Elegant Bonsai Beauty but Not Really Bonsai

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Mixed media wire sculpture by Ken To. Though it might lack the simple elegance of some of Ken's best, still, so much artistry and fine-tuned craftsmanship in such a small space is quite impressive.

When we venture from bonsai into related arts, we sometimes receive a little ‘this is not bonsai‘ flak, but mostly the response is positive. This is the case with Ken To’s delightful little wire sculptures. Perhaps a little flak, but mostly appreciation.

This must be about the sixth times we’ve featured Ken’s bonsai sculptures (the first time was back in 2010 when he entered one in a Bonsai Bark contest and placed second). For more you can visit Ken’s online studio. You can also visit him on facebook.

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No paint on this perfectly elegant beauty. Just colored wire.

I like the simplicity of the older unpainted ones that used only one color wire.

Paint makes for a more realistic look.

A miniature in miniature.

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Two-toned wire in a two-toned pot.

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Weeping willow

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Picasso’s Bonsai Garden

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The natural look (or who needs manicured bonsai?). This photo captures two things I love about Eladan Gardens. The first is the rugged uncontrived look that characterizes Dan Robinson's bonsai, and the second is the perfect setting. The tree is a Sierra juniper (Juniperus occidentalis).

Earlier this month I finally visited Dan and Diane Robinson’s magnificent Elandan Gardens. It was a quick visit and all I had to shoot with was my cell. So the photos aren’t nearly as good as most of the borrowed Elandan photos from previous posts. But some shots are unique and hopefully capture something of the magic of the place.

Unfortunately, Dan wasn’t there. But we did have a nice chat with Diane in her very impressive art gallery/shop with its hundreds (probably thousands) of treasures from all over the world.

Stonehenge west with bonsai and flowers.

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Water, sky, rocks, trees and a Weeping hemlock bonsai.

In case you are wondering, Dan Robinson is the Picasso of Bonsai. You can find the story and much more in this magnificent book….

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THE book, if you really want to dig into Dan Robinson's bonsai. Photos, stories, techniques, everything. By agreement with Dan and Diane, we do not discount this exceptional book. But it's worth every penny of its 49.95 price. And it DOES qualify for FREE Shipping (49.95 passes for 50.00, but in the U.S. only and you must select Free Shipping when you check out).

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Another great view, another great bonsai. It's a large cascading pine in a large pot on a large sculptural stand.

There are bright spots throughout the Garden, but this one may be the brightest of them all. We don't have to say this is an Azalea.

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There were so many trees and memory fades quickly, but I'm going to guess that this scrumptious bonsai with its luminous foliage is a true Cedar (Cedrus). Though it does have a bit of a Larch like look too (memory isn't all that's fading).

Closeup of the tree at the top of the post

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5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition – See You in Rochester

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This sumptuous Japanese maple is from the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition website.

I know that we featured this post a mere two months ago, but thought you might need the reminder. Plus it’s a shortcut so I can get out of here to enjoy the rest of the Holiday weekend. I also wanted to let you know that our FREE Bonsai Wire giveaway* ends Monday night, as do three of our current sales. Details are below.

It’s time to start thinking about the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. All of the previous Exhibitions were wonderful events and they just keep getting better. The dates are September 10-11 and fortunately the venue is the same as last year (if you were there you understand).

I won’t say more about the details right now, because everything you need to know is on the Exhibition site and we will post regular reminders. Meanwhile, enjoy the photos and start making your plans!

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A small part of the vast venue and extensive bonsai selection on display

The 2016 logo tree

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A small part of last year's vendor section

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Spectacular Sargent juniper from 2014

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Meanwhile, we’d like to encourage you to visit Stone Lantern

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Enjoy Numerous Sales and Deeply Discounted Items

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all three sales end Monday night

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You Cut That Off and You lose the Soul of the Tree

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"In Japan, I'm sure they would say this is not bonsai and cut this very long branch off," says (Ryan) Neil. "But when I purchased this piece of material (Ponderosa pine), the only thing I could think is: man, how could you take this wild, undulating branch that — although it may sit outside of the dimensions of what the Japanese model says makes a bonsai — you cut that off and you lose the soul of the tree. So I think what makes the American style special is preserving the wildness and resisting the temptation to domesticate it." From Think out loud, Oregon Public Broadcasting.

