Local Bonsai Styles

Uruguay anyone? Do this and the other trees in this post, reflect a regional or local bonsai style? (from facebook; Andres Bicocca wall photos.) Correction: Andres is from Argentina.

An open question
Though there are no doubt styles that develop around certain teachers and certain types of trees, and in some cases there are certainly cultural influences (Japan seems the most obvious here), still, pinning down what you might call a local style may not be all that easy. You and your next door neighbor may have quite different approaches to bonsai and your trees might bear little resemblance to each other. Still, you sometimes hear and see reference to local, regional and especially national bonsai styles.

Insecurity?
Some of the discussion about local or regional styles could be a reflection of insecurity and a desire to distinguish ourselves from the Japanese. For years North American bonsai (for example) clearly had a ways to go when compared to Japanese bonsai, so many of us have been looking for the day when we can say that American bonsai has found its own way and is on equal footing with Japanese bonsai (or European bonsai for that matter). This desire seems somewhat natural, but sometimes desire can cloud our vision.

Just saying (as they say)…
I won’t say more. Anyone else?

A very impressive European olive by way of Uruguay. Another of Andres’ trees . Does it reflect something South American, or Uruguayan? (Whoops, not even close, it’s a Phemphis acidula and it’s from Wild Bonsai – see comments)

Uruguayan carving style?

More Andres’ trees. Can you see any thing different or not different about these when compared with olive bonsai from Spain for example (see below). And, if they are different, does it say anything about regional styles, or is it just a personal thing?

A little detour to Spain. This one is by David Benavente, a well-known Spanish bonsai artist. It’s from an earlier Bonsai Bark post.

Bonsai Styles of the World, by Charles Ceronio is available at Stone Lantern. Retail 45.00, our low price 36.00

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A Not-So-Well-Kept Bonsai Secret

This wild, Wild apple, appears on the back cover and in the chapter titled ‘Wild Apple’ in Bonsai from the Wild.

A  confession and a little insignificant history
I’ve never met Nick Lenz. I don’t think we’ve even talked on the phone. Andy Rutledge (a student of Nick’s who’s been featured on Bonsai Bark) introduced us via email years ago because he thought we’d enjoy each other (we share certain unrelated-to-bonsai views). The upshot was a flurry of emails and finally, a decision to reprint an enhanced version of Nick’s now famous book, Bonsai from the Wild.

So what’s the secret?
It’s no secret that Nick Lenz is a brilliant, innovative and sometimes eccentric bonsai artist.  It’s also not much of a secret that Nick is a genuine treasure of bonsai and horticultural knowledge and wisdom (though the extent to which this is true, might surprise you). The secret is, that, in addition to being all of the above, Nick can write. Bonsai artists with Nick’s skill and knowledge are rare, and ones that can also write are even more rare (most people have trouble putting their thoughts onto a page; even otherwise very talented people).

So what?
The so what? is, that Nick’s book is full of fascinating (and eminently useful) bonsai and plant wisdom. If you haven’t read it, maybe you should. Especially if you are interested in collecting and growing any of the following types of bonsai (or any bonsai for that matter): Larch, White cedar, Ground juniper, Field juniper, Rocky mountain juniper, Pitch pine, Wild apple, Honeysuckle, Blueberry, Eastern red cedar, Ponderosa pine, Spruce, Hawthorn, Hornbeam, Leatherwood, Hemlock, White pine, Bittersweet vine, Boston ivy, Wild grape, Poison ivy!, Birch, and a Mystery tree. There’s a chapter on each.

That’s a ceramic tank bogged down in this old larch forest. A remnant of a WW2 battle somewhere in northern Europe? I imagine that Nick made the tank (he’s a ceramic artist as well as bonsai artist), but I don’t know for sure.

Ground juniper (J. horizontalis). It’s unusual to find one with such a well developed trunk.

Another ground juniper. A common plant elevated  by Nick’s uncommon touch.

Nick (Rarch master Renz) is famous for his larches.

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Happy People, Healthy Bonsai

Happy people make for healthy bonsai (not to mention a healthy business). BTW: there are some household bonsai names above. Can you spot them?

Breaking with our tradition
Bonsai Bark is all about bonsai. We usually (almost always) leave the people photos to others. But just this once, we’re breaking our own rules by mixing in photos of people enjoying bonsai and just enjoying themselves.

