Before & After Japanese Red Pine Bonsai

Here’s a before and after of a beautiful Bunjin Japanese red pine by Marco Invernizzi. From Marco’s website. Got a couple Japanese pines for you, including the before and after above by our friend Marco Invernizzi. We’ve featured Marco’s bonsai here on Bark going way back to early days and before that in several issues of Bonsai Today. Want to improve the quality of your bonsai? Try wiring all the way out to the tips of the smallest branches. You’ll be astounded by the results. The photo is from Bonsai Today issue 1. Back issues of Bonsai Today are now … Continue reading Before & After Japanese Red Pine Bonsai

Pine Bonsai – Texture, Movement & Color

It’s hard not to notice what a powerful tree this 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. Spring bonsai and other chores beckon and time is compressed, so we’ll delve back into our archives today. This one is from December, 2014. All the photos in this post are from the 34th Taikan-ten Bonsai Exhibition (with the exception of the wiring photo just below). Taikan-ten takes place once a year in Kyoto and is considered by most people to be the second most important … Continue reading Pine Bonsai – Texture, Movement & Color

Half Price Bonsai Today Sale Ends Tonight

We still have one of this rare collector’s Bonsai Today issue. Most other issues are still in stock, but like this one, many are down to one or two.* 50% off Bonsai Today Sale ends tonight at 11:59 EDT For years Bonsai Today was the premier English language bonsai magazine. Fortunately we still have a selection of back issues that feature how-to articles and world class bonsai from many of the world’s greatest bonsai masters (East and West). However, our selection is limited. Some issues are already gone and many others will be gone soon.* Our Bonsai Aesthetics and Okatsune … Continue reading Half Price Bonsai Today Sale Ends Tonight

Brilliant Bonsai Berries

Pyracanthas (aka Firethorns) are prolific when it comes to berries and this one is certainly no exception. It’s from a post we did in 2012. Just back from a way too short vacation and now it’s catch up time, so once again we’ll dig into our archives. This one is borrowed from last June. In just a few short months it will be fruit and berry season (sooner for some of you), so in anticipation here are three photos of Pyracanthas with berries and one in full flower. From the many to the few. It’s another Pyracantha. By Shohin … Continue reading Brilliant Bonsai Berries

Can There Ever Be Too Many Flowers?

This azalea would be an excellent bonsai even without the flowers. With the flowers, well, you can see for yourself. Getting ready to leave for a couple days and running late (what else is new?), so we’ll dip into our archives. This one originally appeared in 2012. BTW, my source for the photo above was Tae Kukiwon Bonsai. Can there ever be too many flowers? If you look at the two azaleas in this post, you’ll see that the one above is covered with flowers, while the one below shows a mix of flowers and foliage. Some bonsai and landscape … Continue reading Can There Ever Be Too Many Flowers?

Defoliating Grandfather – Redirecting Energy, Maintaining Balance & Creating Fine Branching

Here’s Juan Adrade’s English caption for this magnificent old Trident maple. “Partial defolation on one of the grandfather trees. Close to 100 yrs old.” Here’s his Spanish: “Defoliación de las ramas exteriores en uno de los tridentes del abuelo de mi maestro. Este arbol posiblemente se acerca a los 100 años.” You might notice the part about exterior branches in the Spanish. This would indicate that Juan is redirecting energy away from the outer tips and down closer to the center of the tree. This photo is from Juan’s facebook feed. Defoliation is an important technique for redirecting energy, maintaining … Continue reading Defoliating Grandfather – Redirecting Energy, Maintaining Balance & Creating Fine Branching

Beautiful Bonsai Garden at Just the Right Moment

Dave Benavente’s exquisite bonsai garden at just the right moment. It’s Monday morning, there’s a lot going on and we’re a little short staffed, so we’re going to lean on our archives once again. This one originally appeared in April 2013 and again last year. I’ve added a little and deleted a little. I’m always impressed with David Benavente’s bonsai and ditto with his bonsai display. His photos too. Everything is so well put together and inviting. You can check out David’s bonsai and all the rest on facebook and on his website. His Before and After (Antes y Despues) … Continue reading Beautiful Bonsai Garden at Just the Right Moment

Be Careful! Pinching Might Be Deadly

Was this foliage pinched in order to achieve that dense, perfectly refined shape and texture? The answer, according to Michael Hagedorn is an emphatic NO! Except when it isn’t. The image is borrowed from our Masters’ Series Juniper Bonsai book. I’ve been ripping off valuable tidbits from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai for a long time (always attributed and linked of course). Micheal is a noted American bonsai artist, teacher and author and a voice for a common sense approach to bonsai. Continued below… Michael Hagedorn’s famous Post-Dated Still the best bonsai read in the English language Back in 2012 Michael … Continue reading Be Careful! Pinching Might Be Deadly

The Art & Science of Watering

This drawing is from our Masters’ Series book; Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai. This is at least the fifth time we’ve featured this post (with some text added and some edited), but spring is here for many of you and summer is coming, so the time is right. I know that many of you have mastered or at least are proficient in the art of watering, but you might be surprised how many people need help. In fact, failure to become proficient in watering is no doubt the single most common reason people give up on bonsai. So, don’t … Continue reading The Art & Science of Watering

Bonsai Yesterday, Bonsai Today, Bonsai Tomorrow

Wallpaper. From the cover of Bonsai Today 100 For the first time in eons, we have a full complement of Bonsai Today issues. Every single one, from issue 1 through issue 108 is sitting in our warehouse waiting to fill out your collection. Prices range from 6.00 dollar up to 80.00 (all are now on sale for an extra 25% off). The higher the price, the more scarce they are. Now to see how long they last. This California juniper was styled by Michael Hagedorn in issue 88 (a scarce one). If you’ve been around a while, you’ve no doubt … Continue reading Bonsai Yesterday, Bonsai Today, Bonsai Tomorrow