Bare-Boned Beech

This tipsy planting in its curvy slab has to be one of the most distinctive deciduous forest bonsai anywhere. Like all the trees in this post it’s a Japanese beech (Fagus crenata), a species prized for its brilliant white bark. Japanese beech, with their striking white bark and strong trunks (often with excellent nebari) are a favorite of bonsai artists, especially in Japan. Unfortunately, they aren’t that easy to find here in North America and our native beech (Fagus grandifolia) is too rangy and large-leafed to make for very good bonsai (the European beech, Fagus sylvatica, which you can find here, is a … Continue reading Bare-Boned Beech

Celebrating Our National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

This brilliant Japanese Maple was donated to our National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by Ryutaro Azuma. It has been in training since 1906. The photo is from Capital Bonsai. It’s time to celebrate our National Bonsai and Penjing Museum once again. If you are anywhere near our nation’s capital, or plan on being anywhere near, don’t miss this phenomenal display. Even if you have no plans on being near Washington DC, you can always make new plans. You won’t be disappointed. SITE WIDE SALE UP TO 60% OFF SOME ITEMS EVERYTHING DISCOUNTED MOST ITEMS 30% TO 60% OFF* This and other specials apply only to … Continue reading Celebrating Our National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

American Bonsai Silhouettes

This snowy American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) forest by Gary Clark won the American Bonsai Society Award for Native Species at this year’s Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Our thanks to Bill Valavanis for this and the other photos shown here. It’s a busy time around here, so with the exception of a few words of my own, this post about the recent Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo is borrowed from Bill Valavanis (though what you see here is only a small piece of what Bill presented). I strongly urge you to visit Bill’s blog to enjoy his captivating first hand stories and insights … Continue reading American Bonsai Silhouettes

Small Is Beautiful

This little deciduous tree with its profusion of small orange fruit isn’t identified, so we can only guess. Based on the fruit and the bark we’ll try Crab apple. If we’re wrong and you know what it is (or think you do) you can put it in the comments on our timeline. It’s Shohin time today. All the photos shown here are from a facebook page, called, of all things… Shohin. Continued below… Bonsai Books all discounted, some up to 60% off Chose from our large selection of quality Bonsai Books Japanese Garden & related Books too We don’t have to guess this time. Here’s the … Continue reading Small Is Beautiful

Classic Beauty – Flowering Bonsai from Japan

Tomentosa cherry (Prunus tomentosa: Japanese Yasura-ume). The Japanese love of flowering cherries is evident in this gnarled old shohin size (5″) bonsai. Lots to do today, so we’ll make it short and sweet. All three photos are from Classic Bonsai of Japan (Nippon Bonsai Association), one of the best bonsai books we’ve seen. Unfortunately, it has been out of print for several years 30% to 40% off ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS 30% TO 40% OFF LIST PRICES ALL roshi BONSAI TOOLS & TOOL KITS plus an extra 5% off all orders 150.00 or more – Japanese apricot (Prunus mume: Japanese Ume). My apologies for cutting off … Continue reading Classic Beauty – Flowering Bonsai from Japan

Before, During & After – Seven Years & Some Serious Wiring

Here’s Mariusz Komsta’s captiion for this tree… “Momiji Polmans & Bonsaimotorworld bonsai school is finally paying off, great job by Jean-Pierre Reitz , Pinus nigra” (Austrian black pine). I found these photos of Jean-Pierre Reitz’ superb before and after bonsai on Mariusz Komsta’s timeline. If you’ve been following Bonsai Bark for a while, you’ll know that Mariusz is one of our favorites. Jean-Pierre however, is new to us. Looks like a good discovery SITE WIDE SPECIAL Up TO 60% OFF Some items 20% TO 60% OFF LIST PRICes* *there are 4 individual items we cannot discount – see below This and other … Continue reading Before, During & After – Seven Years & Some Serious Wiring

Winter Bonsai Berries

This sturdy Japanese fine tooth holly (Ilex serrata) originally appeared on our 2010 Bonsai calendar (speaking of, our 2018 Calendars are now discounted as part of our New Site Wide Sale). This post started out to about Cotoneaster berries. That is until Bill Valavanis gently let me know that the tree above is an Ilex, even though I would have bet that it’s a Cotoneaster. But then I’ll never bet against Bill when it comes to bonsai. The photos and some of the text in this post are from our archives (June, 2015) NEW SITE WIDE SPECIAL 20% TO 60% OFF LIST PRICES ON EVERYTHING* *there are 4 … Continue reading Winter Bonsai Berries

Black Scissors Bonsai

This powerful full-bloom Bougainville with its lovely pot looks like it’s from China. We borrowed it from our friend Robert Steven (see below) Just grabbed a few photos this morning from Robert Steven’s Black Scissors Community. If you’d like explore Robert’s views on these trees and their relationship to full sized trees in nature, here’s your link to his commentary NEW SITE WIDE SPECIAL 20% to 60% off list prices on EverythinG* *there are 4 individual items we cannot discount – see below 20% to 60% off list prices bonsai tools, wire, calendars, books, bonsai magazines, soil, fertilizer, embroidered clothing, bonsai … Continue reading Black Scissors Bonsai

Bonsai Tools 30% to 50% off Ends Tuesday

30% to 50% off list prices BONSAI TOOL SPECIAL ends tomorrow Tuesday, November 28th at 11:59pm EDT – A great opportunity to upgrade you tool selection and enhance your bonsai experience 200 Different Tools, Tools Sets & Kits Roshi Bonsai Tools Koyo Bonsai Tools Bonsai Aesthetics Tools Yoshiaki Bonsai Tools Okatsune Bonsai Tools Others too BONSAI WIRE SPECIAL All Wire Deeply Discounted WIRE SPECIAL INCLUDES BONSAI AESTHETICS 100 GRAM ROLLS ONLY 2.95 500 GRAM (1.1 LB) ROLLS ONLY 8.95 1 KILO (2.2 LB) ROLLS ONLY 15.95 – – Our Amazing Green T Turntables also Discounted Bonsai Today back issue now … Continue reading Bonsai Tools 30% to 50% off Ends Tuesday

Brilliant Bonsai Forests – Quality Bonsai Tools, Wire & Much More

This illustrious forest with its impressively natural, in-scale ground cover is from Bonsai Today issue 23.* Among other things this planting shows how one very strong tree can add drama and power to a forest planting. Though the original doesn’t say, I’ll guess that the trees are Ezo spruce. 30% to 50% off BONSAI TOOL SPECIAL ENDS TOMORROW 30% TO 50% OFF LIST PRICES ALL BONSAI TOOLS & TOOL KITS plus an extra 5% off all orders 150.00 or more Roshi, Koyo, Bonsai Aesthetics, Yoshiaki, Okatsune & more order yours now – only 3 more days including today Ends Tuesday, Nov 28th at … Continue reading Brilliant Bonsai Forests – Quality Bonsai Tools, Wire & Much More