Best Conifer, Best Artist, Best in Show

Andres Alvarez Iglesias just won Best Conifer, Best Artist and Best in Show for this exquisitely powerful and distinctive Scots pine at the European Bonsai San Show in Saulieu France. Congratulations to Andres Alvarex Iglesias for a great tree and a great honor!… Here’s facebook’s translation (lightly edited) of what Andres wrote today about winning Best Conifer, Best Artist and Best in Show at the European Bonsai San Show… “It’s difficult to explain with words the feelings that I have in this moment. Thanks to every body who made it possible!!!” Andres’ original Spanish is below Continued below… 7.95 FOR 500 GRAM ROLLS OF BONSAI WIRE IS TOO GOOD TO … Continue reading Best Conifer, Best Artist, Best in Show

Bonsai Stories

The smaller trunk was blown over in storm and saved when it landed on a tiny rock island. Fortunately, just enough of the roots are intact and a surviving branch has grown up to become the new crown. One of several stories told by this remarkable planting. The artist is Nacho Marin, a frequent presence here on Bark Traveling today so it’s archive time. This one is from one year ago yesterday The best bonsai tell stories. Usually it’s about hostile environments and hardships, though you could have a robust and stately tree that speaks of a more gentle climate … Continue reading Bonsai Stories

Culture & Local Bonsai Styles

This venerable, naturally dwarfed Ponderosa pine belongs to American/British bonsai artist and teacher, Colin Lewis. Colin lives on the coast of Maine. Ponderosa pines grow in the inland mountains of the western U.S.; two distinctively different environments This post originally appeared here in June, 2011. It was titled Local Bonsai Styles 2: Growing Conditions, Native Species & Culture. I’ve done a little editing and rewriting If you get a chance, take a look at the comments from the last post (from June, 2011). They provide insight into what started as a simple post with a single idea: the effects of human culture … Continue reading Culture & Local Bonsai Styles

Deadwood & Flowers

This rather spectacular Prunus mume (Japanese apricot) is from the 2017 Kokufu Exhibition. As you can see, there’s deadwood galore – almost as if the whole tree is simply deadwood and flowers – but unlike some deadwood, it looks natural and to my eyes at least, not a bit overdone. Part of this is the naturally aged looking grey color and the way it blends with the bark and even the flowers. BTW, Prunus mume is one of the few deciduous trees that holds deadwood for a long time. Much like many conifers* Keeping it simple today with just two trees. … Continue reading Deadwood & Flowers

Full Cascade Before & After – Stone Lantern Summer Vacation

Here’s another routine maintenance before and after. As you can see, it’s a monster cascading Juniper. Just how ‘monster’ we don’t know, as there’s no size given. Nor is there a variety (looks a lot like a Shimpaku juniper) or an artist/owner Like yesterday’s post, this one is from BonsaiBaison. It’s part of a their series on before and after bonsai with high quality mature trees Stone Lantern will be closed from July 28th to August 14th (see below for details). Orders received after the 3:00pm EDT, July 27th, will be sent on a first come, first served basis, beginning on the … Continue reading Full Cascade Before & After – Stone Lantern Summer Vacation

Before & After – Maintaining & Upgrading Quality Bonsai

This high quality bonsai provides an excellent example of a before and after, when the before is already a well established tree. The tree belongs to Yannik Kiggen (coincidentally, we just did a first time post on Yannick last month). The artist is Manuel Germade, another first timer here on Bark. Though the variety isn’t mentioned, it looks like a lot like a Yew (Taxus) Back to before and after. This time the tree is an already a well established bonsai, while the artist Manuel Germade, though perhaps also already well established, is new to us. Though there are many different types of before and … Continue reading Before & After – Maintaining & Upgrading Quality Bonsai

Bonsai Crazy – Before & After x 3

Of the three before and after photos shown here, this is my favorite. The transition from a clunky, overgrown and unbalanced semi cascading bonsai to an elegant fully cascading tree is radical and quite impressive. If you didn’t know, you might never guess it’s the same tree. All three before and after shots shown here are by Bonsai Crazy. If you’d like to see transition shots, you can visit Crazy on facebook. If you’re curious about just who this person is who calls himself Bonsai Crazy, here’s something from his website that will shed some light. NEW LOWEST WIRE PRICE … Continue reading Bonsai Crazy – Before & After x 3

“Keep Calm & Carry On”

Once you get over the fascination with this tree’s gigantic girth – and your reaction (positive, negative or otherwise) – you might notice there’s a lot more going on than simply size. This photo and the others shown here belong to Ignazio Giambrone. European olives and exaggerated trunks are almost synonymous. For some of us, these monsters are worthy of high praise – with their massive girth (and great taper in most cases) – while for others these fat beasts might seem just a tad over the top. Mostly, I count myself in first group. Girth and taper are powerful … Continue reading “Keep Calm & Carry On”

Michelangelo, Picasso & Other Great Bonsai Artists

Even though we know this tree has been worked by human hands, the link to its natural state hasn’t been lost. If anything it has been enhanced. No variety is given, though it looks like a collected juniper. Back from vacation for well over a week and still locked in mortal combat with paperwork demons. Time for a short cut. This post originally appeared almost exactly one year ago. Nacho Marin is someone who was already an artist when he discovered bonsai and who brought his vision, talent and experience to the art. And though people often say that we … Continue reading Michelangelo, Picasso & Other Great Bonsai Artists

The Tallest Trees in the World?

This Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii* subsp. glauca) is one of numerous extraordinary bonsai at Ryan Neil’s Bonsai Mirai (near Portland, Oregon). It was originally collected in the Rocky mountains by Randy Knight. It’s age is given as 100-250 years. Height is 36″ (91cm), width 52″ (132cm). Yesterday’s post got me thinking about Firs and it wasn’t a long trip from firs (Abies varieties) to Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii). So even though Douglas firs are not true firs, still, these photo are just too good to pass up NEW Deeper Discount 1 Kilo (2.2 lb) Bonsai Wire now only 16.00 … Continue reading The Tallest Trees in the World?