New England Bonsai Gardens
All the photos in this post are from New England Bonsai. If you’re ever in their neighborhood (on the Mass/RI border, an hour from Boston), definitely stop by. They’ll be happy to see you.

Sweet tree. Great pot. Nice knot.

Paula, Kandy & ??? Not really. If memory serves, it’s Teddi, John and Hitoshi mixing business and pleasure.

A peaceful Buddha presides over a peaceful scene.

Another peaceful scene.

I rest my case. That’s Elaine (another happy New England Bonsai staffer) with Hiromi Tsukada, visiting bonsai artist.

 

 

 

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Out Stealing Bonsai Ideas

Major surgery. From a Bonsai Tonight post entitled ‘Best repotting of the year.’

Rapid evolution
There’s a lot going on with bonsai these days, and it’s happening fast and right before our eyes. If you look at the evolution of bonsai, you’ll find slow but steady development up until sometime in the 1980s when the explosion began. Kimura was introducing power tools and Bonsai was becoming international. Suddenly bonsai books and magazines were springing up everywhere, and, at the same time, along comes the internet. Now, new (and old) ideas abound everywhere.

Black ponderosa pine? Japanese black pine grafted onto an old collected Ponderosa pine by Michael Hagedorn. Speaking of, there’s a book for each: Poderosa Pine As Bonsai and our Masters’ Series Japanese Black and White Pine Bonsai (2nd printing due in July).

 

Definitely not a Japanese display concept. The ‘Finest Creative Western Formal Display’ by the North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville NC. From the 2nd US National Bonsai Exhibition.


New lower prices. Begin your collection now (there’s more to come) before they’re gone.
Set of 2: retail 130., our low price 75.00
1st album: retail 65., our low price 35.00
2nd album: retail 65., our low price 45.00

 

 

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The Art & Science of Judging Bonsai

Japanese black pine from Bay Island Bonsai via Bonsai Tonight. Still a ways to go, but perfect for learning how to evaluate bonsai.

Good timing
Thanks to Jonas of Bonsai Tonight for posting this timely article on judging bonsai. Our $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch contest is in full swing (it’s not too late to enter) and a question that arises around any bonsai contest is: how are bonsai judged?

Bay Island Bonsai‘s judging form that was designed by Boon Manakitivipart. If you go to Bonsai Tonight you’ll see a number of forms that were used to evaluate these two trees (the Hinoki <it’s actually a Tsukomo> is below). The numbers in parenthesis were added after a consensus had been reached. In this way, using this form to judge trees becomes a learning technique (if this isn’t clear, check out what Jonas has to say about it).

 

The other tree. The judging form above says Hinoki (cypress), but it’s a Tsukomo cypress. No fault, they look a lot alike and are quite similar in many respects (same genus, different species).

For the whole article, you can visit Bonsai Tonight.

Speaking of Japanese black pines (top photo), the second printing of our Masters’ Series Pine book is due next month.

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Bonsai Today Back Issues 55% off

Bonsai Today, the benchmark English language bonsai magazine
Bonsai Today magazine has long been revered for its depth, range and quality of bonsai articles. For years it was the benchmark English language bonsai magazine, with each issue full of tips and instructions from the masters, dramatic cutting-edge bonsai, and bonsai news from around the world.

Making space
We’ve decided to sell out our remaining back issues to make space in our warehouse for a host of new products we are planning to introduce (stay posted). Some issues are almost gone. Eventually they will all be gone and you’ll have to pay inflated prices on eBay if you want their invaluable information. This is a great opportunity to put together your collection of some of the most useful bonsai information anywhere. At 55% off, no less.

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Bonsai Potters’ Alert!

The beauty of old age. Time for a new pot.

What better way to get a new pot for an old tree?
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is sponsoring a competition for a new pot for a famous old tree. If you’re a potter, here’s you chance to do something good for the Museum (and achieve a little fame and fortune at the same time). If you’re not a potter, but you know someone who is, please pass this link along.

A completley unique and rich bonsai experience
Even if you’re not a potter (most people aren’t), the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum is always there, waiting for your visit. It’s a trip well worth taking, especially if you consider that it’s really four museums in one (the North American collection, the Japanese collection, the Chinese collection and the Viewing Stone collection). This makes for a completely unique and rich bonsai experience.

