Would You Like to See the Best Bonsai in Japan Up Close & Personal?

This powerful pine resides at the Shunka-em Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. Photo By Bill Valavanis (on his cell phone!) from his recent trip to Japan As long as we’ve got this shot (above) by Bill Valavanis from his latest Japanese bonsai expedition (stay posted for more tomorrow), here’s an expedition with an invitation just for you… Looking for a bonsai adventure this winter? Here’s your link to more information, and here’s a link to Bill’s International Bonsai website Or, maybe you’re just looking for bonsai essentials at great prices? STONE LANTERN’S 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE IS BACK! 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE Includes Items … Continue reading Would You Like to See the Best Bonsai in Japan Up Close & Personal?

Japanese White Pines at Kokufu

Close up of multiple trunk Japanese white pine. It looks a lot like a raft style* planting. This and the other photos shown here were taken at the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition. I cropped the original shot (just below) for a closer look We’ve got some Japanese white pines (Pinus parviflora) from the Kokufu Exhibition that we found at Kazumatsu Bonsai. They don’t say what year the shots are from, but given that they were just posted, you might guess 2018 Just in case you’re new to bonsai, Kokufu is the oldest and most famous Bonsai Exhibition in the world. It takes place … Continue reading Japanese White Pines at Kokufu

Our National Bonsai Treasure

This Sargent juniper (Aka Shimpaku) resides at the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It was donated by Doug Paul, owner of the Kennett Collection. This photo and the others shown here, were taken and generously offered by Robert Vitale. The plant varieties and names of the donors are courtesy of Janice Vitale and Michael James We just featured a post about a great job opening at the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, so let’s stay on theme The U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum is one of our true national treasures and a great place to visit next time you’re in or around DC. … Continue reading Our National Bonsai Treasure

The Emperor’s Bonsai

At least two things set this Root-over-rock Trident maple (Kaede Ishitsuki – maple planted on a rock) apart from thousands of other root-over Trident maples on this planet. First there it’s exceptional quality, and second, it’s part of Japan’s Imperial Bonsai Collection. The tree’s age is about 90 years. Its height is 57 cm (22.5″). Here’s a quote from the Imperial website… “Among ‘zoki’ deciduous trees, ‘momiji’ (Japanese maple) and “kaede” (maple) (I’m not sure why this isn’t translated as Trident maple) are particular favorites of bonsai lovers because of the way they show off the four seasons. Aficionados appreciate the young buds in … Continue reading The Emperor’s Bonsai

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

New Site Wide Sale for Your Bonsai Essentials

STONE LANTERN SITE WIDE SALE 10% OFF ORDERS 10.00 – 49.99 15% OFF ORDERS 50.00 – 99.99 20% OFF ORDERS 100.00 OR MORE includes items that are already discounted discounts are computed at checkout – – The Perfect Time to Stock Up on Bonsai Wire! Kilo Rolls are now as low as 14.36 on orders 100.00+ – – GREEN T STATE OF THE ART HYDRAULIC TURNTABLES How About Saving 77.00 on a Green T Basic? or 99.00 on a Green T Plus? (plus Free Shipping in the Continental U.S.) – FREE Shipping Still Applies Even With Our Site Wide Sale* *on … Continue reading New Site Wide Sale for Your Bonsai Essentials

Two Legged Juniper – Before & After

Sierra juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), before and after by Bonsai Mike. You can see the potential peeking out underneath the foliage in the before shot. Still, an impressive transformation Today’s tree belongs to Bonsai Mike, a first timer here on Bark (as distinguished from Michael Bonsai, who has appeared here numerous times). Here’s what Mike wrote about this old yamadori juniper… “One of my best trees. I collected this Sierra in 2011. It has gone through 3 stylings since then and keeps improving. The foliage is getting a little heavy now. In order to show greater age, some branches must be removed in … Continue reading Two Legged Juniper – Before & After

Pots, Pines & Other Small Bonsai

Haruyosi Shohin pine with a twist Continuing with yesterday’s small bonsai theme… Today it’s our old friend Haruyosi, a highly accomplished and prolific small bonsai and small pot artist. None of today’s photos have been shown here before. If you want more, you can enjoy a wealth of great photos on Haruyosi’s fb site and here on Bonsai Bark as well ONLY TWO MORE DAYS 40% OFF ALL BOOKS 40% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS SEE BELOW – No identification is provided, but this one looks like a Crabapple You can see clearly that this is a two needle pine. Both Japanese black pines … Continue reading Pots, Pines & Other Small Bonsai

Two More Trees – Bonsai Tool Special Ends Tonight

No identification is given with this tree, but it looks like it could be a Yew (Taxus) Continuing with two more of David Benavente’s bonsai that are featured on a fb site called Una siesta in el nebari (A nap in the nebari) 30% off TOOL & WATERING CAN SPECIAL END TONIGHT see below The uncropped original of the tree above Another yew? Another uncropped original TOOL SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT! 30% off Bonsai & Other Tools 30% off Watering Cans Sale applies to tools & cans that are already discounted 30% discount is applied at checkout LAST DAY special ends tonight, … Continue reading Two More Trees – Bonsai Tool Special Ends Tonight

A Nap in the Nebari

As you can see, this muscular bonsai belongs to David Benavente, one of Europe’s best know bonsai artists. The tree isn’t identified on our source, but it looks a lot like a Japanese white pine Today we’ve got a quick study of two David Benavente’s pines. We’ve long been impressed with David’s bonsai and have featured them many times here on Bonsai Bark. I found these photos on a fb page titled Una siesta in el nebari (A nap in the nebari) Continued below… 30% off TOOL SPECIAL ONLY TWO MORE DAYS see below Few things lend as much age (or impression of … Continue reading A Nap in the Nebari