Bonsai Rafting – Sinuous & Straight

This rugged sinuous root raft-style planting is by our friend, Robert Steven. I don’t know the variety, but my guess is that Robert will let us know. We’ve added one photo (just below) to this post on raft-style bonsai that originally appeared here in August 2015 We don’t need to say much about raft-style bonsai – Peter Adams has it covered below -except that all the bonsai rafts shown here are sinuous root style (netsunagari in Japanese) as opposed to rafts with straight line trunks, like nature’s raft just below NEW LOWEST PRICE YET KILO BONSAI WIRE ONLY 14.95 PER ROLL Only 13.45 off with your … Continue reading Bonsai Rafting – Sinuous & Straight

A Magnificent Affront

This magnificent old yamadori Shimpaku, with its self framing deadwood has to be one of the most outrageously unusual bonsai we’ve ever posted. It’s from Taisho-en in Japan. I originally found it here. Spectacular smokey Yosemite (day before yesterday with a fire detour), Rustic old Jamestown (Yesterday), San Francisco to Portland (today, more fires) and back home to Vermont (Monday). It’s a wonder we even have time to answer our email – but we try – and a wonder we have time to whip up a new post. Again, we try, but today we’re re-whipping one from August, 2014 Trees as unusual as … Continue reading A Magnificent Affront

Bonsai Stories

The smaller trunk was blown over in storm and saved when it landed on a tiny rock island. Fortunately, just enough of the roots are intact and a surviving branch has grown up to become the new crown. One of several stories told by this remarkable planting. The artist is Nacho Marin, a frequent presence here on Bark Traveling today so it’s archive time. This one is from one year ago yesterday The best bonsai tell stories. Usually it’s about hostile environments and hardships, though you could have a robust and stately tree that speaks of a more gentle climate … Continue reading Bonsai Stories

More European Bonsai – Poland this Time

We found this Japanese white pine (Goyomatsu) at Bonsai Warsaw. The other photos shown here are from the Warsaw Bonsai Show. They were posted by Will Baddeley (links for both are below) Polish bonsai anyone? And just in case you think I’m a mole planted here to showcase European bonsai… well, it’s true, I do appreciate what’s going on in the European bonsai community and how rapidly they’ve advanced over the last 20 to 30 years.* But really, anywhere you find quality bonsai is good enough. Here’s your link to Bonsai Warsaw. And here’s Will Baddeley KILO BONSAI WIRE ONLY 16.50 per roll Only 14.85 off with your 150.00+ discount … Continue reading More European Bonsai – Poland this Time

Adding Drama to an Already Dramatic Bonsai

Is this spectacular Juniper in its equally spectacular pot, listing just a tad to the left? Or is it just me? No matter, to my eye at least, the tension set up by this feeling adds a little more drama to an already very dramatic tree Here’s a post from our archives (Novemeber, 2012). It was titled Getting It Right This Time (you can visit the original if you’d like to know what we were getting right). I picked it mostly because I thought you might appreciate the rather spectacular tree above, though the others aren’t half bad either The photos you see here … Continue reading Adding Drama to an Already Dramatic Bonsai

Bonsai in the Palm of Your Hand

The trunk on this sturdy little tree reminds me of any number of massive yamadori Junipers we’ve seen (and featured) from the mountains of western North America. Difference is, there’s no way they’d fit in the palm of your hand Yesterday, was Haruyosi. Today it’s Haruyosi and soon enough it will be Haruyosi again… Roshi Tool Special ALL ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS NOW 25% TO 40% OFF OUR LIST PRICES ROSHI SETS THE STANDARD FOR AFFORDABLE HIGH QUALITY BONSAI TOOLS Another sweet Shimpaku. A favorite of Haruyosi And another… This one is already in a bonsai pot. And just … Continue reading Bonsai in the Palm of Your Hand

An “Amazing Little Tree” with Six Names

I chose this tree because I like its multiple trunks and exposed roots and the way it invites you to come in and enjoy yourself under its protective canopy. I also like that it’s referred to as a Ficus salicaria, a name that is new to me. You may know it as a Ficus salicifolia. Or perhaps a Ficus neriifolia. And if you’d like to venture into somewhat more obscure territory, Ficus celebensis, Ficus irregularis or Ficus regularis. What these botanical names have in common is, well, a common name… Willow leaf ficus. At least in some lexicons. I came across the photo above and … Continue reading An “Amazing Little Tree” with Six Names

Coming Soon… Fall Potting Season

A freshly transplanted Black pine. From our Masters’ Series Pine book. When it comes to transplanting, timing depends on your climate. Here in northern Vermont seasons can change rapidly and winters are very cold, so fall transplanting season starts and ends early (more on this below) If you live in a warmer climate fall comes later for you and there is more margin for error. One advantage to transplanting in the early fall is when the spring season starts, little or no growing time is lost. Roots grow in the fall when the soil is still warm and after diminished … Continue reading Coming Soon… Fall Potting Season

Sold! That Compact Muscular Look

I really like this sturdy little jewell. Not only is a Larch, a favorite in this part of the world – with that aged bark that adds a genuine bonafide to any bonsai – but it also has that compact muscular look that I’m often attracted to. But not to just any compact muscular bonsai, rather one like this, that shows a certain skill in the art of styling and refining bonsai. The species is European larch (Larix decidua). The skilled artist is Will Baddeley. BTW, Will recently sold this little gem Here’s what Will Baddeley wrote about this tree in answer to my inquiry… “Ok. … Continue reading Sold! That Compact Muscular Look

Maintenance Before & After Bonsai

This muscular little tree is a good example of a maintenance before and after. The artist (or artists) that wired and trimmed it perform their magic at Bonsái Pavía. You might remember them from just the other day. The tree looks a lot like a Taxus Yesterday we posted a from scratch before and after. Today it’s a maintenance before and after that we found at Bonsái Pavía. This is when a bonsai that has become overgrown is brought back to presentable (this is a little oversimplified, but you get the drift). Every quality bonsai that has been around for a while, has experienced this type maintenance. In many cases dozens of times. Continued … Continue reading Maintenance Before & After Bonsai