Elevating the Art of Bonsai Display

Takashi Iura facebook photos. Astounding tree and a very interesting display.

Daring display
Many of the bonsai on facebook and elsewhere are poorly displayed, though occasionally you see trees where the artist/photographer took the time and trouble to set up a decent display. But none (that we’ve seen) are displayed in such a daring and imaginative way as the trees in these photos.

It’s not just the what, but also the where
I usually like to see bonsai displayed with a bare minimum of background clutter. The cleaner the better. But in this case, the art of display has been elevated by the background; a space in which the feature bonsai both stands out and blends in. My guess is that it’s an art gallery that happens to be featuring Takahi Iura’s trees.

Another great shot with a different feature tree and a deadwood composition in front. Is this an art gallery replete with liquor to lubricate potential buyers?

First tree from another angle.

Close up of the wildly dramatic first tree. A little grainy, but you get the drift.

Relief aid??
I’m going to Iwate Prefecture. Reaching You’ll Isao ! ! ! From a post by Takashi Iura on OMACHI GAMBATTE

What you can do
You can go here to learn how to help Isao Omachi who lost his bonsai, his house, and everything he and his family own….

…or you can purchase Japanese tools and other Japanese items from Stone Lantern and help out while getting what you need for your bonsai (we committed to donate 10% of all sales of Japanese items to the Japanese Red Cross before we heard about Isao Omachi’s plight, so we’ll stick with that good cause).

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Omachi Relief Fund: Don’t Let Up Yet

Isao Omachi before the tsunami swept everything away.

Don’t let up yet
Just a little reminder about the plight of Isao Omachi and his family. It’s not too late to do something to help. As you know, relief efforts commonly suffer from short half-lives. Something horrible happens, we get worked up about people suffering and, in a matter of days, we’ve forgotten and moved on the next thing.

Omachi Relief Fund
The following was written by Bill Valavanis: Award winning bonsai artist Isao Omachi is one of the rising starts of the Japanese bonsai world. He lives with his wife, two young daughters and parents near Sendai, Japan, in Iwate Prefecture. On March 11, 2011 the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan swept away Omachi’s home, bonsai garden and entire town. Fortunately, the Omachi family ran away and escaped the tsunami. They are fine, homeless and without anything.

Marco Invernizzi from Italy has established the Omachi Relief Fund to assist the Omachi family. Please join me along with others from around the world to give financial support to the Omachi family.

Contributions should be sent to:
The Omachi Relief Fund
P.O. Box 22
Yorklyn, DE 19736 USA

Contributions are not tax deductible. Donation accounts have been set up around the world to assist the Omachi family. Please contact Marco Invernizzi (marco@marcoinvernizzi.com) for details.

Countless other Japanese people are also suffering
Stone Lantern is sending 10% of all Japanese products sold (Koyo and Okatsune tools and numerous other items) to the Japanese Red Cross. It may not sound like much, but our margins are quite low these days, so 10% will pretty much wipe out profits from these items. Nevertheless, it’s the least we can do.

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Robert Steven Transforms Raw Stock

Robert Steven’s simulation of a tree that was submitted by David Royinsyah (below).

Robert’s vision and artistry
This one is quite unusual. The stock is totally raw and not that interesting. Robert simply manufactured all the branching and the foliage from nothing and the trunks have been transformed from taperless sticks to what looks like naturally time-worn wood. He even created a new pot from scratch. Testaments to Robert’s vision and artistry.

David’s original provides an usual challenge for Robert.

Robert’s comments

Usually I only critique finished bonsai and not raw material. However, David Royinsyah sent me this photo to challenge me, because I often mention that I believe any material can be made into nice bonsai.

Many people, including David, would consider this poor bonsai material, because the trunk lines are very straight with no taper and nothing seems to be interesting.

Continue reading Robert Steven Transforms Raw Stock

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Swept Away

Doing what you can
We encourage you to think about helping the Omachi family. You can simply send your contribution to the address above, or, if you have questions you can contact marco@marcoinvernizzi.com.

Doing what we can
Stone Lantern is pledging 10% of all sales of Japanese items to the Japanese Red Cross and several of our contributors and customers have already pledged their help by donating contest winnings (see comments here).

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Classic Flowering Bonsai of Japan

Japanese apricot (Latin-Prunus mume: Japanese-Ume). From Classic Bonsai of Japan (Nippon Bonsai Association). My apologies for cutting off the bottom of the pot; my scanner couldn’t quite fit the whole photo.

Japan and flowering bonsai
The Japanese have long revered flowering trees and flowering bonsai. So much so, that they often overlook what you might consider design flaws with flowering bonsai (though not the case with the photos shown here).

The book: Classic Bonsai of Japan
This grand old book remains the standard when it comes to Japanese bonsai before 1989. Though much has happened in the bonsai world since then, still, some of the finest and most unique trees anywhere show up in the pages of this book.

A Little Helping Hand
Stone Lantern is currently donating 10% of all sales of Japanese products (including Classic Bonsai of Japan) to the Japanese Red Cross.

