Imperial Bonsai in Training for 220 Years

Here it is. It’s a Pinus densiflora (Japanese Red Pine) that was donated to the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by The Imperial Household of Japan. It has been in training since 1795. My apologies for the fuzz. I cropped the original photo (from 2010, see below) for a closer look at the texture on the trunk The Japanese Collection. It’s right here in North America and it’s one of the best bonsai collections outside of Japan. Here’s an excerpt from the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum’s website… “The Japanese Collection began with the gift of 53 bonsai from Japan on … Continue reading Imperial Bonsai in Training for 220 Years

More Pots, Pines & Other Small Bonsai

Shimpaku juniper with stand and stone in a show display. I know the tree is Haruyosi’s and I’m pretty sure the pot is also his. I’m not sure about the stand, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Haruyosi made it Continuing where we left off with Haruyosi’s small bonsai. If you want more, you can enjoy a wealth of great photos on Haruyosi’s fb site and here on Bonsai Bark as well Continued below… SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT 40% OFF ALL BOOKS 40% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS SEE BELOW – Another small Shimpaku. This too is part of a show display, but I cropped it to focus on … Continue reading More Pots, Pines & Other Small Bonsai

Bonsai Essentials Site Wide Special Ends Tonight

STONE LANTERN’S 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE MEANS DOUBLE DISCOUNTS* *ON OUR ITEMS THAT ARE ALREADY ON SALE AND A MINIMUM OF 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING ELSE THIS great SPECIAL ENDS WEDNESDAY, NOV 28TH AT 11:59PM EST — All of our large selection of Bonsai Books are at least 20% off Most are double discounted All of our large selection of Bonsai Tool Kits are also Double Discounted This is the first time we’ve offered 20% off on our Hydraulic Lift Green T Turntables Now is the time to stock up on Bonsai Wire – 20% DISCOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED WHEN YOU … Continue reading Bonsai Essentials Site Wide Special Ends Tonight

Running Wild in Japan

Recognize this trunk? It’s a piece of a famous bonsai (see below). Bill Valavanis took this photo just a couple days ago. I cropped it just a bit for a closer look Bill and his camera are running wild in Japan. We left him at Kimura’s nursery yesterday, so we’ll continue with a couple shots he took of a famous Kimura Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora), and a photo of the same tree from the last century (not taken by Bill) NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE at STONE LANTERN SEE BELOW – Bill’s shot of the whole tree Here’s a photo of the same … Continue reading Running Wild in Japan

Rough & Rugged Old Bonsai – Two Day Book Special

This rugged old tree starkly contrasts with the way it’s presented; the professional studio photo, the quality stand and pot cleaned and oiled to perfection. As you can see, it’s a pine. I won’t bother to guess the variety, but here’s where I found it and here’s the caption… Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyookai Europe España a SAKKA TEN 2012 – PEÑISCOLA. Fotos de estudio realizadas por Alex Espuny (Studio Photos by Alex Espuny). I’m mesmerized by this tree’s rugged, natural look. So even though we’ve shown it before (with two more photos today), I’m going to ask you to indulge me in a second time NEW 2 DAY … Continue reading Rough & Rugged Old Bonsai – Two Day Book Special

New Roshi Tool Special & New Shohin Bonsai Course

Colorful fall highlights at Morten Albek’s Shohin bonsai garden NEW ONLINE BONSAI COURSE Morten Albek of Shohin Bonsai Europe and Oscar Jonker at Bonsai Empire have teamed up to create a Brand New Online Shohin Bonsai Course. I am familiar with both of these gentlemen (Stone Lantern published and edited Morten’s Shohin Bonsai, Majesty in Miniature – sorry, out of print – and I’ve been borrowing great photos from Oscar for a long time), so if my two cents are still worth anything, I’m betting it’s a winner You’ll need some good tools if you’re going to take the course NEW ROSHI TOOL SPECIAL 30% … Continue reading New Roshi Tool Special & New Shohin Bonsai Course

Fat Trunks & Small Pots 2

Bright yellow is a strong color, but I think this tree can handle it. The dense foliage and sturdy trunk are the keys. The artist is Tomohiro Masumi. No variety is given A few months ago we featured Tomohiro Masumi in a post titled, Fat Trunks, Small Pots. Now we’ve got more of both. All the photos are from Tomohiro’s timeline. The only text is “Takao Koyo pots at Shuga-ten” 30% off Tool Specials End Friday Night OKATSUNE BONSAI & GARDEN TOOLS KOYO BONSAI TOOLS specials end Friday, Nov 9th at 11:59pm EST Another bright yellow pot and an even stronger … Continue reading Fat Trunks & Small Pots 2

Two Potentilla Bonsai & Two Brand New Books

Would you ever guess that these two little gems are Potentilla? Both are sweet in their own way, and so’s the photo; the muted painterly background, the contrasting pot colors and contrasting dead and live wood on both trees. I don’t know what the little companion is, but I like it too. I found it on Roman Stresow’s timeline. His caption is Just two Potentilla When I saw the photo above and then read that the trees were Potentilla (aka Cinquefoil), I felt a little tug of excitement. Not only were both little trees unique, but they’re Potentilla, a type tree I have … Continue reading Two Potentilla Bonsai & Two Brand New Books

Shape Shifting by Robert Steven

Before and after by Robert Steven. The tree is a Casuarina that originally belonged to Ismail Saleh and now belongs to Robert. Here’s part of what Robert wrote about this transformation… “I changed the viewing angle, squeezed the dead part close to the living part then reset the foliage pads. Sooner or later the dead part will rot, then I should redesign the composition again” Here’s a little history from Robert about this famous tree… “The Legend ! This is one of the oldest Casuarina bonsai in Indonesia which has been going through a long path of transformation and survival, yet still keeps changing … Continue reading Shape Shifting by Robert Steven

Godzilla Refines a Monster Bonsai – Before & After

Before and after Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) by Todd Schlafer. The tree belongs to Mike Andrews. For the Godzilla reference, scroll down to the bottom of the post Continuing with another before and after transformation by Todd Schlafer (see Oct 19th). Here’s a quote by Mike Andrews (facebook)… “Progression of collected Rocky Mountain Juniper. Collected by Randy Knight, delivered to my house September 2016. Initial design and structure setting with Mauro in April 2017. Fertilized heavily and full sun 2017 and 2018 growing seasons resulted in very nice dense foliage. Finally detail wired and pad formation by Todd yesterday. … Continue reading Godzilla Refines a Monster Bonsai – Before & After