Backyard Bonsai #11

A slice of John Pitt’s backyard. Nice fence and simple plank on concrete block benches. Continuing a Bark tradition This our 11th Backyard Bonsai post. The first was Wolfgang Putz’ way back in May 2009. Aside from their voyeuristic value, I think these posts might serve as useful examples, or even inspiration for the rest of us. If you’ve been inspired to put together your own backyard display, we’d like to see photos if you get a chance. Mr. Pitt John Pitt is an award winning bonsai potter and bonsai artist who lives in Derbyshire, England. In addition to his … Continue reading Backyard Bonsai #11

Bonsai Potters’ Alert!

The beauty of old age. Time for a new pot. What better way to get a new pot for an old tree? The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is sponsoring a competition for a new pot for a famous old tree. If you’re a potter, here’s you chance to do something good for the Museum (and achieve a little fame and fortune at the same time). If you’re not a potter, but you know someone who is, please pass this link along. A completley unique and rich bonsai experience Even if you’re not a potter (most people aren’t), the National … Continue reading Bonsai Potters’ Alert!

The World’s Smallest Trees Need The World’s Smallest Bonsai Pots

Mini pots, by Jim Barrett. No doubt there are smaller bonsai pots somewhere, but still, these are almost down to the magnifying glass range. Two posts ago… … we featured some very small bonsai. This provoked a discussion about tiny pots where someone (Randy Davis of the Minnesota Bonsai Society) mentioned Jim Barrett pots. Though I am sure there are others who sell tiny pots (Robert Steven, a frequent contributor to Bonsai Bark, mentioned some that are made in China), this might provide a starting point for those of you who are interested. Brandywine The Brandywine Bonsai Society’s website includes … Continue reading The World’s Smallest Trees Need The World’s Smallest Bonsai Pots

Fantastic Trees, Fabulous Pots

Malpigia glabra (Barbados cherry) by Hsieh, Cheng-Hua. More Taiwanese Bonsai Here are three more bonsai from the 2008 Taiwan Bonsai Creators Exhibition booklet which appears on Bonsai Shari Si-Diao, Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s website. It’s the pots, as well the trees, that really grabbed me. Ficus microcarpa by Huang,Ching-Chi. Variety unlisted. By Tung, Wen Chi.

Bonsai Pots at Stone Lantern

A small sampling of what we have and what’s to come. Finally We’ve been talking about offering bonsai pots for a while and now, finally, we’ve got them. So far we’ve put up thirty-some, with many more to come. Stay posted. A ways to go Organization-wise, we still have a ways to go. Once we get enough up, we’ll organize them into sub-groups for your convenience. Meanwhile, it’s pretty easy to go through what’s already up. Competitive prices too We are being very careful to keep our pot prices competitive. Feel free to compare. In this vein, we have also … Continue reading Bonsai Pots at Stone Lantern

Ornate Elegance: Bonsai Pots As Fine Art

Hirato-Yaki peacock pot. This pot may be from as far back as 1598. 22 inches (59cm) across the top. That’s a very large pot. From Bonsai Today issue 61. Pot lovers? We don’t get much response when we post pots. I guess powerful old bonsai or flashy flowering trees excite people more. Still, pots are the other half of bonsai, and the best pots rise to the level of fine art. Where are the trees? Maybe the reason people don’t show much interest in these fine art type pots is that they are almost always empty. Sometimes you see these … Continue reading Ornate Elegance: Bonsai Pots As Fine Art

Pots: A Flare for the Unusual

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a glaze quite like this one (or the one below for that matter). The potter is Michelle Dougherty. New pots I’ve been checking out Michelle’s posts at Bunjin Journal for quite a while now. Though she doesn’t post very often (lately she’s been on a bit of roll), when she does, she usually comes up with something a tad unusual. This time it’s some pots she just made. Not that all her pots are all that unusual, some are, some aren’t (I picked a couple here that I think are both distinctive and beautiful), … Continue reading Pots: A Flare for the Unusual

More Than Just Pots

I love this schefflera by Sara Rayner, even though it’s a bit jammed in the photo. It’s completely unique and has a natural uncontrived feel. I found it and the photo below at The Art of Bonsai Project. Sara Rayner, potter plus bonsai artist For a long time I thought Sara Rayner just made fine bonsai pots. I didn’t know she made fine bonsai as well. I would venture a guess that I’m not the only one who has held such thoughts, as Sara is quite well known for her pots, and less well known for her trees (at least … Continue reading More Than Just Pots

Not Your Everyday Bonsai Pots

Soma-Yaki pot. From Bonsai Today issue 61. An example of traditional Tojoku pottery. Only a few still exist (the Tojoku kiln started in 1647). Celadon green porcelain, with the characteristic Soma-yaki crackled pattern. Height 15″ (38cm). Width at the top 17.3″ (44cm). Takagui Bonsai Museum The two pots shown here are from the famous Takagui Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. If you’d like to see more exquisite pots from this collection, check out Bonsai Today issue 61. Sakaida Kakiemon pot. White porcelain decorated with bellflowers. Length 12.8″ (32.5cm).

Master Potter Nakano Plus One Monterey Cypress

On the road again This is our second post from the road. This time it’s The Central California Coast with it’s gnarly wind-shaped Monterey cypresses. We’ll have more on those later after Amy and I have time to sort through hundred of photos. Meanwhile, here’s a few of Gyozan Nakano’s pots that I prepared before we left, plus one old natural bunjin cypress to whet your appetite. This little taste is pretty representative of what you might expect on California’s Central Coast. It’s from neartica.com by Charles Webber, California Academy of Sciences.