower that cannot be touched…”

Excerpt from Flower Herding on Mount Monadnock, From A New Selected Poems by Galway Kinnell (Mariner Books). Galway was Vermont’s poet laureate from 1989 to 1993, a Pulitzer Prize winner and one of America’s greatest poets. He was also a true gentleman.

'Boke' flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa). This photo (also by Peter Tea) provides a peek at a piece of one of the many paintings that were featured in the aforementioned private bonsai show.

'Boke' flower up close. Some people consider the colors of quince flowers to be among the purest of them all.

Another quince from Peter's post. This one is a Chojubai (Chaenomeles japonica ‘Chojubai’). It's a strange little tree, but the flowers are undeniable.

Many flowering bonsai are relegated to the back bench when they're not in flower, but this charming Chojubai is fully capable of standing on its own, flowers or no flowers (though best, of course, with flowers). This photo is from Micheal Hagedorn's Crataegus Bonsai.

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Episode 2 of the Ginkgo Story

I'm not so sure about the apex or the way it's so crowded in this photo, but I like the tree anyway. Especially that gnarly old trunk. It's a Chi Chi, a small leaf Ginkgo cultivar. As you can see, it's from Lakeshore Bonsai (Toronto area). Here's Lakeshore's caption: "Ginkgo biloba ‘chi-chi’, 7 years in development from imported raw material. Probably started as an air layer in Japan."

All of the sudden we’re interested in Ginkgo bonsai. I don’t have any, but if I find a good one…

I borrowed the following from an ofBonsai article by Heather Hartman:
“It is best to style Gingko based on their natural inclinations toward a column, or flame shape. Ginkgo can resent pruning, and as a result, many ginkgo bonsai have a similar look, due to how they show their dislike. Pruned branches are prone to dieback, either shortly after being pruned or the following winter. This can result in a heavy trunk with relatively few, upward facing branches. Twigs will grow in clusters from the branches. As the growth and replacement of branches is repeated over the years, it can result in interesting, gnarled areas on the trunk. Fortunately, not all shoots will dieback, but predicting which ones will and which ones won’t is nearly impossible.”

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This one belongs to Dan Barton. I found the photo on ofBonsai Magazine. It and the photo just below are part of a Ginkgo article by Heather Hartman (a good read, especially if you like Ginkgo - see above for an excerpt).

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Same tree as just above, different time of year and no moss covering the roots.

This eccentric Ginkgo with its rough bark, great taper and impressive hole (sabamiki) was sent to us by Calin from Italy. Would you remove the middle trunk?

 Not a Ginkgo. Just a reminder that we just got a shipment in and all of our Bonsai Wire is 20% off this week. With an extra 10% off for orders 100.00 +.

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Powerful Bonsai with Brilliant Deadwood

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A great tree for a study in deadwood. It's a Juniper procumben from Luis Vallejo's website. I cropped the photo a bit, but you can see the full size original just below.

I just spent the last digital hour or so wandering around Luis Vallejo’s Bonsai Studio (Estudio de Bonsai) and his Bonsai Museum (Museo del Bonsai). Sometimes it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Without raving too much about what Luis has been up to, we’ll just encourage you to pay him a visit (his website and his fb photos).

Given just how prolific Luis is, we need to narrow our focus for this post. So I’ve decided to feature two Junipers with great deadwood.

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The tree above the way it appears on Luis Vallejo's website. I picked this tree because it's beautiful and because it shows truly remarkable deadwood. Not overstated but strong and in good proportion to the rest of the tree. And white! (blame it on lime sulfur). Sometimes when deadwood is too white it looks unnatural, but it works here. And then there's that snaky dead branch on the right.

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A fuzzy deadwood close-up (mea culpa) with guy wires.

Tanuki? I don’t think the tree above is a tanuki (phoenix graft), but you can’t tell from the photos one way or the other. Many people frown on phoenix grafts, but some people accept them as a legitimate bonsai technique.

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Powerful (to say the least) fluid sculpted deadwood with a strong living vein and some playful action lower right. This one is a Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis). Looks like the Shimpaku variety.

This could be the start of something… Stay posted, I think we’ll explore more of Luis Vallejo’s bonsai world over the next few days.

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If you're interested in learning about deadwood, this new book by Francois Jeker is the place to go (short of a workshop with Francois, that is).

20% off all Bonsai Wire. While we’re on a commercial break, a large shipment of Bonsai Wire just arrived. We’ve been out of most sizes and know that there’s a bunch of you who have been waiting.

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Bonsai Aesthetics Wire is back so what better time to have a Wire Sale. 20% off all our Bonsai Wire! Plus an extra 10% off on all Stone Lantern orders of 100.00 or more.

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Pedro’s Bonsai (con su primo Carlos)

Sweet tree, sweet pot. Pedro Morales says that it's a shohin size bonsai from his cousin Carlos C. Morales. The pot is Japanese. Glen Lord suggested that the tree is a type of Ixora. We originally featured it back in 2011.

For those of you who don’t know Pedro Morales, he’s a well known bonsai artist, teacher and author from Puerto Rico. It’s been a while since we featured Pedro’s bonsai. All but the tree at the top are his (cousin is close enough) and all are new to Bonsai Bark. Enjoy!

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I like this Nea buxifolia's natural feel and smooth clean lines, which are echoed by the smooth simple lines of the pot. BTW: Nea is sometimes spelled Neea.

This Nea groove reflects a natural growth pattern, with the oldest tree near the center and the smaller younger trees leaning out for light.

