Mixed Forest Bonsai (& Others) by One of the Original Grand Masters

This magnificent mixed forest is by Saburo Kato, who was one of the original old masters of Japanese bonsai. You can find it and other remarkable trees in his timeless classic Forest, Rock Planting & Ezo Spruce Bonsai. You can also find some of the moist comprehensive how-to bonsai instructions anywhere Continuing with our forest theme, today it’s four now famous forest plantings by one of Bonsai’s Grand Masters, Saburo Kato TWO TIMELY SPECIALS 20% OFF ALL BONSAI WIRE 25% TO 30% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS – This remarkable slab planting shows how much drama and power one strong tree … Continue reading Mixed Forest Bonsai (& Others) by One of the Original Grand Masters

The Magician’s Ezo Spruce Bonsai Forest

Before and after,three years later. Masahiko Kimura ‘The Magician’ styled this Ezo spruce (Picea Glehnii) planting with a high mountain stand of conifers in mind Continuing with bonsai forests from the last two days… Looking at the after forest above, you might notice how the trees on the outside lean out in search of sunlight, which is what you would expect in a natural stand of trees (more on this below) You may also notice how Kimura enhanced the feeling of age by removing or jinning about half of the limbs (this is most evident in the intermediate to after photos … Continue reading The Magician’s Ezo Spruce Bonsai Forest

Another Mid Winter Tease

The new growth on Spruce is often a brilliant yellow. Almost like yellow flowers. In this case the spruce is an Ezo (Picea jezoensis). This one resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum as do the other trees in this post. Continuing with our long trek home from vacation, I found just enough time to sneak another one in from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. Like yesterday it’s also from our archives (June, 2015). SITE WIDE SALE ENDS SOON 20% OFF EVERYTHING PLUS AN EXTRA 10% TO 20% OFF ROSHI TOOLS AN EXTRA 10% OFF BONSAI POTS For a lot … Continue reading Another Mid Winter Tease

Challenges All Their Own – Mixed Bonsai Forests

This mixed forest/landscape is from Spain. The Museo del Bonsai Marbella to be exact (from Bonsais del Sur). It’s too bad the pot is chopped off and the whole photo is cramped, but that’s the way we found it. Still, from what we can see, it look s like a very ambitious project with a numerous type trees and other features to integrate. No mean feat to pull off Today we’ll stay on our forest and other multiple trunk theme of late, only this time it’s mixed bonsai forests from mixed sources. Mixed forests present challenges all there own and are not as common as … Continue reading Challenges All Their Own – Mixed Bonsai Forests

Saburo Kato, Bonsai Master for the Ages

This very large forest was on display at last month’s World Bonsai Convention in Japan. It was originally created by Saburo Kato, who was one of the original old masters of Japanese bonsai. One of the things Mr Kato was known for Ezo spruce forests, so we’ll assume that this planting is an Ezo as well. The photo was borrowed from Mark Fields, one of our lucky friends who made the trip to Japan. It has been a while since we featured the bonsai of Saburo Kato, one of the most accomplished and most revered of the old Japanese bonsai … Continue reading Saburo Kato, Bonsai Master for the Ages

Another Bonsai Adventure with an Old Ezo Spruce

This Ezo spruce (Picea jezoenis) belongs to Walter Pall. The hand built pot accentuates its natural look. The tree was originally collected in Hokkaido, Japan sometime before 1950 and is over 100 years old. The pot (Walter calls it a stone) is by Dietmar Popp. Inventory today. To save time, we’ll borrow from May, 2015. After this, it’s onward into the New Year and plenty of new posts. In addition to his bonsai, I like Walter Pall’s instructive step-by-step presentations. It’s like you’re standing there looking over his shoulder. Or in this case, Thomas’ shoulder. In Walter’s own words Thomas … Continue reading Another Bonsai Adventure with an Old Ezo Spruce

Sturdy Spruce Bonsai

This impressively sturdy tree is from the cover of Bonsai Today issue 61 (all issues are now 30% – 40% off). As you can see, it’s a Picea glehnii (Sakhalin spruce) though it’s often confused with Ezo spruce (Picea jezoensis) and for all I know, could be an Ezo spruce (there doesn’t seem to be general agreement on which is which). Image courtesy of Bonsai Focus. 30% off Our Famous Roshi Bonsai Tools plus an extra 10% off for all orders 100.00+* FREE Shipping on U.S. orders 50.00+ but you have to select it when you check out if you … Continue reading Sturdy Spruce Bonsai

Coffee, Bonsai & Something for the Season

Trident maple at the 2013 Taikan-ten Exhibition. There’s a lot going on with the tree; three major trunks and a baby one sticking out the back, a large mounding nebari and a whole lot of movement. I particularly like the trunk on the right that emerges from the base of the nebari (the base of the base). I borrowed the photo from Bjorn Bjorholm. The color seems a bit off, but you still get the drift. It’s a busy time when catching up seems even less likely than usual. One solution is to delve back into our archives. This one … Continue reading Coffee, Bonsai & Something for the Season

More Satsuki Flowers & Other Spring Surprises

The new growth on some Spruce is often a brilliant yellow. Almost like yellow flowers. In this case the spruce is an Ezo (Picea jezoensis). This one resides at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum (Saitama, Japan) as do the other trees in this post. We’ve got a few themes running here; spring Satsuki flowers (last post), new spring growth and one of our favorites, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. For a lot of people, Satsuki azaleas are all about the flowers, so it doesn’t matter so much that you can’t really see the trunk in this photo. You can … Continue reading More Satsuki Flowers & Other Spring Surprises

How to Take an Exceptional Old Bonsai & Make It Extraordinary

This Ezo spruce (Picea jezoenis) belongs to Walter Pall. The hand built tray accentuates its untouched natural look. The tree was originally collected in Hokkaido, Japan sometime before 1950 and is over 100 years old. The tray (Walter calls it a stone) is by Dietmar Popp. This photo and the rest in this post are from Walter’s facebook photos. In addition to his excellent bonsai, I like Walter Pall’s instructive step-by-step presentations (you can find them on facebook and on his Bonsai Adventures blog). It’s like you’re standing right there looking over his shoulder. Or in this case, Thomas’s shoulder … Continue reading How to Take an Exceptional Old Bonsai & Make It Extraordinary