Bonsai & Brad Pitt

Brad Bjorn posing with an impressive (Stewartia?) bonsai. From an article in Architectural Digest titled “Meet the Brad Pitt of Bonsai.” Still looking after my grand kids (and enjoying this fog-shrouded City by the Bay while they’re in school), so to save time and trouble we’ll borrow from our archives. This one appeared last December. We don’t usually feature photos of people. I almost always find people in bonsai photos distracting. Rather than ‘look at me with my beautiful bonsai,’ I prefer ‘look at this beautiful bonsai.’ However, occasionally photos of people with trees work. In this case, because the … Continue reading Bonsai & Brad Pitt

Pine Bonsai – Texture, Movement & Color

It’s hard not to notice what a powerful tree this is, even with the apex slightly nipped and most of the pot missing. It’s a Japanese white pine from the 34th Taikan-ten Bonsai Exhibition. Spring bonsai and other chores beckon and time is compressed, so we’ll delve back into our archives today. This one is from December, 2014. All the photos in this post are from the 34th Taikan-ten Bonsai Exhibition (with the exception of the wiring photo just below). Taikan-ten takes place once a year in Kyoto and is considered by most people to be the second most important … Continue reading Pine Bonsai – Texture, Movement & Color

Whirlpool, Dancer & Other Magnificent Japanese White Pine Bonsai

Do you recognize this tree? We devoted a whole chapter to it in our Pine book (Jewel to Whirlpool). The artist is Tomio Yamada (at least at that time). It’s called Uzushio which as you might guess, means whirlpool. Like the other trees in this post, it resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. It’s finally spring here in northern Vermont. In addition to bonsai, I have a passion for landscaping and it’s time to mulch (we’ll cover the weeds that are already taking hold and see what happens). So to save some time and get back outside before the … Continue reading Whirlpool, Dancer & Other Magnificent Japanese White Pine Bonsai

Running Around in Circles?

The deadwood on this unusual juniper looks a lot like a spontaneous Zen brush stoke. The photo was posted by John Milton. Here’s his caption: “The final result, not quite sure I pulled ‘Stanley’* off but, did my best. Still very raw as the branches are un-styled grafts without ramification, even though it looks full in the before picture. With some mochikomi** over next couple years, should fill out nicely.” Scroll down for the before photo. John Milton has been an apprentice at Aichi-en under Junichiro Tanaka-San since June 2013. He posted the photo above on his facebook feed three … Continue reading Running Around in Circles?

47 Years – An Exercise in Patience & the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Here’s what Bill Valavanis has to say about this tree: “Happiness is finding a new much needed bud for a future branch on my maple bonsai! Now, lets see if I can encourage its growth. I only had to wait 47 years for this bud……” The tree is Bill’s famous old Shishigashira Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’). According to The Art of Bonsai Project, Bill started training this tree from a five year old container grown grafted plant in 1969. Another photo of a famous bonsai here on Bark. Nothing to get too excited about. Except that 47 years is … Continue reading 47 Years – An Exercise in Patience & the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Can There Ever Be Too Many Flowers?

This azalea would be an excellent bonsai even without the flowers. With the flowers, well, you can see for yourself. Getting ready to leave for a couple days and running late (what else is new?), so we’ll dip into our archives. This one originally appeared in 2012. BTW, my source for the photo above was Tae Kukiwon Bonsai. Can there ever be too many flowers? If you look at the two azaleas in this post, you’ll see that the one above is covered with flowers, while the one below shows a mix of flowers and foliage. Some bonsai and landscape … Continue reading Can There Ever Be Too Many Flowers?

20% to 25% off Site Wide Sale Ends Tomorrow Night

Site Wide Sale 20% – 25% off Everything* plus FREE Shipping U.S. orders 50.00 or more Sale ends friday at 11:59pm edt 20% off orders 1.00 to 99.99 25% off orders 100.00 or more Bonsai Tools Site Wide Sale Ends Friday, April 15th at 11:59pm EDT Bonsai Books Bonsai Wire Site Wide Sale Ends Friday, April 15th at 11:59pm EDT Bonsai Fertilizers & Bonsai Soil Watering Cans Site Wide Sale Ends Friday, April 15th at 11:59pm EDT Bonsai Pots Bonsai Today Back Issues an additonal 20% off Site Wide Sale Ends Friday, April 15th at 11:59pm EDT Embroidered Bonsai Clothing … Continue reading 20% to 25% off Site Wide Sale Ends Tomorrow Night

Colin’s Moon Pot Bonsai

The first time we showed this splendid Shimpaku was back in 2010. Now time and Colin Lewis’ deft touch has wrought some positive changes. Here’s Colin’s caption for this latest iteration. His Majesty: Another last minute de-wiring before sleepy time…. I guess Majesty is Colin’s way of saying he likes this one. Or maybe there’s a fascinating story behind it… At least two things unite the three trees shown here; they all below to Colin Lewis and they are all in moon pots. All three are from Colin’s facebook photos. Colin also has a website with an extensive gallery. … Continue reading Colin’s Moon Pot Bonsai

An Impressive Collection of Small Bonsai

These delicious little trees (shohin bonsai) are all from Cliff Chong’s bonsai gallery. Cliff lives and practices the art of bonsai in Malaysia. We originally featured this impressive Shohin collection in July 2015. Two New Stone Lantern Sales 25% off Koyo Bonsai Tools (in addition to our ongoing 25% off Roshi Tool Sale) 25% off 500 gram rolls Bonsai Aesthetics Wire (comes to only 9.38 per roll) plus FREE Shipping U.S. orders 49.00 or more

Powerful Pine Bonsai, Books & Wire

This has to be one of the most impressive bonsai pine forests anywhere. Actually, you can scratch the pine part and we’ll just leave it at one of the most impressive forests, period. Most of us would be more than delighted to have any one of these trees in our backyard, let alone the whole planting. Nice pot too. Looks a bit like an escarpment in the Rockies. This and the other photos in this post are courtesy of Robert Steven. We’ve shown all the photos featured here before, but they are so exceptional that there’s no harm in showing … Continue reading Powerful Pine Bonsai, Books & Wire