There’s no doubt that Ryan Neil and his bonsai are trending these days. Here on Bonsai Bark and, in this case, in an article from Think out loud, an Oregon Public Broadcasting blog. In addition to the photos shown here, the article features a podcast of a discussion with Ryan that is a must for anyone interested in bonsai in general and specifically American bonsai.

Here’s a quote from the blog: “Ryan Neil is an American bonsai master. He explains how the ancient Japanese art form translates to U.S. style, and walks us through an exhibit of his work currently up at the Portland Japanese Garden.”

For more on Ryan and his bonsai, you can visit his Bonsai Mirai. You might also take a look at any of the numerous Bonsai Bark posts that feature Ryan’s trees and the Artisans Cup.

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The caption with this exquisite Bunjin Japanese black pine reads "The goal of Bonsai Mirai and the Artisans Cup at the Portland Art Museum: to update bonsai for a new, distinctly American generation."

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Big rugged deadwood dominated Rocky mountain junipers are often front and center wherever Ryan's bonsai are featured.

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This Ponderosa pine is the lead tree on the blog and is discussed in some detail on the podcast.

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Bonsai by Fields

Like most people, I'm a sucker for showy flowers (subtle flowers too, but that's for another time). On bonsai and everywhere else. In this case it's a very showy Azalea bonsai that belongs to Mark Fields. Often azaleas and flowering bonsai are designed to show off the flowers, and though you'd have to ask Mark to be sure, I suspect that was his intention.

I found the three trees shown here on Mark Field’s facebook feed. There are some other good ones that are definitely worth a click, but rather than show them all, we’ll just whet your appetite.

Mark’s business is Bonsai by Fields, part of which is Mark Field’s School of Bonsai (definitely worth a look if you live anywhere near Greenwood Indiana).

You could recognize this massive tree as a Trident maple from a mile away. And even though saying this it an exercise in stating the obvious, that's a very impressive nebari. Great taper too.

This is a very sweet Shimpaku as is, but I'll bet it would be even sweeter in a smaller show pot with some moss and the deadwood enhanced a little with lime sulfur. FYI and in just case you don't know this; trees you see in shows are often in pots that are really too small for growing. When the show is over, they go back into larger pots.

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American Bonsai, The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil at the Portland Japanese Garden

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I've never seen a bonsai displayed like this. Not even in my imagination, and my guess is the same goes for you (unless you happen to be Ryan Neil). This photo is from a show at the Portland Japanese Garden titled American Bonsai, The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil.

We’ve featured the bonsai of Ryan Neil numerous times here on Bark. But never quite like this (though Ryan’s Artisans Cup does share some of the same revolutionary vision). I won’t say much more except to encourage you to visit the Portland Japanese Garden (if geography puts a crimp in that possibility, you can at least visit their website).

The event, American Bonsai, The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil is at the Portland Japanese Garden, May 21 to June 19. Ryan will be offering a Rocky mountain juniper bonsai demonstration on May 29th, 1-3pm.

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This time it's a different tree (a Vine maple) and a different background. Same architectural structure though. I lifted this image from a video about the event that you can find on the Portland Japanese Garden website (and that I just spent 25 minutes trying to find again and failing... likely due to sleep deprivation).

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You can see a piece of the lovely city of Portland in this shot (also lifted from the video).

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A promotional piece from the Portland Japanese Garden Website.

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This studio shot of the same tree as above is from Ryan's Bonsai Mirai. Another excellent destination while you're visiting Portland.

