Dance, People, Bird & Other Innovative Bonsai

Selecting a lead tree isn’t always easy. Especially with so many good bonsai to choose from. I settled on this one partly because it’s a full cascade and good full cascade bonsai aren’t that common, and partly because of the tree’s overall relaxed feel; the unusual way the foliage seems draped across the top and just how loose all the foliage hangs. Not to say that its wild shape and extraordinary deadwood aren’t enough to make this tree worthy. But then most of Gede Merte’s bonsai show wild shapes and extraordinary deadwood. The tree is Pemphis acidula. A common plant … Continue reading Dance, People, Bird & Other Innovative Bonsai

Silky Smooth

We cropped the original photo (just below) so we could get a closer look at both the extraordinary pot and the heart of this magnificent tree. We don’t know the variety, but thanks to Silky Jemiran, we do know that the owner is Tri Djoko Endro Susilo. Yesterday’s Root Over Rock Bonsai with Sherlock Holmes featured a handful of excellent tropical bonsai photos that we borrowed from Silky Jemiran. We liked what we saw, so we’ll just keep going in the same direction. As we mentioned yesterday, we liked Silky’s habit of listing the owner of each tree (something that is often lacking on social media), and though it turns out … Continue reading Silky Smooth

Root Over Rock Bonsai with Sherlock Holmes

Not exactly root-over-rock, but more like root-next-to-small-rock. Still, simplicity contrasted with a wild shape and texture make for a striking bonsai. By the way, I did not commit the sin of chopping off the pot, though I did adjust the image to take out background noise. All three photos shown here were lifted a social meadia post titled ‘Bonsai Indonesia‘ by Silky Jemiran. Silky lists the owner of this tree as Zhylonk Kiakiz Alfarizhy. Sometimes tracking down the real owner of a bonsai that appears on social media requires the imagination and determination of a Sherlock Holmes. Even then, you … Continue reading Root Over Rock Bonsai with Sherlock Holmes

An Exciting ‘New’ Shohin Bonsai Forum

I’m a sucker for a tree like this, with its colorful profusion of tiny fruit and its muscular little trunk. It’s a Dwarf Kumquat (Kinzu) that I took the liberty to crop in order to eliminate background noise (the uncropped original is below). Our source for this photo (see below) mentions the type tree, but there’s no artist/owner listed. I just discovered an exciting new (to me) forum of, in their own words… “Community for bonsai artists who like mini and shohin bonsai.” Their quote continues… “Please join our community of shohin fans and take part by posting your pictures, … Continue reading An Exciting ‘New’ Shohin Bonsai Forum

Root-Over-Rock Bonsai

No source is given for this colorful ‘Seki-joju’ Satsuki Azalea. My best guess is that the tree and photo are originally from Japan; it’s not uncommon for Japanese trees to remain unattributed (this is often the case in the Japanese gallery section in Bonsai Today magazine back issues). We found the photo on Bonsai Addicted’s timeline. The othe day we featured a magnificent root-over-rock bonsai from the Philipines that we borrowed from Robert Steven’s timeline and that I mistakenly attributed to Robert. My apologies to the actual artist Marvin Besa, and thanks to Tab Aquino for cluing us in. Anyway, … Continue reading Root-Over-Rock Bonsai

Flying Bonsai & Other Wonders

This fluid tree with its distinctive flying pot (by Erik Križovenský)is from Bonsai Do. The caption says with Tony Tickle (I visited Tony’s blog and couldn’t find it). There’s also this quote by Thomas Browne (it’s in Spanish on Bonsai Do, but here’s the original English): Art is the perfection of nature. Nature hath made one world, and art another. Here are some photos we captured from Bonsai Do on facebook. The good news is they have put together a impressive selection of photos along with some famous quotes. The bad news is that most of the trees aren’t identified … Continue reading Flying Bonsai & Other Wonders

Bonsai Tool Special Ends Tomorrow – Low Wire Prices

– Roshi Tool Special Ends Tomorrow all roshi bonsai tools now 30% to 45% off our list prices roshi sets the standard for affordable high quality bonsai tools Special ends tomorrow, Friday at 12:00 noon EDT Meanwhile, other Excellent Savings are rolling along… – Deeply Discounted Bonsai Wire 1 Kilo (2.2 lb) Bonsai AESTHETICS Wire now only 16.00 per roll just in case you’re new to this 16.00 per Kilo is a very good price – SUMMER WATERING SPECIAL Watering Cans & watering tools Deeply Discounted Choose from our large selection of high quality Haws Watering Cans and … Continue reading Bonsai Tool Special Ends Tomorrow – Low Wire Prices

“One Quick Glance at this Tree Brought Me to a State of Nirvana”

A close up of a rather spectacular root-over-rock bonsai by Robert Steven (the entire planting is just below). Here’s our original caption (from May, 2016)… Robert Steven has done it again. This time it’s a perfect root-over-rock bonsai. Here’s what Charles Bevan has to say about it: “This is unbelievably perfect. One quick glance at this tree brought me to a state of nirvana.” The three trees shown here are from Robert Steven’s timeline. No varieties given, and though we would rather know what they are, we can still enjoy simple bonsai beauty, with or without a name. We just … Continue reading “One Quick Glance at this Tree Brought Me to a State of Nirvana”

Maple Kissing the Rock (Arce Besando La Roca)

That’s a rock sticking out on the left side of this Trident maple. According to Juan Andrade, the maple is kissing the rock (Arce “besando” la roca) We’ve been posting recurring themes these days. For example we’ve run a whole string of Before & Afters lately. Now with yesterday (another before & after) and today, the new binding factor is Juan Andrade. Juan is one of a whole host of young Western apprentices (Costa Rica in Juan’s case) who are studying or have studied in Japan. The photos and quotes shown here are from Juan’s timeline NEW SPECIAL Watering Cans … Continue reading Maple Kissing the Rock (Arce Besando La Roca)

Before, During & After – Another Radical Bonsai Transformation

Before and after. This unusual Japanese white pine, with three trunks merging to give the appearance of one thicker trunk is by Juan Andrade. Continuing with our Before and After series, here’s one of my favorites, dug up from our archives (October, 2013). It’s a Japanese white pine transformation that is so unusual, with results so striking and unique, that… well, you can see for yourself. The artist, Juan Andrade is one of a whole host of young Western apprentices (Costa Rica in Juan’s case) who are studying or have studied in Japan. The before, during and after (antes, durante … Continue reading Before, During & After – Another Radical Bonsai Transformation