It’s About the Flowers (& More than Just the Flowers)

Haruyosi is at it again. This time it’s a flowering Crab apple (Malus prunifolia) with a perfect little yellow pot. All the images in this post were borrowed from Haruyosi’s facebook photos. We can’t go too long without coming back to Haruyosi’s exquisite little trees. Once again it’s the delicate flowers that caught the eye. Crab apple and quince this time. Two of the very best when it comes to flowering trees and shrubs. However, when we’re talking about accomplished bonsai artists, it’s always about more than just the flowers. There’s the simple beauty of the little trees themselves (with … Continue reading It’s About the Flowers (& More than Just the Flowers)

Daring & Over-the-Top Brilliant

Daring and brilliant. I think the daring part is combining such a strong and unique pot with such a brilliant little flowering tree. Each could stand on its own, no problem. But together the brilliance is multiplied. This photo and the other photos in this post are from Machiko Koide’s timeline on facebook. I don’t know much about Michiko Koide and google didn’t help. All I could find is her facebook timeline. Turns out, based on the photos, that’s plenty These pots are most excellent, with or without little trees. The two handed approach (see our last post). Contrast … Continue reading Daring & Over-the-Top Brilliant

The 4th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Is Fast Approaching

The tree is nice, but it’s really about the flowers. As you can see, there are three distinct flower colors on this tree. Though quince are known for the brilliance of their flowers and multiple hues are not uncommon, still, you don’t see many with three distinctly different flowers on one tree. This and the rest of the photos in this post belong to Bill Valavanis. You can find them and others on his Bonsai Blog. Bill Valavanis’ 4th U.S National Bonsai Exhibition is fast approaching, so this seems like a good time to remind you of just how important … Continue reading The 4th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Is Fast Approaching

Relaxed & Alert

Lots of rugged character and great ramification. I can’t read Korean, but I’ll guess it’s a Japanese beech. It has been a while since we’ve featured bonsai from Korea. When I look at these trees, I see Chinese and Japanese influence. Though my guess is the Koreans wouldn’t necessarily see that way. All the trees in this post are from Bonsai Korea. More elegant, yet still a little rough. Looks like another beech. This one has a relaxed look below and an alert look above. Nice mineral encrusted pot too. Is it a Hornbeam? The heavy funky … Continue reading Relaxed & Alert

Sweet, Beautiful & Otherwise Adjectival

Looks like a quince. I’ve said this before, but quince flowers are one of best things on earth. Really. People travel all over the place looking for beauty, when all they need is a flowering quince. This photo and the others in this post are from Haruyosi on facebook. Haruyosi again. Maybe I should just turn this into his blog. But here’s the deal; his little bonsai are so sweet, beautiful and otherwise adjectival, that I just can’t resist. Particularly his flowering bonsai. Others too though. And his pots of course (he makes his own). Anyway, enjoy! This time … Continue reading Sweet, Beautiful & Otherwise Adjectival

Exquisite Trees, Exquisite Pots

There are few things more delicate and beautiful than fresh spring Maple leaves (Trident maple in this case). This exquisite tree and exquisite pot are perfect expressions of the artistry of Haruyoshi. The only hard part with a post like this, is figuring out which photo to show first (the one that shows up on facebook and in our newsletter). We had the same problem with our previous two posts that featured Haruyosi pots and bonsai (here and here). I won’t bore you much more, except to say that Haruyosi does a couple things that set him apart. First, he … Continue reading Exquisite Trees, Exquisite Pots

Very Red and Very Rare

You don’t see very many bright red bonsai pots. Red glazes are expensive and I suspect that they are not that easy to do. Then there’s the conundrum they present; what do put in a bright red pot? Not always so easy, but in this case, problem solved (or is it?). The tree is a Elaeagnus pungens (Siverthorn in English, Kangumi in Japanese). Both the tree and pot are by Haruyosi as are all the trees and pots in this post. Red glazes are not that common. Bright red glazes are even less common. Yellow glazes are not all that … Continue reading Very Red and Very Rare

Making an Apex Look Like an Apex

After. Compacting the apex of a Japanese white pine. Borrowed without permission from our friend and teacher, Michael Hagedorn (can you really borrow something without permission?). The before photo is below. It has been a while since we plundered from Crataegus. It’s the before and after apex that caught my attention (the other photos are just for the fun of it). Reason being, that for many of us, figuring out how to make an apex look like an apex is no mean feat. Maybe this will help. A little slice of Crataegus Bonsai. Those doors lead into Michael’s spacious … Continue reading Making an Apex Look Like an Apex

Tea Flowers

Ume (Prunus mume) flowers. Once again we find ourselves borrowing from Peter Tea. This photo and the next three photos shown here are from a post that Peter just put up that provides a sweet moment’s glimpse into a small private bonsai show. Something you just don’t see everyday. “The last memory I have Is of a flower that cannot be touched…” Excerpt from Flower Herding on Mount Monadnock, From A New Selected Poems by Galway Kinnell (Mariner Books). ‘Boke’ flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa). This photo (also by Peter Tea) provides a peek at a piece of one of … Continue reading Tea Flowers

Luminous Fruit

Is this a persimmon with exotically shaped fruit? Aside from the luminous fruit, beautiful antique looking little pot and distinctively twisted trunk, it’s also hard not to notice the spots on the leaves. No matter, I still love it. Katsumi Komiya. I found these images by Katsumi Komiya on facebook. I’m traveling right now, so I can’t verify this, but I believe Mr. Komiya appears in an old Bonsai Today issue. I’ll check out my back issues when I get home and let you know. If you’ve ever tried to grow fruiting bonsai, you know that getting such perfectly healthy, … Continue reading Luminous Fruit