Green Workshop: Pruning Tips

The drawing on the left shows a young deciduous tree before pruning. Notice that the tree’s energy (growth) moves primarily upward, forming a more or less inverted triangle (tip down). In order to control this growth and move the energy down, prune to form the tree into a triangle (more or less) with tip pointing up. The drawing on the right shows the same little tree a year or two later. Now your goal is to control growth and keep the tree’s basic shape by continuing to prune back vigorous upward growth (thus forcing energy down into the trunk and … Continue reading Green Workshop: Pruning Tips

Eccentric Bonsai: Kimura Rises to the Challenge

After. Finished for the moment. The challenge was for Masahiko Kimura to style a bunjin (literati) bonsai with only one branch (see below for where he started). It’s eccentricity lies in its striking simplicity, if that makes any sense. It a Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). From our Masters’ Series The Magician, the Bonsai Art of Kimura 2. From an article that originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 69.

Green Workshop: Ugly Branches

These simple graphics show three solutions to three common branching problems. From Bonsai Today issue 58. Green Workshops present and past Our Green Workshop series is geared for beginners in the art of bonsai. Some earlier Green Workshops are: Wiring basics (using a turnbuckle); Wiring a Young Tree; Fall Transplanting: Pro & Cons; Yet Another Watering Problem; Bonsai Branching Basics; A Simple Wiring Video, and more (just type Green Workshops in search).

Fruiting Bonsai: A Mystery Persimmon

If you know the variety of this tiny fruited persimmon (Diospyros kaki), let me know. The photo is from Bonsai Today issue 39. When I first saw it, I figured ‘kaki’ was the variety, but no such luck. ‘Kaki’ just means persimmon in Japanese. Height 33″ (84cm). Dwarf flowers and fruit You can make leaves smaller by defoliation (cutting leaves off an entire tree, or section of a tree, resulting in a second, or even third crop of smaller leaves) and to some extent by pruning, confining the roots, limiting water and nutrients, and perhaps other means. But dwarf fruit … Continue reading Fruiting Bonsai: A Mystery Persimmon

A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique

This drawing by Kihara Susuma is from an article entitled ‘Exploring a Collected Needle Juniper’ that appears in Bonsai Today issue 98. Back issues of Bonsai Today… …are a great place to study the art of bonsai. Each issue presents a wealth of bonsai art and technique by many of the world greatest masters and teachers. Issue 98 table of contents Refining a Satuki Azalea – Beginner’s Section: If You Care – Bonsai Gallery – Beginner’s Section: Trees in Nature – Review: Three Bonsai DVDs – The Pottery of Max Braverman – Styling a California Live Oak – Exploring a … Continue reading A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique

In Search of the Perfect Nebari #7: Root Grafting

Though this is not the right the time of year for root grafting for most of us, here’s a simple technique to file away for when early spring rolls around. This illustration is from Bonsai Today 45. Previous posts on nebari are: An Ingenious Technique parts one and two and In Search of the Perfect Nebari, parts two, three, four and five, and for some inexplicable reasons two part sixes (6-1 and 6-2). All this means that this is actually our 9th post on the topic.

Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design: WebBook by Andy Rutledge

This distinctive Japanese red pine appears in Andy Rutledge’s web book ‘Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design.’ The original image (left) came from a back issue of Bonsai Today magazine. The black lines on the right hand image were drawn by Andy to illustrate how “the smooth but erratic curves of the trunk are carried over into the branching.” Take a look – it’s worth it Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design provides a wealth of material for anyone who wants to take their bonsai to the next level. Andy Rutledge approaches bonsai with respect for the depth and breath of the … Continue reading Artistic Foundations of Bonsai Design: WebBook by Andy Rutledge

The Magician Turns Three into Seven

This rafia wrapped Japanese white pine is the result of an unconventional (amazing might also apply) transformation by Masahiko Kimura. The original article appears in Bonsai Today issue 43. This photo also appears in our Pine book. Approx. height 37″ (94cm). Up to his old tricks The range and dept of Masahiko Kimura’s mastery knows almost no bounds; his highly imaginative and unconventional artistry have changed the way the world bonsai community views and practices bonsai (stay posted for more on the effects of Kimura’s work). The tree featured in this post is yet another example of Kimura’s genius. You … Continue reading The Magician Turns Three into Seven

Kakiemon’s Famous Old Bonsai Pot

This exquisitely designed and rendered porcelain bonsai pot is by one of the Kakiemon line of potters. The article in Bonsai Today 44 doesn’t say which Kakiemon made it, but given the fame of the pot and the way it’s discussed in the article, you might assume it’s by the first Sakaida Kakiemon (17th century). It’s impossible to ascertain the size of the pot, as the dimensions given in the original article are almost certainly incorrect (the height is listed at 2.8″ – 7.2cm). Starting at the top I’ve spent the last two hours looking for good information and graphics … Continue reading Kakiemon’s Famous Old Bonsai Pot

Pruning Deciduous Bonsai: Beech

It’s time to start thinking about dormant pruning. This page of simple illustrations shows pruning and pinching basics for beech trees. It’s the first of a series of posts on training deciduous bonsai. The illustrations are from Bonsai Today issue 41.