Three More Remarkable Yamadori

Colorado spruce from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. This one is more about bark than deadwood. Normally bark that covers deadwood is stripped to reveal the deadwood, but in this case it makes sense to leave it. Continuing with Ryan Neil’s bonsai, today it’s three more remarkable yamadori (bonsai collected from the wild). The photos and some of the text are from our archives (April, 2016) Nice pot. Ryan usually provides great close-ups and this one is no exception. Bonsai Aesthetics Wire SPECIal Kilo rolls Only 15.75 500 gram rolls Only 8.95 100 gram rolls only 3.45 – Rocky mountain juniper with some … Continue reading Three More Remarkable Yamadori

Bonsai Mirai Live

This Douglas fir is one my many favorites from Bonsai Mirai’s gallery of great North American yamadori (there are a few that are not North American, but the vast majority are trees that were collected in the mountains of the Western U.S.) Ryan Neil’s instructional bonsai videos are now available on the Bonsai Society of Portland’s website to anyone and everyone who is interested. The following is from an email we received from Roger Case… “Over the last year, Ryan Neil has presented a series of detailed lectures and demos at our club meetings, which his team has professionally recorded … Continue reading Bonsai Mirai Live

Rocky Mountain Bonsai

I lifted this Rocky mountain juniper from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. A photo of the entire tree is below So many thoughts zip through my mind when I see trees like this…. not the least of which is the objection that some people have to deadwood, especially lavish displays; even though if you’ve been to upper reaches of our Western mountains, you’ll see deadwood everywhere. In many cases trees with massive deadwood and only one or two living branches. Or, in some extreme cases just a few living twigs. Stories of long lives in harsh conditions told by deadwood. Continued below… NEW SITE WIDE SPECIAL … Continue reading Rocky Mountain Bonsai

Brilliant, Full Fall Color Pomegranate Bonsai

You can find this brilliant, full fall color Pomegranate (Punica granatum)and a whole host of other powerful bonsai at Bonsai Mirai. It has been a while since we featured Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. If you don’t know Bonsai Mirai, you’re in for a treat. And if you’re ever in the Portland Oregon area, you can enjoy a real time visit to what just might be the most impressive yamadori (bonsai collected from the wild) collection in North America. Continued below… LOWEST WIRE PRICE YET 500 gram (1.1 lb) BONSAI WIRE ONLY 7.95 PER ROLL plus numerous other specials at Stone Lantern – Just three photos … Continue reading Brilliant, Full Fall Color Pomegranate Bonsai

The Tallest Trees in the World?

This Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii* subsp. glauca) is one of numerous extraordinary bonsai at Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai (near Portland, Oregon). It was originally collected in the Rocky mountains by Randy Knight. It’s age is given as 100-250 years. Height is 36″ (91cm), width 52″ (132cm). Yesterday’s post got me thinking about Firs and it wasn’t a long trip from firs (Abies varieties) to Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii). So even though Douglas firs are not true firs, still, these photo are just too good to pass up NEW Deeper Discount 1 Kilo (2.2 lb) Bonsai Wire now only 16.00 … Continue reading The Tallest Trees in the World?

Mirai Live Launch Party Tonight

What better way to start our Mirai Live post than by introducing you to one of our all-time favorite bonsai shots? It’s a Colorado spruce from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. You can see the whole tree below. Tonight is the big night for Ryan’s Neil’s Mirai Live… “a revolutionary online teaching platform where enthusiasts can access a lifetime’s worth of bonsai knowledge and engage in real time with bonsai professional Ryan Neil and artists from around the world.” If Ryan’s other ventures are any indication (The ground breaking Artisans Cup and his astounding bonsai nursery come to mind), then Mirai … Continue reading Mirai Live Launch Party Tonight

Bonsai Aficionados, Artists & Visionaries…

I love this powerful old mountain monarch with it’s massive swirling deadwood and undeniable sense of great age. It’s a Rocky mountain juniper that I lifted from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. One of dozens of equally impressive North American bonsai in Ryan’s collection. The title of this post, Bonsai Aficionados, Artists & Visionaries… is borrowed from Mirai Live, “a revolutionary online teaching platform where enthusiasts can access a lifetime’s worth of bonsai knowledge and engage in real time with bonsai professional Ryan Neil and artists from around the world.” I won’t say much more in this post about Mirai Live, … Continue reading Bonsai Aficionados, Artists & Visionaries…

Taking a Covered Wagon to the U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

There’s almost noting more beautiful than a Japanese maple in full fall color. This one is from the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition website. We just got a notice from Ryan Neil (Bonsai Mirai) about a covered wagon* full of bonsai that will be making the arduous journey from Portland Oregon to Rochester N.Y. for the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. If you’re exhibiting and your bonsai (or your merchandise) needs a lift, here’s you link. *It’s actually a refrigerated truck. The ‘covered wagon’ is a clever way to grab your attention (and indulge in a little word play). Time … Continue reading Taking a Covered Wagon to the U.S. Bonsai Exhibition

American Bonsai, The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil at the Portland Japanese Garden

I’ve never seen a bonsai displayed like this. Not even in my imagination, and my guess is the same goes for you (unless you happen to be Ryan Neil). This photo is from a show at the Portland Japanese Garden titled American Bonsai, The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil. We’ve featured the bonsai of Ryan Neil numerous times here on Bark. But never quite like this (though Ryan’s Artisans Cup does share some of the same revolutionary vision). I won’t say much more except to encourage you to visit the Portland Japanese Garden (if geography puts a crimp in that … Continue reading American Bonsai, The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil at the Portland Japanese Garden

Beyond Dazzling Deadwood

Colorado spruce from Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai. This one is more about the bark than deadwood. Normally bark that covers deadwood is stripped to reveal the deadwood, but in this case it makes sense to just leave it. While we’re at it, we would be remiss not to mention the fantastic pot. You might notice how the trunk almost completely fills it side to side. Such relatively small pots are usually for show and not year round growing. Today we’re featuring three remarkable trees from Bonsai Mirai that we’ve never shown before. Yesterday we featured three remarkable Bonsai Mirai trees … Continue reading Beyond Dazzling Deadwood