$1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Pomegranate from the cover of Bonsai Today issue 83. Of all the Bonsai Today covers, this one seems most like a bonsai from scratch; though you’d be lucky to find untrained nursery stock this good at your local garden center. It’s not too late There’s still time to enter our $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch contest. True, mid-summer is tricky and you might not be able to put your tree into a bonsai pot, but that’s okay, you can enter it in a nursery container if you’re not comfortable root pruning. Or, you can gamble and stick it into a pot. … Continue reading $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Becoming a Bonsai

A good reason to visit the National Bonsai and Penjing Musem? Maybe. But whatever your reason, it’s always a trip worth making. Don’t read this post What follows is way more polemic (and wordy) than any of my hundreds of previous posts (a rough night’s sleep is my excuse) and besides, I love the people at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum and am loath to offend them. Still, the anti-diplomat in my nature insists on speaking his mind (always a dangerous thing). An American tradition: bonsai from ordinary nursery stock Mr. Aarin Packard, Assistant Curator of Collections at The … Continue reading Becoming a Bonsai

You Can Still Enter (and Win) Our $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Some of these drawings look like bonsai that aren’t too far from scratch. Don’t be intimidated! Anyone can enter our Bonsai from Scratch Contest. Everyone’s entries will be respected, and your entry won’t be published on Bonsai Bark unless you are one of the winners. So, not to worry. Here’s one reason why you can win At least twelve prizes will be awarded and only about ten people have entered so far. It’s not too late You have until October 15th for your final submission. Your final submission can be in a nursery container or a bonsai pot Some trees … Continue reading You Can Still Enter (and Win) Our $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

World’s Smallest Bonsai?

Micro tree. Is this a Japanese maple? It’s from a facebook posting by Bonsai Guest House. Novelty? Usually, when something is billed as the world’s smallest (see below) or largest, or..?, it moves into that surreal novelty realm. Would you say these tiny bonsai qualify? I’m not so sure. There’s an art to doing this and to keeping the tiny trees healthy. Still….. A place to stay The photos in this post are from Bonsai Guest House in Osaka. I know almost nothing about the place, but you might want to check it out on your next Japan junket. $1,000 … Continue reading World’s Smallest Bonsai?

$1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Though I don’t think it was done in one season, still this Dwarf Kingsville boxwood is a pretty good example of a bonsai from nursery stock. So good in fact, that it appeared on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 107. It’s by Michael Persiano. The stakes have risen in our Bonsai from Scratch Contest In a moment of weakness we changed the first prize from $250.00 to $400 and added another $600 worth of prizes. We figured you wouldn’t mind. The prizes First prize $400 gift certificate to Stone Lantern Second prize $250 gift certificate to Stone Lantern Third … Continue reading $1,000 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

$250 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

A good example of a bonsai from scratch. Especially considering where it came from (see below). European yew (Taxus baccata) by Morten Albek (author of Majesty in Miniature, Shohin Bonsai), from Bonsai Today issue 107. Height 7″ Bonsai from Scratch It’s time to get start thinking about your entry in our upcoming Bonsai from Scratch Contest. We’re going to make it worth your while with a $250 Stone Lantern gift certificate for the winner and other gifts for outstanding entries. Five easy steps to get you started 1. Find an untrained stock plant. Your choice of size, variety etc. 2. … Continue reading $250 Bonsai from Scratch Contest

Plan Ahead for Our Next Big Contest

Simon Carr styled this little gem from scratch (see below) for an artofbonsai.org contest way back in 2005. It later appeared in Bonsai Today issue 103 in an article entitled ‘Instant Bonsai’ (I’d like to see what it looks like now). Bonsai from Scratch It’s time to get start thinking about your entry in our upcoming Bonsai from Scratch Contest. We’re going to make it worth your while with a $250 Stone Lantern gift certificate for the winner and other gifts for outstanding entries. Five easy steps to get you started 1. Find an untrained stock plant. Your choice of … Continue reading Plan Ahead for Our Next Big Contest