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FREE Bonsai Wire & Three Great Sales

FREE Bonsai Wire

With any Stone Lantern order of 10.00 or more

if you write FREE in the comments box when you check out

We’ve got plenty of 100 gram rolls in stock, so why not?

Order now for you FREE wire
take advantage of current sales and discounted items
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The Details…

Orders from 10 to 19.99 will receive 100 grams of FREE wire.
Orders from 20.00 to 29.99 will receive 200 grams
Orders from 30.00 to 39.99 will receive 300 grams….

…and so forth off into infinity

For small orders we will use 100 gram rolls
For large orders we may use 500 gram rolls unless you specify otherwise

If you want wire of specific sizes, you must specify in the comments box
If you don’t specify sizes, we’ll decide

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And that’s not all
You can take advantage of several Sales & receive your FREE wire

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Hamisu: Misting Bonsai on Hot Summer Days

This wild & wonderful cascading Rocky mountain juniper is from Michael Hagedorn's latest post on Crataegus Bonsai. Clearly there's more to do, but even as is, it's an exciting bonsai.

The text below is from a 2010 post we borrowed from Michael Hagedorn on summer misting. In addition being a highly accomplished bonsai artist, Michael is a great teacher, with a wealth of bonsai knowledge almost unrivaled in the West. If you’d like to learn more than you ever imagined about bonsai, you’d be well served to visit Michael’s Crataegus Bonsai.

Here’s the original in Michael’s own words:
“Last summer I mentioned the practice of ‘hamisu’ which is the misting of bonsai during hot summer days. This light topical watering wets the foliage, trunk, pot and first half inch or inch of soil. It refreshes the tree.If you water the trees in the morning on hot days, they will often need this lighter watering once or twice following that. This is especially true when the temperatures rise above 90 degrees F. Hamisu is most effective when the sun is lowering in the sky.“

Be careful watering too late in the day when you have fungus problems. There is juniper tip blight, Phomopsis, to be concerned with, for instance. Any water on the foliage should dry before night sets in during the warm months.”

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Bonsai Book & Wire Sales End Tonight

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Norway spruce (Picea abies) by Francois Jeker. From the first volume of Bonsai Aesthetics. Now 25% off at Stone Lantern.

Three great sales end tonight at 11:59pm EDT
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25% off 500 gram rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire
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B2MASTER

And just in case you are wondering; yes, we do offer a whole range of Japanese garden books and some others as well.

Visit Stone Lantern and enjoy a 25%  off all of our already discounted books. But don't wait, the sale ends tonight.

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Suthin’s Stupendous Bonsai Sale

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This massive Trident maple is one of approximately 200 bonsai offered at Suthin Sukosolivisit's upcoming Private Collection Sales Event.

First a disclaimer. We get nothing for promoting Suthin’s ( or anyone’s) bonsai sales or other events. Just an occasional thank you. But that’s enough. We’re happy to do it and we’re promoting our own business at the same time (Bonsai Book Sale and Wire Sales end tonight), so we’re okay with the arrangement.

We’ll just show you a handful of photos of bonsai for sale at Suthin’s upcoming event (June 25 & 26) and encourage you to take a look for yourself (the selection shown here is by no means representative, there are numerous varieties offered).
More details below…

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One of many juicy Shimpaku junipers offered

Where: Royal Bonsai Garden, Stoughton, MA

When: June 25 & 26

The rules

Items offered: Bonsai, Pre-bonsai, Bonsai pots and Stone lanterns

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Arakawa Japanese maple. For some reason I chose the only two of these offered, when there are so many other great trees. Must be the bark.

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Tiger bark ficus

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Root-over-rock Trident maple

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Another Shimpaku

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And the other Arakawa Japanese maple...

25% off Book Sale ends tonight
at 11:59pm EDT
B1-NEWBooks Bonsai Wire Sales
also end tonight
Wire32-500x1591 25% off 500 gram rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire
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sales end tonight at 11:59pm EDT

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