New Year New Day New Bonsai Essentials

There’s something about Quince flowers… Here’s Bill Valavanis’ caption: “A small size Toyo Nishiki Japanese flowering quince, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo Nishiki’ with multiple colored flowers. Although red, pink and white blossoms are common for this great cultivar, I’ve often seen red branches grafted onto specimens to improve color distribution.” Welcome to 2019. My other New Year’s resolution (see yesterday) is to avoid recycling these same trees for a forth time next year. Stay posted to see how we do. I guess a passable excuse is just how good these trees are. They’re from the 2015 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibiton and were lifted directly from … Continue reading New Year New Day New Bonsai Essentials

Bonsai Berries & a Failed New Year’s Resolution

This prolific Pyracantha was our 2018 New Year’s tree. I don’t know who the artist or owner is (more about this below), but my guess is the tree is Japanese Here’s my New Year’s resolution from 2018… No more unattributed trees on this blog (uh… except for the one just above). So I failed on the first day last year and the failure reoccured throughout the year (you can take this as a metaphor if you’d like). In light of this, here’s a more realistic resolution for this year… I will attribute the trees we post when possible and encourage all of us who have been … Continue reading Bonsai Berries & a Failed New Year’s Resolution

Happy Root-Over-Rock Bonsai Holidays

Suthin’s “Happy Holidays to all” tree. It’s a Trident maple root-over-rock (root devouring rock). Staying close to home today, it’s our old friend Suthin Sukosolvisit offering some bonsai wizardry just in time for the New Year Bonsai Pot & Soil Specials End Tonight Friday, Dec 28th at 11:59pm EST Plus Two New Specials at Stone Lantern see below – Cropped for a closer look at how the trunk is slowly devouring the rock Suthin’s caption says simply… “New home” You might recognize this as the tree that won Best Bonsai at the 6th U.S. National. It’s a Japanese black pine Cropped for … Continue reading Happy Root-Over-Rock Bonsai Holidays

A Green T Under Your Tree

It’s not too late to wake up to a Green T under your tree GREEN T turntables ARE NOW 20% OFF WITH OUR SITE WIDE SALE Everything Else Is Also 20% off Including items that are already discounted Orders placed by 2:00pm EST will be shipped the same business day discounts are computed at checkout Brilliant Trident maple and Green T Plus A Basic Green T with the handsome new green rim – HERE’S A RESOUNDING GREEN T ENDORSEMENT BY FOUR KIMURA APPRENTICES Four Kimura apprentices with bonsai and Green Ts Holm oak with sabamiki, Green T and tools STONE LANTERN’S 20% OFF SITE WIDE … Continue reading A Green T Under Your Tree

One Year of Some Serious Bonsai Training

Here’s a once in a lifetime job opportunity if you’re looking for serious bonsai training while working with some of the best bonsai in the world and a crew of dedicated people. Sounds like a great way to spend a year… To apply: Please send a cover letter indicating availability, resume, references, and transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) via email to USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov Questions? Contact the internship office at (202) 245-4563 or USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov STONE LANTERN’S 20% off SITE WIDE SALE ends tonight All Items Are Discounted 20% … … including Our Famous Green T Hydraulic Turntables SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT, WED, DEC 12th at 11:59pm … Continue reading One Year of Some Serious Bonsai Training

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

Keen Observation & Considerable Skill

Windswept bonsai are few and far between. Especially really good ones like this. It’s not just a question of pointing everything in one direction. It must be done in a way that’s convincing. This involves keen observation and considerable skill We haven’t seen many bonsai from India, but if these trees are representative, I’m impressed. Beyond impressed really, they are that good. They were posted by Sanjay Dham. No varieties are given. TWO NEW 30% off SPECIALS 3 DAYS ONLY see below On the surface, literati (bunjin) bonsai seem simple enough. But it’s really about feeling and subtlety. Like the windswept tree … Continue reading Keen Observation & Considerable Skill

Defying Bonsai Convention Without Even Blinking – Site Wide Sale Ends Tomorrow

Defying convention and coming out with flying colors. Walter Pall repotted this maple during the heat of mid-summer and it didn’t even blink So why are we talking about mid-summer when it’s freezing outside? Well, really there’s no good reason except today I’m flying and driving from the Rockies home to Vermont, so we’ll keep it short and simple. Besides I like the tree, and though I’m not surprised, I also like that it didn’t blink. Here’s you link to Walter’s fb post As long as we’re on Walter and Japanese maples, here one of my favorites from a post we did back … Continue reading Defying Bonsai Convention Without Even Blinking – Site Wide Sale Ends Tomorrow

Kimura’s Bag of Tricks

Before and after Shimpaku Juniper by Masahiko Kimura. No wonder they call him the Magician. The tree’s height started at 15″ (38cm) and ended up at 28″ (71cm) Continuing the Magician thread from the last two days. Part of this post is from our archives (2011). The rest is from today. Bonsai are reduced in height all the time, but how many have you seen that are extended to almost twice their height? Granted, in this case about half of that increase comes from changing the planting angle, but how about the other half? NEW 20% OFF SITE WIDE SALE at STONE LANTERN SEE … Continue reading Kimura’s Bag of Tricks