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While we're showing Nea... I don't know if this is also a buxifolia, or another species (a quick web search didn't turn any other Nea species up, but the emphasis is on quick).

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Another simple, clean tree in a smooth clean pot. This one is an Astromelia.

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Pedro's Tropical Bonsai. Available at Stone Lantern. As long as we're talking business, we might as well remind you that our 20% to 30% off Site Wide Sale ends tonight.

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Straight Up & Tightly Bunched

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Is this one of the best Ginkgo bonsai photos you've ever seen? A couple things that stand out for me (in addition to the overall quality of the tree and the photo) are the brilliance of the new leaves and how that brilliance is reinforced by the green moss, the green pot and even the little green buds all over the trunk. I borrowed the photo from Bill Valavanis' blog, Welcome to My Bonsai World.

You don’t see that many Ginkgo bonsai. My guess is that this is because they are limited in terms of what you can do with them. For the most part the branches grow more or less straight up and tightly bunched, and they seem to want to stay that way, at least somewhat.

In the first two photos shown here the more or less straight up and tightly bunched characteristic is obvious. Especially in the second photo (just below), where it’s stated loud and clear. And it works to perfection.

The last two photos deviate some from the straight up and tightly bunched characteristic, so we at least know a little latitude is possible.

If the photo above is one of the best Ginkgo bonsai photos you've ever seen, then this one may be the very best you've ever seen. This remarkable Ginkgo is from Classic Bonsai of Japan (unfortunately, out of print). 50 years old, 33 inches (82cm). We featured it way back in 2009.

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A close up of the cover tree from the Crespi Bonsai Museum gallery book.

We featured this twin trunk Ginkgo last year. It belongs to Alex Probst. The pot is by Horst Heinzlreiter, a Bark regular.

Here's that Crespi Bonsai book we referenced above. As you might suspect, it's available at Stone Lantern and, best of all, it and everything else is currently 20% to 30% off (sale ends tomorrow night).

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Stone Lantern Site Wide Sale Ends Sunday Night

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What’s Wrong – A Follow Up

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I got a little feedback in the comments from this morning’s post. One reminded me that not everyone uses facebook. Making the links provided worthless to these non-facebook folks. So, I’ll fill in a bit…

The three trees on the left (above) are tropicals that are shaped like conifers. To Robert Steven and to many others, this a mistake. A common mistake to be sure, but still a mistake.

The three trees on the right have more rounded and therefore natural looking tropical tree crowns. This more or less rounded look is also generally found on deciduous (see below) and broadleaf evergreens.

Many very serious and highly accomplished bonsai artists (even bonsai masters) take these basic principles very seriously when it comes to designing bonsai. Other people don’t seem to care all that much.

rob2 Two deciduous bonsai. The one on the left has a conifer shaped crown. The one on the right has a broad crown, more like what you find with most deciduous trees.

And just in case you missed it…
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What’s Wrong with these Trees (or not)?

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This sturdy little Ficus may (or may not) have a problem.

Is there anything wrong with the trees shown here? Robert Steven, world famous bonsai artist, teacher and author thinks so. In his own words: “Have you ever made the same mistake I did on my deciduous/broad leaf/ tropical bonsai? …..and what are they?
(Don’t be ashamed, they are common mistakes being taught all over the world).”

Take a look at the trees shown here. Start at the top and look at the first four photos. Is there something wrong? If you can’t find what’s wrong (according to Robert at least) then look at the last two photos. If you still don’t see it, check the links just below.

All the photos shown here appear on Robert Steven’s facebook feed and on Komunitas Seniman Bonsai Indonesia (Indonesian Bonsai Artists Community).

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None of the trees are identified, nor are the artists. I imagine this is because these are not germane to the issue at hand. Nevertheless, it's plain to see that this is a remarkably beautiful and well balanced Buttonwood. But what's wrong?

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The photo is a little bleached out, but I'm guessing this lovely tree, with its remarkable base and beautiful pot, is another Ficus.

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And yet another Ficus. This time it's all about taper (and something else?).

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Robert's point is illuminated with these four trees...

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...and with these two deciduous trees.

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Want to know more? When it comes to the aesthetics behind bonsai design, Robert's Mission of Transformation will hold you in good stead.

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No Watering, No Fertilizing, No Trimming, No Weeding…

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Looks a lot like a Shohin bonsai display (this and the other photos in this post belong to Ken To).

We’ve shown Ken To’s magnificent little wire sculpture bonsai before. Most people love them, but we have gotten at least one complaint in the ‘they’re not bonsai‘ vein. But that’s okay, Ken’s skill and feel for what makes a bonsai beautiful is impressive. Right down to the finest detail.

There are some are real advantages, especially for our brown thumb friends… No water necessary. Indoors year round, no problem. Low light no problem. No fertilizers, no insects, no temperature issues, no trimming, no weeding, no wiring (ha!) nada. Best of all, worry free vacations (I once lost several shohin bonsai while on vacation [I never told the friend charged with watering that they were dead]).

Conversely, there are disadvantages. Mostly this has to do with time. They never change, so you don’t get to enjoy all the challenges involved in caring for (unless dusting is your thing) and styling bonsai (no watering, no fertilizing, no trimming, no weeding, etc).

All the sculptures shown in this post are from the hundreds of photos on Ken’s website and facebook.

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This just might be my all time favorite Ken To sculpture, and I've seen hundreds. Not to say there aren't others equally as impressive, but this one is alive!

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Another favorite.

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