Bonsai – Small – Medium – Large

Based on the brilliant little apples and what look like apple leaves, you might conclude that this is a crab apple. The whole tree is shown below All the photos shown here are from a post titled Small – Medium – Large on Morten Albek’s Shohin-Europe blog, though medium and especially large bonsai are pretty scarce. Here what Morten wrote about them… “The Danish Bonsai Society – and the local group mainly – did an exhibition over the past weekend. I visited and found some very nice displays. Autumn is a great time to display, especially Shohin that express the seasons … Continue reading Bonsai – Small – Medium – Large

Japanese Maple Bonsai Adventure

We’ve been indulging our annual fall color fixation lately, so why one one more… albeit a subtle one? This Japanese maple is from Korean nursery-grown stock. We found it on Walter Pall’s Bonsai Adventures blog. You might notice how the two smaller trees lend perspective and exaggerate the effect of the main tree. Monday morning and pressed for time, so we’ll take a little shortcut. This post originally appeared one year ago today, with a little value added Back in the mid-to-late 20th century, when the average person had no idea what the art of bonsai was, almost all bonsai in … Continue reading Japanese Maple Bonsai Adventure

Best Conifer, Best Artist, Best in Show

Andres Alvarez Iglesias just won Best Conifer, Best Artist and Best in Show for this exquisitely powerful and distinctive Scots pine at the European Bonsai San Show in Saulieu France. Congratulations to Andres Alvarex Iglesias for a great tree and a great honor!… Here’s facebook’s translation (lightly edited) of what Andres wrote today about winning Best Conifer, Best Artist and Best in Show at the European Bonsai San Show… “It’s difficult to explain with words the feelings that I have in this moment. Thanks to every body who made it possible!!!” Andres’ original Spanish is below Continued below… 7.95 FOR 500 GRAM ROLLS OF BONSAI WIRE IS TOO GOOD TO … Continue reading Best Conifer, Best Artist, Best in Show

Bonsai-San as We Speak…

This unusual full cascade Juniper will no doubt put off some of our anti-deadwood folks, but to my eyes, it’s a a highly expressive, dynamic tree. Cascade shots are normally taken from a point that shows the tree cascading down one side of the pot, but in this case the pot is hidden by the tree, which creates a whole different effect. All the photos shown here were taken by Andres Bicocca at this weekend’s European Bonsai San Show in Saulieu France. Andres’ only text with the photos reads… Viaje a Francia “Saulieu 2017.” Non of the trees or artists are … Continue reading Bonsai-San as We Speak…

More Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Colour

The leaves on the table provide a nice touch in this photo of Harry Harrington’s English elm (Ulmus minor) in full fall colour*. From Harry’s bonsai4me website Continuing with fall colour*… Yesterday was shades of red. Today’s pallet is a bit more varied. All the trees and the pot below belong to our friend Harry Harrington. NEW SPECIAL Only 5.00 each for bonsai Today back issues ENJOY DETAILED HOW-TO INSTRUCTIONS BY THE OLD MASTERS our selection of back issues getting low and we are no longer replacing them We’ve shown this Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) before, but anything this brilliant is always … Continue reading More Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Colour

Bonsai of the Day

This dramatically undulating Japanese Maple in its spectacularly vivid full fall foliage splendor (blame it on too much coffee) resides at Showa Memorial Park in Japan. I stumbled upon it and some other mind popping photos on a recent post titled Bonsai of the Day by Oscar at Bonsai Empire. The only connection I can see that ties these photos together is none of them are shot with neutral backgrounds (my usual choice). This and the fact that I like the trees… but that applies to all the photos we post Kilo Bonsai Wire Special 14.95 FOR KILO ROLLS OF WIRE IS TOO GOOD TO … Continue reading Bonsai of the Day

Bonsai Impressions – Texture, Movement & Color

It’s hard not to notice what just how powerful this tree is. Even with the apex slightly nipped and most of the pot missing. It’s a Japanese white pine from the 34th Taikan-ten Bonsai Exhibition. Our last few posts have featured bonsai from Kokufu-ten. Today it’s photos from Taikan-ten via Michael Bonsai on facebook. Taikan-ten takes place once a year in Kyoto and is considered by most people to be the second most important bonsai exhibition in Japan if not in the world (Kokufu is the king of bonsai exhibitions). You might notice that none of the photos shown here are conventional front shots that simply show the … Continue reading Bonsai Impressions – Texture, Movement & Color

I’m Still Surprised by the Quality & Price of Our Roshi Bonsai Tools – Especially When I Use Them

Our selection of over 50 high quality and affordable Roshi Bonsai Tools come in both stainless and high carbon steel NEW Roshi Bonsai Tool Special 25% TO 40% Off List Prices CHOSE FROM 60 DIFFERENT TOOLS AND TOOL KITS ROSHI SETS THE STANDARD FOR AFFORDABLE, QUALITY BONSAI TOOLS When I fist saw Roshi tools I was struck by their beauty. Then, when I held them in my hand, it was easy to feel the quality and I was surprised by how affordable they are. Now, a few years later, I’m still surprised by the quality and price of each and every one. Especially when … Continue reading I’m Still Surprised by the Quality & Price of Our Roshi Bonsai Tools – Especially When I Use Them

Bonsai Yesterday, BONSAI TODAY, Bonsai Tomorrow

Though any Kokufu bonsai might work to lead with, 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. Getting a late start today, so I’ve decided to take the easy way out and show you some photos that we originally featured in February 2015. They are all from the 2015 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibiton and were lifted directly from Bill Valanis’ … Continue reading Bonsai Yesterday, BONSAI TODAY, Bonsai Tomorrow

Bonsai that Don’t Bust Your Bank Account & an Important Natural Phenomenon You Might Not Be Aware of

We’ve featured this tree before, but because I don’t think you’ll see many bonsai quite like it, it’s worth another look. Two photos just below show the natural phenomenon behind this type carving. The tree is a yew. The artist is Harry Harrington. All the photos in this post are courtesy of Harry Harrington, an artist who specializes in what you might call found bonsai (bonsai from the wild or from hedgerows and gardens or wherever else the original stock might come from that doesn’t bust your bank account). Harry is also the author of The Foundations of Bonsai, a book that explores the … Continue reading Bonsai that Don’t Bust Your Bank Account & an Important Natural Phenomenon You Might Not Be Aware of