Happy Bonsai Holidays! Merry Bonsai Christmas!

Though it’s usually considered bad form to lop off part of the pot, in this case it’s all about the color (and the wildly expressive trunk). The variety is listed as Issho-no-haru. This and the rest of the photos in this post are from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! No matter what you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), may you and your loved ones enjoy the Season and have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. This post is borrowed from our 2014 archives, so I’m cheating just a bit. But I like it so much and believe that you … Continue reading Happy Bonsai Holidays! Merry Bonsai Christmas!

Principles of Bonsai Design with a Personal Touch

This berry-laden Cotoneaster belongs to David DeGroot, long time bonsai artist, teacher, museum curator and author (Principles of Bonsai Design). Here’s Dave’s caption… “In honor of the approaching holidays I posed a cotoneaster that is decorated with its own red berries before a celebratory gold screen. The bonsai was originally developed by the late Ann Spencer of Portland, OR. The pot is by Sarah Rayner.” I took the liberty to crop this photo. The original is below I’ve long respected David DeGroot for his bonsai skills and for his contribution the American and world bonsai communities; as teacher, author and as … Continue reading Principles of Bonsai Design with a Personal Touch

Mammoth Masterpiece

This monster Japanese beech is so massive and so masterful, that once you see it, you’ll never forget it. Continuing with our Japanese beech theme from a few days ago, I couldn’t resist this one. It’s from a post we did back in March, 2016. There was no attribution with our source and we still don’t know who it belongs to. IT’S NOT TOO LATE… orders received before noon EST will be shipped the same day orders receive after noon will be shipped the same day or the next day SITE WIDE SALE Almost Everything 30% – 70% off List Prices Order Now for Immediate … Continue reading Mammoth Masterpiece

Arts of the Earth & The Principles of Bonsai Design

Beech with vase. The tree is a Japanese beech ‘Fuji’ by Kazuhiro Ohashi. The photo is from Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Arts of the Earth Exhibit. This exhibit took place in 2006. In 2013 the Weyerhaeuser corporation gifted its entire bonsai collection to what is now know as the Pacific Bonsai Museum. You can read the whole story here. Continuing with our Japanese beech theme (see the tree above), we’re going to journey back to the early days of this century and revisit a unique bonsai and ceramic art exhibition from 2006. I think you’ll like the photos and the commentary by David DeGroot, who was the curator at the WeyerhaeuserPacific Rim Bonsai Collection (now … Continue reading Arts of the Earth & The Principles of Bonsai Design

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

Winter Bonsai Brilliance

There’s something about Quince flowers… Here’s Bill Valavanis’ caption… “A small size Toyo Nishiki Japanese flowering quince, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo Nishiki’ with multiple colored flowers. Although red, pink and white blossoms are common for this great cultivar, I’ve often seen red branches grafted onto specimens to improve color distribution.” Busy day today, so we’ll revert to our old tricks. This one originally appeared in February, 2015 All the photos shown here are lifted directly from Bill Valavanis’ blog, Welcome To My Bonsai World. Bill’s account of the 2015 world famous Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition is first hand and what you see here is … Continue reading Winter Bonsai Brilliance