Tomentosa cherry (Prunus tomentosa: Japanese Yasura-ume). Perfection! The Japanese love of flowering cherries and of bonsai show in spades in this wonderful old shohin tree (5″ 13cm).

Karume azalea (Rhododendron obtusum: Japanese Kurume-tsutsuji). The marvelous old trunk and wild profusion of flowers combine to make for an extraordinary bonsai.


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The Facebook Dilemma & Japanese Tools

Nice tree. From facebook; Liang Lim’s photos. Beyond that, we know nothing. Except that we are swamped (it’s corporate tax time and etc….).

The Facebook problem
We receive several bonsai photos every day on facebook. Almost none mention the artist, unless the artist happens to be the same person who posts the photo (you’d be surprised how often this is NOT the case and how difficult it can be to determine whether or not it is the case). When we have time, we try to track down the owner/artist, but often, this is easier said than done. Beside, who but teenagers and retired people have time to spend hours every day on facebook? So that’s our dilemma and the tree above is a perfect example of this dilemma; we know the Liang Lim posted it, but beyond that, we know nothing.

Japan and our next tool shipment
As you know, the situation is horrible. especially in the northeast. But as you might expect, the quake and tsunami’s effects have spread throughout the country; rail service is halted, roads are clogged, phones are down and so forth. Among other much more important things, this means that our current tool order will be delayed. We don’t know for how long, but we do know that many of you are waiting for your orders. Hopefully it won’t be too long and thank you for hanging in there. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Speaking of Japanese products
We are donating 10% of all sales of Japanese products to the Japanese Red Cross. It’s not much, but hopefully someone will benefit.

Koyo Standard 8″ Concave Cutters: was $43.25, now $30.50. Designed to cut and cut and cut. All Japanese tools are good, and this one is no exception. However, if you like to pay a bit more for the highest quality, then you might consider this one: Koyo High Quality 8″ Concave Cutters: was $55.30, now $40.90 Either way, the price is right and the quality is excellent.

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Talkin ‘Bout Tools: Shears

Koyo Masters’ Grade Sword Shears. If you try them, you’ll love them. I do a lot of field growing, so a tool like this that allows for quick work (but can make surprisingly fine cuts) is perfect for the job.
Was $144.55 now $109.20

Compare our prices
Competition on the web is fierce and the old days of 100% markups are over. So we’ve been steadily lowering our prices at Stone Lantern. Now they are virtually at wholesale levels and we intend to keep them that way.

Koyo 8″ Kiri Bonsai Shears. Another of my favorites. It’s almost a bud shear and standard bonsai shear rolled into one: the blade is fine enough for your delicate work, yet strong enough for good sized cuts.
Was $25.40 now $17.35


Okatsune Masters’ Grade Pine Thinning Shears. If you ask gardeners in Japan, they’ll tell you that Okatsune makes the best hand tools anywhere. This one is designed to allow you to cut pine candles and small branches without crushing needles. Beyond that, I find it to be perhaps the best all around light weight (amazingly light weight) pruning tool I’ve ever tried.
Was $69.00 now $52.55

8″ All-purpose Scissors. Chinese cutting tools are getting better and better, as witnessed by this surprisingly sharp and durable little tool. If you are a beginner who’s just testing the bonsai or flower arranging waters, this is tool provides you and excellent and very affordable way to start. Was $7.20 now $4.70


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Japan Personal: Time to Help

We are still waiting to hear from our friends and colleagues at Koyo Tool Company in Osaka (marked by the balloon with the A). They were a fairly safe distance from the quake epicenter (roughly where you see the black circle) and far from the ravages of the Tsunami, but we still haven’t heard from them, so we are concerned. We will let you know when we do.

Bonsai nurseries
We also haven’t heard anything about any Japanese bonsai growers. Many are in the Omiya area (green circle northeast of Tokyo), which is quite close to the epicenter of the quake, though most likely a safe enough distance inland from the Tsumani.

Donating to the Japanese Red Cross
Here’s a link to the Japanese Red Cross if you would like to help.

Stone Lantern’s and Bonsai Bark’s commitment
We will donate 10% of all sales of any Japanese products we carry for the rest of this month. We just lowered the prices on all of our Koyo and Okatsune tools to wholesale levels. These lower prices should help sell Japanese tools, which means more donations as well as more business for our Japanese colleagues.

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern

Japan

There are no words…..

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Mystery Tree: Win $25 Gift Certificate

Stable and wild all at once. This tree has to be one of the most perfect and powerful bonsai around. The highly refined look of its massive crown, combined with its huge, wild nebari and trunk (twin trunks actually) and its almost static sense of stability, make for a mesmerizing bonsai.

Win a $25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern
Be the first to properly identify the owner (artist), the species, where this photo was taken and the name of the photographer (if you are the photographer, please do not enter this contest), and you’ll win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern.

Put your answer in the comments below
Be careful; if you put up a partial answer, then you’re just helping someone else win.

Sales
It’s a good time to visit Stone Lantern. Right now we’ve got sales on Tools, Books and Back Issues of Bonsai Today.

Deeply Discounted Bonsai & Japanese Garden Products at Stone Lantern