Juniper Bonsai – Before, During & After

This Itoigawa juniper (Juniperus sargentii Itoigawa) belongs to Yannick Kiggen of Yama Bonsai Studio. The shot is from Noelanders Trophy 2017. The 200 year old pot is by Nakawatari. The stand was built by Pascal Houdusse This before, during and after sequence, covers four years in the life of Yannick Kiggen’s massive old yamadori juniper (yamadori is bonsai collected from the wild). Yannick bought it in 2014 from Maarten van der Hoeven of Bonsaiplaza, who imported it from Taisho-en in Japan. Continued below… BONSAI BOOK SPECIAL ENDS SOON All of Our Vast Selection of Bonsai Books 20% to 75% off List Prices But only for 2 more days This special … Continue reading Juniper Bonsai – Before, During & After

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

Boxwood Bonsai – Before & After Armageddon

Michael Hagedorn’s Japanese boxwood. Here’s part of what Michael wrote about this tree (from his Crataegus Bonsai blog)… “And after the new flush of leaves came out, summer 2017. Defoliation creates regrowth with smaller leaves. This photo is after minimal wiring and pad cleanup. There is a scale shift from the earlier, un-defoliated 2017 photos, and the structure of the tree comes out a bit better than the earlier attempt 14 years ago as a well-manicured foliage ‘mop.’ Which was fine for dusting or generally shrubbery use in Monty Python movies, but less good for bonsai.” Up to our old … Continue reading Boxwood Bonsai – Before & After Armageddon

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

Before & After Bonsai, Artists & Philosophers & the Strangest Cat Video I’ve Ever Seen

Here’s a fairly simple maintenance before and after. I found it on Mariusz Janusz Komsta’s timeline. Here’s Mariusz’s caption… “Taxus Stavrakos – good job Stavros Stavrakis, from now it can be only better – refinement of dead wood, new pot, more density and clean trunk needed … in the near future” Mariusz Komsta’s caption above provides a few answers about this tree and raises at least as many questions. First, as you may know, Taxus Stavrakos is not a Yew species (though the tree is a Yew). More like a little joke on Mariuzs’a part. Second, when I followed the link provided, … Continue reading Before & After Bonsai, Artists & Philosophers & the Strangest Cat Video I’ve Ever Seen

Marc’s Masterpiece

Whoa! Marc Noelanders posted this exquisite composition and my guess is he’s the artist behind it. Here’s his caption… “Another huge wooden wall.Hopefully we’ll see you all next year at Bonsai namaste Convention.” Not a bad idea. Here’s your link to 2018 If you follow Marc Noelanders on facebook you’ve already seen this masterpiece and its 10,000 rave reviews. If not, I’m happy you can see it here I cropped this one for a closer look, though I’m a little nervous about messing with something like this. Maybe you can just imagine that you are standing very close. While you’re here … Continue reading Marc’s Masterpiece

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