The Master and the Masterpiece. Blue Atlas Cedar cascade-style bonsai in the North American Collection of the U.S. National Arboretum’s National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.

 

 

http://www.bonsai-nbf.org/site/projects.html

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Small Is Beautiful

Caught in the act of flowering. This ubiquitous little hawthorn belongs to Morten Albek, shohin bonsai artist, author and teacher. The display appeared during a visit to Denmark by Tomohiro Masumi.

Tomohiro Masumi, Morten Albek & Shohin bonsai
Rather than bore you with my take on things, I’ll just post a few photos I think you might appreciate. If you want more (photos and information), you can visit Morten’s facebook post on Tomohiro Masumi’s visit to Denmark, or you can go directly to Morten’s website. If you’d like to dig deeper, you can also visit Tomohiro’s website. And then there’s always Morten’s famous Shohin book.

Though I couldn’t find this on Morten’s site, I’m guessing it’s his, given that it has his look and there’s other circumstantial evidence. I’m also guessing that it’s a barberry.


A close up of the sweet little companion that appears above. We did a whole post on companions a few days ago.

The whole display. When it comes to showtime, shohin bonsai is all about display. If you’d like to dig into the topic in depth, check out Morten’s book.


 

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2079586075264&set=a.2079582755181.2128961.1413408458&type=1&theater

Morten Albek’s Photos – Tomohiro Masumi Shohin-bonsai demo in Denmark

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American Bonsai Heaven

Still a work in progress, but an exceptional work at that. Douglas fir, styled by Ryan Neil. Collected by Randy Knight.

Full tilt bonsai
Is it just me, or has Oregon quietly become bonsai heaven? Think about it; Michael Hagedorn (Crataegus Bonsai) has been hunkering down in Portland every since he returned from his apprenticeship with Shinji Suzuki in Japan. Now Ryan Neil (International Bonsai Mirai), still somewhat fresh from his six year apprenticeship with Masahiko Kimura (if you’ve heard of anybody, you’ve heard of him) has settled in the Portland area too. Both Michael and Ryan are going full tilt bonsai, and if that’s not enough there’s this other guy, Randy Knight (Oregon Bonsai) who’s a madman (in the good sense) collector of wild material that’s making a big name for himself with his ferocious eye and techniques and sensitivity that make for almost unprecedented success rates (such hyperbole, especially given that I’ve never met Randy… but I’ve seen enough photos and drank just enough coffee to go out on this limb).

Bunjin juniper, originally from Japan and styled by Michael Hagedorn. I’ve been wanting to post this sweet little tree for a long time, but have hesitated because of the lazy line and dots in the background (I’m really not a finicky person, it’s just some idea I have about standards for Bonsai Bark). But the tree has finally won me over, dots and all.


Just collected by Randy Knight. The cryptic captions say Colorado, so, given the orange bark,  I’m guessing it’s a ponderosa.


This’ll give you some idea of the scope of Randy Knight’s collecting passion, perseverance and patience, not to mention his strong back.


I’m breaking another of my own rules (about featuring bonsai rather than people in photos). It’s Ryan Neil back in his apprentice days working on one of Kimura’s most famous trees.


This one speaks for itself. It’s from Ryan’s website and was taken somewhere in Japan. Is it Kimura’s nursery?

 

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Companions for Lonely Bonsai

I borrowed this intriguing display from Bonsai Art magazine’s website (I guess you can tell). I like the tree a lot, but it’s the companion that really caught my eye.

Companions, accents, shitakusa, kusamono… whatever you call them
One thing I like about companion plants is that good ones can have dual functions: you can team them with bonsai to create dynamic displays, or, if they are good enough, they can be displayed alone.

This mystery plant from our mystery book easily stands alone.

 

One companion plant keeps three bonsai and a suiseki company in this circular shohin display. By Caroline Scott. From Morten Albek‘s Majesty in Miniature: Shohin Bonsai.


Do you think this companion enhances the tree? From Bonsai Today issue 90 (all back issues of Bonsai Today magazine are currently 54% off).

Some bonsai artists use illustrations to get their ideas across. This one is from Willi Benz’ Bonsai, Kusamono & Suiseki (the benchmark book on the subject).

Here’s another one that has no trouble standing on its own. From our mystery book.

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