Less Is Enough

I think this one qualifies as Mame (‘bean’ in Japanese). Bonsai-wise, mame is a common word for the very smallest bonsai. I found it on Pinterest. It says Repinned via Luciano Guimarães. I’m not sure exactly what that means but my best guess is that this tree does not belong to Luciano. The photo had the Bonsai Empire logo in the corner (now cropped out to magnify the tree), but I couldn’t find it on their site. In any case it’s a sweet little gem and so’s the pot. “Shohin are small bonsai. When compared to large bonsai, shohin cost … Continue reading Less Is Enough

Upcoming Bonsai Events & Big Summer Book Sale Ends Soon

An example of Francois Jeker’s styling and deadwood carving. Francois is a headliner at the Eda Uchi Kai Bonsai-Ten 2013 (see below). He is also the author of Bonsai Aesthetics one and two. FREE ADVERTISING! Would you like to see your bonsai event featured here? If so, just send me a notice with a link to the event. That’s it. But remember, no link, no show. My email is wayne@stonelantern.com. You might also want to mention the event in the comments below. Big Summer Book Sale ends soon. 20% to 25% off all books. Don’t wait! Two classics, one old … Continue reading Upcoming Bonsai Events & Big Summer Book Sale Ends Soon

Highly Unusual & Strikingly Beautiful

This Hinoki forest is from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 2009 Annual Show. It’s a very unusual planting and quite compelling in its naturalness. I’ve come across spruce groves while hiking in Vermont and New Hampshire that look something like this. You find them near the mountain tops, where the harsh climate causes the trees to dwarf and huddle together. These little forests of dwarf trees with their lush moss carpets and time worn rocks, can evoke a peaceful almost other worldly feeling when you stumble across them. The photo and caption above are from a Bark post way … Continue reading Highly Unusual & Strikingly Beautiful

Deadwood, More Deadwood & A Beautiful Weekend

Deadwood! Two weeks ago we featured a couple of Serge Clemence’ bonsai in a post on deadwood. I guess the reason I didn’t include this Mugo pine in that post is because Serge has so many trees with powerful deadwood. Still…. More deadwood! I found this powerful tree on Bonsai Tonight. It’s from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society‘s 29th annual show that took place in Santa Rosa CA recently. When you see a tree like this and others in the show, it’s hard not to be struck by just how far north American bonsai has come in few short … Continue reading Deadwood, More Deadwood & A Beautiful Weekend

Bonsai Winners, Part Three

The Finest Evergreen Bonsai. San Jose Juniper by Anthony Alario of Providence, Rhode Island. Round three This is our third and final posting of the winners of the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition which was held just over two weeks ago. We’ll give it rest after this, until the book comes out later this year. Night and day and just a tad To repeat myself from the last post; “the photos from the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition are professional and well done. However, the difference between seeing the splendid power of top quality bonsai up close and personal, and … Continue reading Bonsai Winners, Part Three

Weekly Wire Six: A Little Tipsy

More fall color. There’s something about the fiery brilliance of fall color. Both the colors and the shape of this Japanese maple are reminiscent of the large Sugar maples that grow around here in Vermont. The photo is from Reiner Vollmari’s facebook page. The Windy City. Next time you’re in Chicago you can visit the bonsai collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden. From what I can see from their website, it looks like a great display area with some quality trees. They claim to have “one of the best public collections of bonsai in the world” which may be … Continue reading Weekly Wire Six: A Little Tipsy

Bonsai Bark’s Weekly Wire #5

Loud and clear. This magnificent Fukien tea and it’s perfect pot speak for themselves, so I won’t say anything. Except that it’s from Taiwan Bonsai World (facebook), the botanical name is Carmona microphylla and the artist is HUANG, Qing-Quan. Post your upcoming events here (in the comments below) and we’ll feature them in our next Weekly Wire. Most calendars on bonsai sites only run through this year, and don’t have much in the way of events this time of year anyway. It would be good if people would start putting up next year’s events (a few have begun, but … Continue reading Bonsai Bark’s Weekly Wire #5

Stolen Bonsai

This Shimpaku juniper was stolen recently from New England Bonsai. Bonsai theft There’s a long list of businesses and individuals who have had prize bonsai stolen. The other day it was New England Bonsai Gardens in Bellingham Mass. Fortunately, they have photos of all four of their missing trees and a local TV station featured them on a news program. Unfortunately, the chances of survival of stolen bonsai is low. Unless they are recovered soon, odds are whoever ends up with them won’t be able to keep them healthy. Years ago a friend (and customer of New England Bonsai) had … Continue reading Stolen Bonsai

Trunk Art

This rich and powerful, extraordinarily detailed old trunk sits at the base of a Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) bonsai (immediately below). It (and the others in this post) is from the recent Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 27th annual show. The photos are all borrowed from Bonsai Tonight. The complete tree. Superior bonsai photography My hat is off and my balding head is nodding in appreciation of Jonas Dupuich’s consistently superior photographs at Bonsai Tonight. If you can’t see a top quality bonsai in person, the next best thing is a top quality photo.

Bonsai Events Calendar (Updated 10/17/2010)

Salvatore Liporace at Rosade Bonsai Studio. See Nov 4-7 below. Send us yours If you have a bonsai event you’d like to see in our next calendar, send it to wayne@stonelantern.com, or put it in the comments below (don’t forget the links). Oct 16 – ?: Stone Lantern 30% to 40% off books, tools and wire Oct – Nov: Kathy Shaner Advanced Workshops, Redwood Empire Bonsai Society