Have You Thought About Field Growing?

Have you tried field growing? You don’t need a lot of space to experiment with a small number of plants and the results will easily exceed expectations that have been conditioned by container growing. One of the reasons the Japanese have so many well developed bonsai is field growing. In the west, we tend to grow bonsai stock in containers. In Japan, most stock is field grown; you’ve no doubt noticed the strikingly powerful Japanese Black Pines in the two photos above (from Morten Albek’s Shohin Bonsai). Though I don’t know how old those massive trunks are, my best guess … Continue reading Have You Thought About Field Growing?

Nature’s Bonsai Growing Out of Rocks in Some of the Most Sensational Surroundings Anywhere

In this part of the world (Grand Canyon, Zion & Brice National Parks and surroundings) it’s not unusual to see trees like this growing out of rocks. Somewhere there has to be some soil or duff, but often you can’t see it. The magnificent old tree is a pine (see below) and the dramatic backdrop is the Grand Canyon. The photo was borrowed from Bonsai Mania The photos shown here are from a post we did back December 2010, a while after my last trip to the Grand Canyon. It was the South Rim then. Now it’s the North Rim as well as … Continue reading Nature’s Bonsai Growing Out of Rocks in Some of the Most Sensational Surroundings Anywhere

Bonsai by Fields

Like most people, I’m a sucker for showy flowers (subtle flowers too, but that’s for another time). On bonsai and everywhere else. In this case it’s a very showy Azalea bonsai that belongs to Mark Fields. Often azaleas and flowering bonsai are designed to show off the flowers, and though you’d have to ask Mark to be sure, I suspect that was his intention. I found the three trees shown here on Mark Field’s facebook feed. There are some other good ones that are definitely worth a click, but rather than show them all, we’ll just whet your appetite. Mark’s … Continue reading Bonsai by Fields

Clipping and Growing

This massive Trident maple most likely started in a field somewhere and was allowed to grow quite tall (the fastest way to thicken the trunk) before it was cut back. This first cut was the beginning of clip and grow styling (see below). The owner/artist of this outstanding bonsai is German Gomez. Most large Trident maples (and some other deciduous trees) are started in the field and developed using the clip and grow technique. The result is usually a heavy trunked tree with gentle curves, often in a more or less S shape. You can see this basic shape in … Continue reading Clipping and Growing

Weeky Wire: Dynamic Movement, Great Bonsai Events, Depth of Field

Dynamic movement. There’s something compelling about the shape and sense of movement expressed by this Carlos van der Vaart tree, even though the trunk’s somewhat uniform corkscrew effect gives me pause. I originally found this image on facebook, where the caption reads Carlos van der Vaart with Van Tuan Nguyen. It also appears in the gallery on Carlos’ website. Our Stone Lantern warehouse is closed this week. Orders received this week will be shipped next week (the week of the 23rd) on a first-come, first-serve basis. Speaking of orders; don’t forget to fertilize your bonsai! Under-feeding leads to weak trees. … Continue reading Weeky Wire: Dynamic Movement, Great Bonsai Events, Depth of Field

Coming Soon: Field Grown Bonsai Stock

One little man made hill that serves as landscaping and as a growing bed for future bonsai. Coming soon I’ve started digging some of my field grown stuff and putting them in plastic containers. Soon we’ll start photographing and putting some up for sale. Larches and some others More than half of what I’ve been growing are larches that have been collected here in northern Vermont. All have been pruned some. Some has been wired and a few have even been carved. Most are not bonsai pot ready, but all have good potential. Stone Lantern When they are ready, I’ll … Continue reading Coming Soon: Field Grown Bonsai Stock

No Switch Last Night, Specials Extended & a Humble Bonsai/Landscaping Experiment

This photo was taken in 2010. It’s one of my small man made landscaping hills for field growing future bonsai. Most of the little trees you see here have been dug. Some of the ones that are still there aren’t that much bigger than they were nine years ago (this might have something to do with our seriously short growing season) I give up. For the moment at least…. We didn’t throw the switch to our new Website last night. I jumped the gun with yesterday’s announcement, and now I’m wiping egg off my face (humiliation goes well with mixed … Continue reading No Switch Last Night, Specials Extended & a Humble Bonsai/Landscaping Experiment

More Pots, Pines & Other Small Bonsai

Shimpaku juniper with stand and stone in a show display. I know the tree is Haruyosi’s and I’m pretty sure the pot is also his. I’m not sure about the stand, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Haruyosi made it Continuing where we left off with Haruyosi’s small bonsai. If you want more, you can enjoy a wealth of great photos on Haruyosi’s fb site and here on Bonsai Bark as well Continued below… SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT 40% OFF ALL BOOKS 40% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS SEE BELOW – Another small Shimpaku. This too is part of a show display, but I cropped it to focus on … Continue reading More Pots, Pines & Other Small Bonsai

Bonsai Hedge Cutting Method

The Japanese maple that Walter Pall uses to illustrate his ‘hedge-cutting method.’ This photo was taken four years after Walter started working with this tree. The before photo is below Continuing with Walter Pall… we originally ran this post on Walter’s hedge-cutting method in 2013, but it’s so good that it’s worth another look I first learned about hedge shearing bonsai from Jim Smith (sadly now deceased), a highly respected American Bonsai Artist and grower who worked primarily with tropical and sub-tropical bonsai. Because Jim lived in Florida, I figured that hedge shearing was only used in the tropics or sub-tropics, due to rapid rates … Continue reading Bonsai Hedge Cutting Method

Clip & Grow Bonsai – No Wire Necessary

This massive Trident maple most likely started in a field somewhere and was allowed to grow quite tall (the fastest way to thicken the trunk) before it was cut back. This first cut was the beginning of clip and grow styling (see below). The owner/artist of this outstanding bonsai is German Gomez. Most large Trident maples and many other deciduous trees are started in the field and developed using the clip and grow technique. The result is usually a heavy trunked tree with gentle curves, often in a more or less S shape. You can see this basic shape in … Continue reading Clip & Grow Bonsai – No Wire Necessary