Careful!

This sweet to look at, but otherwise nasty little bonsai is from Yorozu Shohin Bonsai Nursery in Japan. It caught my wary eye recently on a post by John Romano on Bonsai Study Group Forum. I’m going to assume that it’s an Asian Poison ivy (see text below). We’re busy with the Holiday rush amping up, so we’ll take the easy way out. This one originally appeared almost four years ago. It was titled “You Can Look but You Better Not Touch.” One genus, several species What follows is for those of us who get excited when we see Latin … Continue reading Careful!

Large Bonsai with Thick Trunks Are Nearly Always Developed in the Ground

We’ve shown this Harry Harrington privet before, but it’s worth another look. I’ve long been impressed with what Harry Harrington has been up to. Both his bonsai techniques and the results, as well as his willingness to share what he knows (three books and a website full of useful techniques and other information). Yesterday it was a remarkable yew. Today it’s a field grown privet and an excerpt of an article Harry wrote on field growing. Both are from our archives. One reason we’ve featured field growing so much is that the USDA restrictions make importing quality stock from Asia … Continue reading Large Bonsai with Thick Trunks Are Nearly Always Developed in the Ground

Before & After (x2) with Crazy

After. The pot got chopped in this photo, but beggars can’t be cheesy. Way back on November 2nd, 2015, we did a post on an old Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata juniper, titled An American Classic (it’s worth a trip back in time). Now we’ve got two more Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata bonsai. Both freshly thinned and wired by Uchida yusuki, aka Crazy; the same Crazy that trinned and wired the American Classic. BTW, both of the trees here look as though Shimpaku foliage has been grafted on, to replace the coarser Prostrata foliage. Before. The same tree (the one at the top of the post) … Continue reading Before & After (x2) with Crazy

Avant-Garde Bonsai

Avant-garde bonsai. This fluid tree with its distinctive flying pot 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. Leaving for the airport in a while, so not enough time to put together a new post. I borrowed this one from February, 2013. Here are some photos I captured from Bonsai Do on facebook. The good news is they … Continue reading Avant-Garde Bonsai

Site Wide Sale Ends Tonight – 20% to 30% off

Today is the last day of our Big Site Wide Sale including hundreds of items that are already discounted Sale Ends tonight at 11:59pm EST Monday, November 2nd 20% off orders 1.00 to 74.99 25% off orders 75.00 to 149.99 30% off orders 150.00 or more Bonsai Tools Bonsai Books Bonsai Wire Bonsai Fertilizers & Bonsai Soil Watering Cans Bonsai Pots Bonsai Today Back Issues Embroidered Bonsai Clothing Japanese Gardening Tools And much more… Site Wide Sale ends tonight at 11:59pm EST don’t miss this great opportunity to save on everything we offer

SALE – Everything 20% to 30% off at Stone Lantern

Everything at Stone Lantern is on Sale including hundreds of items that are already discounted 20% off orders 1.00 to 74.99 25% off orders 75.00 to 149.99 30% off orders 150.00 or more Bonsai Tools Bonsai Books Bonsai Wire Bonsai Fertilizers & Bonsai Soil Watering Cans Bonsai Pots Bonsai Today Back Issues Embroidered Bonsai Clothing Japanese Gardening Tools And much more…

Elandan, Beyond Bonsai

Just another great photo at Elandan Gardens, where water, earth and sky come together in one of the most brilliant bonsai backdrops you’ll ever see. Yesterday, it was Dan Robinson’s bonsai. Today it’s Dan and Diane Robinson’s exquisite Elandan Gardens. All the photos shown here are from Elandan’s website and Dan’s facebook feed. I don’t mean to spoil your Elandan experience with our crass commercialism, but this is how we keep our ship afloat… 15.50 per roll, Kilo Bonsai Wire Special ends tonight this price may be the best … Continue reading Elandan, Beyond Bonsai

What if you woke up on September 25th and realized that you’re not at the Artisans Cup?

You know there has to be a living vein somewhere, but it must be hidden behind all that impressive deadwood. The crown belongs to a Shimpaku juniper that was grafted onto a collected Rocky Mountain juniper. The tree belongs to Michael Hagedorn, as do all the trees (and boots) shown here. In two hours I’m leaving for SF and then Portland for the Artisans Cup. No time for a new post, but what could be more timely than another (last) reminder that’s it’s not too late for you to get in gear and go (well, maybe it is too late … Continue reading What if you woke up on September 25th and realized that you’re not at the Artisans Cup?

Playing It Straight

Straight line raft Juniper. I borrowed this photo from Bill Valavanis’ blog. Bill took the photo at the 2015 38th Mid America Bonsai Exhibit. This is a somewhat failed attempt to finish our series on forest plantings. Specifically raft style forest plantings. More specifically straight line raft plantings. Problem is, couldn’t find good photos of straight line rafts (the exception is above). So rather than spending more time searching, we’ll settle for some informative text on raft-style borrowed from ofBONSAI Magazine (one of the better online bonsai sites). “Raft style bonsai mimic a natural occurrence when a tree topples onto … Continue reading Playing It Straight

Bonsai Tool & Wire Sales Ends Tonight

20% to 30% off all Roshi Bonsai Tools plus 10% off Stone Lantern orders 100.00 or more Roshi tools are famous for beauty, precision cutting, durability & great prices Tool & Wire Sales End Tonight, Sunday, Aug 2nd at 11:59pm EDT 25% off 500 gram (1.1 lb) rolls of Bonsai Aesthetics Wire plus 10% off Stone Lantern orders 100.00 or more Bonsai Aesthetic Tool Sale also ends Tonight Now Back in Stock! Bonsai Aesthetics All purpose Bonsai, Garden & Household Scissors These amazingly sharp, durable and very handy all-purpose scissors-shears are good for almost everything now only 5.63 with your … Continue reading Bonsai Tool & Wire Sales Ends Tonight