A Rugged Old Mugo Pine and a Lovely Japanese Garden

Close up of an old yamadori Mugo pine’s trunk. It belongs to Mariusz Folda. Here’s his caption… “Pinus mugo in training at IBUKI for 16 years.” IBUKI is Mariusz’s Bonsai and Ceramics studio in Bielsko-Biala, Poland There’s a lot to like about this old Mugo pine. Aged bark is always a plus as is deeply fissured, naturally colored deadwood. Perhaps most striking is the way the foliage clings to the trunk and primary branches, creating a low dense canopy that enhances the story of a rugged life at the tree line in a high mountain range (three in a row… don’t tell my high school English teacher). Maybe somewhere in the Alps in this case, … Continue reading A Rugged Old Mugo Pine and a Lovely Japanese Garden

A Masterful Example of how Energy Can Be Redirected

This powerful old cascading Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) is a masterful example of how energy can be directed downward in a tree that naturally wants to grow upward. The photo is from Bonsai Today Master Series; Pines. A late start today, so it’s time for a journey into our past. This post was one of our very firsts (Feb 2009 with an added azalea photo from a later post), but like so much with bonsai, is still 100% pertinent today… and tomorrow, and so forth. Whenever you prune, trim or pinch, you are redirecting energy. If you remove a … Continue reading A Masterful Example of how Energy Can Be Redirected

Redwood Empire

Though the trunk on this two header monster expresses sheer power, the branches and foliage are surprisingly delicate and graceful. The tree is a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), a species* that happens to be the tallest tree on this planet (there are a few hidden in the wilds of northwest California that tower to as high as 400 feet – 122 meters). You don’t see that many top notch Redwood bonsai and, in my experience, most of the ones you do see come from members of the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (who knew that the group that calls themselves Redwood Empire would have … Continue reading Redwood Empire

Shimpaku Bonsai Before & After

This Shimpaku juniper before and after with it’s striking deadwood, single living vein and masterfully redesigned crown (not to mention the perfectly chosen pot), stands out as an impressive work of bonsai art. The artist is Naoki Maeoka. At first glance you might call this a ‘maintenance’ before & after, where an already established bonsai is simply brought back to it’s original beauty with some trimming, wiring and cleaning up. But as soon as you take a closer look, it’s obvious that there’s more going on than just that. Continued below… Bonsai Fertilizer Special 30% OFF LIST PRICES In addition to Green Dream & other … Continue reading Shimpaku Bonsai Before & After

Near the Top of the Bonsai & Penjing Pantheons

This remarkable planting by Kuanghua Hsiao belongs somewhere near the top of the Penjing pantheon. Getting a very late start today, so we’ll take the quick and easy way out and show you this post from January, 2016 (with a little value added today). I think it’s worth another look anyway. Just two remarkable photos today. It’s not that often you see two bonsai by the same person, each so completely different from the other and each among the best you’ll see anywhere. I found both photos here. Continued below… SPECIAL ENDS THURS NIGHT Kilo Bonsai Aesthetics Wire Special YOU WON’T … Continue reading Near the Top of the Bonsai & Penjing Pantheons

Japanese Maple Bonsai Adventure

We’ve been indulging our annual fall color fixation lately, so why one one more… albeit a subtle one? This Japanese maple is from Korean nursery-grown stock. We found it on Walter Pall’s Bonsai Adventures blog. You might notice how the two smaller trees lend perspective and exaggerate the effect of the main tree. Monday morning and pressed for time, so we’ll take a little shortcut. This post originally appeared one year ago today, with a little value added Back in the mid-to-late 20th century, when the average person had no idea what the art of bonsai was, almost all bonsai in … Continue reading Japanese Maple Bonsai Adventure

Bonsai-San as We Speak…

This unusual full cascade Juniper will no doubt put off some of our anti-deadwood folks, but to my eyes, it’s a a highly expressive, dynamic tree. Cascade shots are normally taken from a point that shows the tree cascading down one side of the pot, but in this case the pot is hidden by the tree, which creates a whole different effect. All the photos shown here were taken by Andres Bicocca at this weekend’s European Bonsai San Show in Saulieu France. Andres’ only text with the photos reads… Viaje a Francia “Saulieu 2017.” Non of the trees or artists are … Continue reading Bonsai-San as We Speak…

Another Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Foliage & Other Famous Trees

Always nice to lead with a little color. This cheerful full fall color Trident maple belonged to Suthin Sukosolvisit when we first showed it way back in 2009. I don’t know who the lucky owner is now. Suthin’s luminous little tree above plays well with our ongoing fall foliage theme, while the rest of the trees shown here, play well with our long standing appreciation of Suthin’s bonsai. Continued below… Two NEW Yoshiaki Sales Yoshiaki Japanese Bonsai Wire 40% OFF LIST PRICE YOSHIAKI JAPANESE BONSAI hand tools 40% OFF LIST PRICE Yoshiaki, a leading name in Japanese Bonsai Products This Tsukomo cypress-on-a-half-shell was offered … Continue reading Another Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Foliage & Other Famous Trees

More Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Colour

The leaves on the table provide a nice touch in this photo of Harry Harrington’s English elm (Ulmus minor) in full fall colour*. From Harry’s bonsai4me website Continuing with fall colour*… Yesterday was shades of red. Today’s pallet is a bit more varied. All the trees and the pot below belong to our friend Harry Harrington. NEW SPECIAL Only 5.00 each for bonsai Today back issues ENJOY DETAILED HOW-TO INSTRUCTIONS BY THE OLD MASTERS our selection of back issues getting low and we are no longer replacing them We’ve shown this Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) before, but anything this brilliant is always … Continue reading More Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Colour

Brilliant Japanese Maple Bonsai in Full Fall Color with Correction

Japanese maple in full fall color. You might notice the unusual mounded nebari as well as the outstanding movement in the trunks and branches. Our source doesn’t mention the variety or the owner of this brilliant tree THE CORRECTION IS IN A CAPTION BELOW IN RED TYPE apologies to Bill Valavanis It’s peak fall color here in Vermont, though where we live it doesn’t look like a banner year. Mostly it’s the Sugar maples that are a disappointment. I think our long hot and very dry September caused them to give up and drop their leaves early Continued below… KOYO BONSAI TOOL SPECIAL DEEPLY DISCOUNTED … Continue reading Brilliant Japanese Maple Bonsai in Full Fall Color with Correction