The Tallest Trees in the World?

This Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii* subsp. glauca) is one of numerous extraordinary bonsai at Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai (near Portland, Oregon). It was originally collected in the Rocky mountains by Randy Knight. It’s age is given as 100-250 years. Height is 36″ (91cm), width 52″ (132cm). Yesterday’s post got me thinking about Firs and it wasn’t a long trip from firs (Abies varieties) to Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii). So even though Douglas firs are not true firs, still, these photo are just too good to pass up NEW Deeper Discount 1 Kilo (2.2 lb) Bonsai Wire now only 16.00 … Continue reading The Tallest Trees in the World?

Why Every Bonsai Lover Needs to Make a Trip to the Northwest

This lovely bonsai lives at the Pacific Bonsai Museum near Seattle. We borrowed the photo from their website. I cropped some text and other images out of the original image (below). I love the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Not only do I love the idea of a museum devoted 100% to the art of bonsai, but I also love this particular 100% bonsai museum. The setting is beautiful, the trees are among the best and the devoted and knowledgeable staff host a series of exciting events. Continued below… Wire Sale Ends Sunday Night 25% off our entire selection Bonsai Wire we … Continue reading Why Every Bonsai Lover Needs to Make a Trip to the Northwest

Mirai Live Launch Party Tonight

What better way to start our Mirai Live post than by introducing you to one of our all-time favorite bonsai shots? It’s a Colorado spruce from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. You can see the whole tree below. Tonight is the big night for Ryan’s Neil’s Mirai Live… “a revolutionary online teaching platform where enthusiasts can access a lifetime’s worth of bonsai knowledge and engage in real time with bonsai professional Ryan Neil and artists from around the world.” If Ryan’s other ventures are any indication (The ground breaking Artisans Cup and his astounding bonsai nursery come to mind), then Mirai … Continue reading Mirai Live Launch Party Tonight

Bonsai Aficionados, Artists & Visionaries…

I love this powerful old mountain monarch with it’s massive swirling deadwood and undeniable sense of great age. It’s a Rocky mountain juniper that I lifted from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. One of dozens of equally impressive North American bonsai in Ryan’s collection. The title of this post, Bonsai Aficionados, Artists & Visionaries… is borrowed from Mirai Live, “a revolutionary online teaching platform where enthusiasts can access a lifetime’s worth of bonsai knowledge and engage in real time with bonsai professional Ryan Neil and artists from around the world.” I won’t say much more in this post about Mirai Live, … Continue reading Bonsai Aficionados, Artists & Visionaries…

Three Robust Shimpaku on a Stupendous Rock

Three robust Shimpaku junipers on a stupendous rock. From the Omiya Bonsai Museum via Empire Bonsai. Yesterday we featured a type of bonsai forest, so let’s keep going with another type. Though some people might not call these rock plantings forests, they do share the multiple tree and the landscape features with more conventional bonsai forests. This post (with a few changes) first appeared August 2015. That’s Ryan Neil’s hand posing for a professional photo with a one of the largest root-on-rock plantings you’ll ever see. Here’s his caption: “In the studio today with @hornbecker shooting for the Artisans Cup … Continue reading Three Robust Shimpaku on a Stupendous Rock

The Delights of the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition – Any short term inconvenience will be forgotten when you walk through the door and are swept away by the brilliance & power of the event

I borrowed this brilliant tricolor Toyo nishiki flowering quince from Bill Valavanis, the driving force behind the success of the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibitions. You have three days to change your plans and throw your life into momentary chaos so you can enjoy the delights of the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. The disruption to you routine may cause a little short term inconvenience (and perhaps the disapproval and even derision of your significant other) but all that will be forgotten when you walk through the door and are swept away by the brilliance and power of the event. Really! … Continue reading The Delights of the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition – Any short term inconvenience will be forgotten when you walk through the door and are swept away by the brilliance & power of the event

The Time Is Right…

One of the over 150 bonsai by Walter Pall that are featured in the gallery of Modern Bonsai Practice, a ground breaking New Bonsai book. Learning the art of bonsai from the best bonsai books is an essential way to upgrade your bonsai skills. Second only to taking live courses from expert bonsai teachers. Many of us have advanced our bonsai skills by relying on books and our willingness to just jump in and learn as we go. You might even say trial and error, though we hope it’s more trial and less error. This post is a reminder about … Continue reading The Time Is Right…

In Training, a Photographic Masterpiece

In Training, a brand new photographic masterpiece by Stephen Voss has arrived at our warehouse and is ready to ship. It’s a book that started generating buzz way before it even went to the printer, including at Slate magazine in an article titled, Zen & the Art of Bonsai Maintenance. Since then it has been featured in a number of places in and out of the bonsai world. Here’s a quote from Ryan Neil (Bonsai Mirai) about this remarkable book, “There’s an intimacy to bonsai that is largely invisible. It exists in those sacred moments between artist and tree in … Continue reading In Training, a Photographic Masterpiece

Taking a Covered Wagon to the U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

There’s almost noting more beautiful than a Japanese maple in full fall color. This one is from the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition website. We just got a notice from Ryan Neil (Bonsai Mirai) about a covered wagon* full of bonsai that will be making the arduous journey from Portland Oregon to Rochester N.Y. for the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. If you’re exhibiting and your bonsai (or your merchandise) needs a lift, here’s you link. *It’s actually a refrigerated truck. The ‘covered wagon’ is a clever way to grab your attention (and indulge in a little word play). Time … Continue reading Taking a Covered Wagon to the U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

Bonsai Wizardry in Portland (again)

Looking up from below. This is a cropped version of a photo taken by Greg Brenden at the opening of American Bonsai Mirai exhibit at the Wieden & Kennedy gallery in Portland Oregon. Greg’s uncropped photo is below. Another Bonsai Mirai groundbreaking public event. Greg Brenden attended the opening of American Bonsai Mirai– Wieden & Kennedy gallery in Portland Oregon and posted these photos. I’ve done a little cropping to bring the trees a little closer. Greg’s original photos are below (plus one from Ryan Neil that gives a unique view of the exhibit). Greg Brenden’s uncropped original. I like … Continue reading Bonsai Wizardry in Portland (again)