Powerful Jaw Dropping Bonsai Six Months Later

The second place tree at last fall’s Artisans Cup. It’s a Sierra Juniper that belongs to Tim Priest. The other winners are below (if you’re wondering why we’re leading with the second place tree… we’ll we’ve already lead a post with the winner and I’m not so sure I care that much about winners (and by extension losers) anyway. Which begs the question… It has been a few days short of six months since the Artisans Cup; a ground breaking event at the Portland Art Museum that featured more powerful jaw dropping bonsai than most people will ever see in … Continue reading Powerful Jaw Dropping Bonsai Six Months Later

Another Immense Bonsai

This photo of what can only be described as a massive Sabina juniper was taken at Bonsaisense in Mallorca Spain, after two days of skillful transformation by Bjorn Bjorholm (and algunos amigos). Flashback. When I first glimpsed the tree above, I thought we were back at the Artisans Cup. I think this connection has a lot to do with this tree’s size and spread and just how many impressively large trees there were at the Cup. In case you wondering, the size of a bonsai isn’t what makes it worthy or not worthy. Still, size does add dramatic effect. Especially … Continue reading Another Immense Bonsai

Answers to Questions You Never Knew to Ask

This Rocky mountain juniper is from a post titled Juniper Live Veins and How They Move… on Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai. I got a little busy after the Artisans Cup and the transition into the Holiday Season and forgot to visit Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai for a few weeks. Until this morning that is. And now I remember why I keep coming back. Since my last visit Michael has posted The Difference Between Plant Hardiness and Chilling… Seasonal Care for Cold Weather… and the post featured here, Juniper Live Veins and How They Move… Other stuff too, with lots of … Continue reading Answers to Questions You Never Knew to Ask

Subtle yet Simple

Sweet tree, nice pot and brilliant fall color. But do you know what kind of tree it is? Mark Arpag (it’s his tree) doesn’t say, but based on the leaves and the bark, I’m going with Chinese elm. If I’m right, this is tree is quite small (Chinese elm leaves are tiny). One thing I like about Mark Arpag’s bonsai is that they are so accessible. Unlike many of Kimura’s most phenomenal bonsai for example, or the monster first prize tree at the recent Artisans Cup, ordinary bonsai enthusiasts might imagine styling trees like Mark’s. This is not say Mark’s … Continue reading Subtle yet Simple

An American Classic

Michael Levin’s ‘Hatanaka’ Prostrata juniper, 2014 June 2015. Even though the foliage hasn’t filled out yet, this shot clearly shows the structure (the bones) of the tree and seems like a good place to start. Here’s what Michael Levin, owner of Bonsai West and long time bonsai enthusiast, artist and entrepreneur wrote about this spectacular tree… “The Juniper as you know was originally styled by Mrs Hatanaka of Anaheim California and is a true american classic started from a cutting in the 1950’s, I purchased it in the mid 1980’s . I’ve tended it for 30 years and most recently … Continue reading An American Classic

Satsuki & Other Bonsai, Doug Paul’s Doug Fir & Famous Bonsai Artist in Baggy Pants

Part of the large Satsuki (and maybe other Azaleas?) at the Kennett Collection. There’s no doubt this photo was taken in the spring (Satsuki means 5th month), but we just discovered it and the other shown here yesterday. We haven’t featured the Kennett Collection for a while now, though we did feature a Doug Paul tree that was at the Artisans Cup (see below). These photos (with the exception of the last one) are all from facebook. A different angle and a lot closer. More Satsuki. No label but no doubt it’s a root-over-rock Trident maple in fall … Continue reading Satsuki & Other Bonsai, Doug Paul’s Doug Fir & Famous Bonsai Artist in Baggy Pants

Savage Bonsai Beauty

One of the many excellent trees at the just completed 2015 Heathrow Bonsai Show. Heathrow is in the U.K (I just read somewhere that many Americans don’t know what the U.K. is. I’m not sure if I should be embarrassed or just resigned; though I’m pretty sure this doesn’t apply any of you). Photo by Ann White All the photos in this post are from the 2015 Heathrow Bonsai Show. Some are by Harry Harrington and some are by Ann White. Neither identify the varieties or the owners. This is par at bonsai shows and based on my experience at … Continue reading Savage Bonsai Beauty

Bonsai-San

Two powerful trees from the European Bonsai-San 2015 Show. We lifted all the photos shown here* from Bonsai Empire (something we’ve been doing for a long time). They are from the just completed European Bonsai-San 2015 Show in Saulieu France. Oscar at Bonsai Empire wrote the following: “We thank Stephanie and Frederic Chenal for organizing and allowing us to film the exhibit. Visit their website here. Feel free to share these photos, but please mention the source. Thanks!” We don’t have any information on the artists or the owners of any of the trees shown here, though Oscar offers an … Continue reading Bonsai-San

A Strong Statement in Favor of the Wild Look

A strong statement in favor of the wild unmanicured look. It’s a Cork bark Japanese black pine that lives at the Pacific Bonsai Museum. This photo and all the other photos shown here, were taken by Kurt Simonson. Here’s its plaque: Last month, while at the Artisans Cup, I and a large group of fellow bonsai lovers took a Cup sponsored tour to the Pacific Bonsai Museum. While there, I had the good fortune to meet Kurt Simonson who came ready and willing to shoot every tree at the museum, which he did (with the exception of the trees in … Continue reading A Strong Statement in Favor of the Wild Look

A Bonsai Artist’s Legacy

Look familiar? It’s Amy Blanton’s Rocky Mountain Juniper (with Mike Blanton in memoriam). The same tree that was the 3rd place finisher at the Artisans Cup. This photo* was taken at the 2015 North Carolina Bonsai Expo after a quick cross country trip. This post was going to be about the recently completed 2015 North Carolina Bonsai Expo, but somewhere in the process, a story about a particular tree, a bonsai artist’s legacy and his wife’s devotion took over. We’ll get to the Expo another time, meanwhile I would like to invite you to visit a post on Ryan Neil’s … Continue reading A Bonsai Artist’s Legacy