Keeping It Close to Home – Upcoming Bonsai Events

This Shimpaku is from the home page of the Suthin Bonsai Studio website. Though magnificent Shimpaku are pretty common (especially in Japan), still, this one is distinctive in at least a couple ways: the lush crown that reaches all way down to the right gives the tree a dynamic flowing movement that adds interest, but just might cause your eye to flow right off the page. But then there’s the irrepressible curlycue jin that serves, among other things as a counter-balance to the crown’s lean to the right and brings your eye right back (too much coffee this morning is … Continue reading Keeping It Close to Home – Upcoming Bonsai Events

A Rich Cornucopia of Bonsai Events

It has been a while since we’ve featured the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum‘s world-class bonsai collection. This Korean hornbeam (Carpinus tschonoskii ) donated by Minoru Koshimura, has been in training since 1935 and it’s not even one of the oldest at the museum. Not by a long shot. But it is undeniably a venerable tree with a majestic dignity that you just don’t find every day. And of course, it’s just one of hundreds of powerful bonsai and bonsai events you can enjoy while visiting our nation’s capital. Here we go again in our quest to keep you up … Continue reading A Rich Cornucopia of Bonsai Events

Kannst du bonsai auf Deutsch sagen?

Bonsai and half-man. Udo Fischer‘s Trident maple was the winner of the 2009 Noelander’s Trophy. I prefer bonsai photos without posed people; there are other shots of this tree without Udo, but this was only one I could find that captured the beauty of the tree. So, apologies to Udo’s left-out left side. One thing just led to another I didn’t set out to create a post about German (and Austrian) bonsai. In fact, the first photo I put up was a photo from a Bill Valavanis’ Japan tour (stay posted). From there, somehow we got to German speaking bonsai … Continue reading Kannst du bonsai auf Deutsch sagen?

National Bonsai Exhibition Video

3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition video by BonsaiInBuffalo.com Bill Valanvanis just posted an excellent new video by BonsaiInBuffalo.com. You can purchase the DVD at International Bonsai. You can also view it on YouTube. Bon appetit! I captured a few shots from the video to give you a small taste and perhaps whet your appetite for more. Jim Doyle’s Eastern White Cedar. That’s Bill on the left. Yasuo Mitsuya, one of the three judges, is the gentleman in the center toward the back. Marty Schmallenberg’s Elm. Vendor’s area. Stone Lantern is the red and blue … Continue reading National Bonsai Exhibition Video

More Bonsai Winners

Winner of the Yoshimura Award. It’s a Nikko Satsuki Azalea by Robert Blankfield of Rochester, New York. Round two This is our second posting of the winners of the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition which was held two weeks ago. We still have some to show, so stand by for a third posting. Night and day 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 photos of those same top quality bonsai are, to borrow a common phrase, … Continue reading More Bonsai Winners

The 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition: The Official Results Are In

The National Award for the Finest Bonsai Masterpiece. Japanese Black Pine, by Scott Elser of Portland, Oregon. For the whole scoop and photos of all ten winners, Bill Valavanis has posted the winners and his comments on the Internet Bonsai Club. The three images shown in this blog have been lifted from Bill’s post. Stay posted here for more on the winners soon. Deciduous Award for the Finest Deciduous Bonsai. Japanese Maple by Suthin Sukolosovisit of Stoughton, Massachusetts. Ho Yoku Award for the Finest Western Display. Japanese Maple by Joseph Noga of Winterville, North Carolina.

Kokufu & the Upcoming 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

This Shishigashira Japanese maple was a 2012 Kokufu award winner. A few things stand out about this remarkable tree: the shape, with most of the action on one side is somewhat unusual for a Japanese maple; the wonderful nebari with its smooth spread and the way it stabilizes the top of the tree; and the undulating movement of the branching (from primary branches all the way out to the tips of the twigs). Best in show All the photos in this post are from Bill Valavanis’ 2012 KOKUFU BONSAI EXHIBITION REPORT which appears on the Internet Bonsai Club. You might … Continue reading Kokufu & the Upcoming 2012 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Still Scratching (the Judges backs)

New England’s best. Teddi Scobi’s easy-going personal style is a big reason for New England Bonsai’s success for the past 27 years (photo is from New England Bonsai’s Kaikou School of Bonsai). If you don’t believe me, visit New England Bonsai and meet her for yourself. Be sure to tell her I said hello. Still scratching Judges Though we already featured our judges once, for some reason I feel compelled to do it again. I think it’s because I’m already getting excited about our next Bonsai from Scratch Contest (here’s an early post on the just completed 2011 contest) and … Continue reading Still Scratching (the Judges backs)

Weekly Wire 8 & Scratch Honorable Mention Winners

Bunjin pine from Bonsai Today magazine. We’ve been talking about Bunjin style bonsai quite a bit lately, so why not stay on topic? This one’s trunk is a little heavier than most bunjin, but no problem. The same goes for the crown; it too is a little heavier than crowns on most bunjins, but goes well with the heavy trunk. One of this tree’s distinguishing features, the vertical downward direction of the right branch, is characteristic of many bunjin style trees. Marco Invernizzi, Bill Valavanis and Isao Omachi Your generosity comes to fruition: I received this note and photo … Continue reading Weekly Wire 8 & Scratch Honorable Mention Winners

Displaying Your Favorite Bonsai

Enter your favorite bonsai in the 2012 US National Bonsai Exhibition Have you thought about entering your bonsai in next year‘s US National Bonsai Exhibition? Why not? Not only will it focus your mind on your bonsai, but you’ll no doubt learn something in the process. Not to mention that, if your tree is accepted, it will show up in the 2012 Exhibition Album. And then, there’s always the chance you could win something. You can contact Bill Valavanis for details: WNV@internationalbonsai.com Even you if don’t enter, this is a good time to start planning your visit. 2008 & 2010 … Continue reading Displaying Your Favorite Bonsai