Nothing Compares to Shin-Boku

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Shin-Boku Nursery from the air. You can’t tell, but almost every one of the plants in this photo are specimen quality Japanese garden trees. Some are ten or fifteen feet tall, others are potential bonsai. All are old and range from excellent to amazing.

Doug doesn’t mince his words
Here’s what Doug Roth, the publisher and editor of the Journal of Japanese Gardening has to say: “Shin-Boku Nursery is the finest Japanese garden tree nursery in North America.”

Ditto!
Yesterday I visited Baker Valley Nursery (see below) for the forth or fifth time. Both Shin-Boku and Baker Valley are owned and operated by Palmer Koelb, who happens to be one of the most friendly people I know and one of best nurserymen anywhere. If you don’t believe me, visit Palmer and Shin-Boku and Baker Valley Nurseries, and see for yourself (the proof is in the several thousand specimen trees).

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Baker Valley Nursery from the air. Baker Valley and Shin-Boku are both in Wentworth NH and both are owned and operated by Palmer Koelb. BTW: Baker Valley is for sale (Palmer wants to focus his time and energy on Shin Boku) if you know anyone who wants to own some of the most amazing trees anywhere.

Continue reading Nothing Compares to Shin-Boku

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Photo Art Contest: Entry #14

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Amy Palmer says: “I found and shot this manzanita (Arctostaphylos) clinging to the rocky outcropping in the chaparral biome just before entering Yosemite Valley, while scrambling about and dodging rattlers.”


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Photo Art Contest: Entry #13

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Don Erickson’s entry. “Found this group or forest while driving Highway 99W north of Eugene, Oregon. I tried several times to count the number of trees but never came up with the same number twice. Isn’t it odd that nature can break the rule of trees lined up behind each other, why can’t we?”

What about rules?
I don’t think there are any rules for bonsai. There are however, some very helpful guidelines. And of course, plenty of opinions.

Tomorrow (Monday) is the last day to enter our $100 Bonsai Art Photo Contest

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The Wiring Game

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This image is from an extensive article on wiring in Bonsai Today issue 1.

Turning a how-to wiring lesson into a game
The photos below show how to wire a primary branch and five secondary branches without crossing wires; presented as an interesting and instructive game. BTW: if you need any wire for your own wiring games…

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Wait! Before you go any further, see if you can figure out how to wire all five secondary branches (a-e) without crossing any wires.

Continue reading The Wiring Game

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Rare Early Issues of Bonsai Today

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Bonsai Today issue 1, second edition (issue 1 is the only issue to have two editions).

There are very few left
I’ve been going through our collection of rare old, long out-of-print and out-of-stock Bonsai Todays, and putting them up on Stone Lantern. We only have a few that we’ve bought back from people over the years, but my intention is to offer them all (except for one set for my personal collection). So far I’ve put up all the single digit issues we have, as well as issues 10 and 11, with more to come.

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Photo Art Contest: Entry #12

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Martin Cheung submitted this photo. He writes that “it was taken in Tokyo, Japan in 2008.  It’s a black pine grown in the garden with an informal upright style. The diameter of the truck is about 18 inches and the tree is more than 6 feet tall.”

Only two more days
Don’t wait any longer if you want to submit a photo to our $100 Bonsai Photo Art Contest.

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Not Your Everyday Bonsai Pots

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Soma-Yaki pot. From Bonsai Today issue 61. An example of traditional Tojoku pottery. Only a few still exist (the Tojoku kiln started in 1647). Celadon green porcelain, with the characteristic Soma-yaki crackled pattern. Height 15″ (38cm). Width at the top 17.3″ (44cm).

Takagui Bonsai Museum
The two pots shown here are from the famous Takagui Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. If you’d like to see more exquisite pots from this collection, check out Bonsai Today issue 61.

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Sakaida Kakiemon pot. White porcelain decorated with bellflowers. Length 12.8″ (32.5cm).

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Photo Art Contest: Entry #11

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This photo was submitted by Aaron Khalid, who says about it: “I love this picture because, to me, it is a great example of a natural saikei or landscape planting. The engelmann spruce learning out over a blue lake in Banff, Alberta with their gentle movement and definite age creates a wonderful image. The geese add to the perspective of the image.”

Only four more days to enter
Don’t be shy. Send us your photo. Best case, you might win. Worst case, well, there really is no worst case, though you might not win. Entries must be received by Monday, May 24th.

Details


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