A Quieter Tree & a Smaller House

I’ve long appreciated the subtlety of Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai. Michael tends to avoid flash and overstatement, even in some of his crazy experimental stuff.* Here’s Michael’s caption for this understated bonsai… “Japanese Maple ‘Beni-Kawa’ with an unusual pot choice, an unglazed brown.” Here’s more in Michael’s own words (from his blog)… “The decision was to show off the reddish rose of the branches and trunks, to have that be the focus. Often a key tree color is balanced by the opposing color on the color wheel—in this case, the pot would have a green glaze. By NOT going that route … Continue reading A Quieter Tree & a Smaller House

A Dramatic Juniper with a Slight List to the Left

This dramatic Juniper may be leaning just a tad too far to the left (or is it just me?) Either way, too far left or just right, to my eyes its almost unbalanced feel creates just enough tension to add interest Continuing with Luis Vallejo’s bonsai, here’s one from our archives (Novemeber, 2012). All the photos shown here are from Luis Vallejo’s Museo Bonsai de Alconbendas. I borrowed them from the Bonsai Center Sopelana in Spain’s Basque Country Continued below… THREE NEW SPECIALS 25% OFF BONSAI WIRE FOR 3 OR MORE ROLLS 35% OFF ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS 25% OFF BONSAI … Continue reading A Dramatic Juniper with a Slight List to the Left

Putting the Art in the Art of Bonsai

Magical realism? Or putting the art in the art of bonsai? Or both? I’m trying not to indulge in too much hyperbole… still, this tree expresses something completely unique*… or at the very least, a break with conventional design. And it and it’s pot are to my eye at least, simply beautiful All three trees shown here are from Hong Kong Bonsai Pots on fb. No names or attribution are provided, but I couldn’t resist anyway. Especially the one above (with closeups just below) TWO NEW SPECIALS 25% – 30% OFF bonsai & other bookS 20% OFF BONSAI CLOTHING Specials apply to … Continue reading Putting the Art in the Art of Bonsai

Powerful & Realistic Bonsai Forest

Impressive! I don’t know what the trees are, though they look like conifers, maybe even pines. It would be nice to have a closer look, but beggars can’t be choosey When I first saw caught site of this planting on Quoc Viet Tran‘s timeline, I was immediately struck by how powerful and realistic it is. I wish I could tell you more about it, but no information is provided. I guess we’ll have to settle for simple appreciation of the artist’s mastery Continued below… NEW 20% OFF ALL BONSAI WIRE Discounts are applied at checkout Left side, closer up. I … Continue reading Powerful & Realistic Bonsai Forest

Two More Bonsai & Two Special Events at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

This dynamic and wild looking Shimpaku juniper, aka Sargent’s juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. Sargentii), with its barely visible living vein (or veins?), was donated to the U.S. National Bonsai & Penjing Museum (Japanese Collection) by Kenichi Oguchi in 1976. It has been in training since 1905. The Museum’s logo (below) was inspired by this tree Today we’ve got two special events from the U.S. National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, sandwiched between a couple Junipers from the Museum’s Japanese Collection. Stay posted for more events and more magnificent trees from the Museum’s new website PHOTOGRAPHING BONSAI WITH STEPHEN VOSS Feb 9, … Continue reading Two More Bonsai & Two Special Events at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

What Do FREE Bonsai Fertilizer & Football Have in Common?

This might pass as artistic, but it’s really just a miserably failed photoshop effort. The bonsai drawing is by Rueben Roig I was going to do a post on the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s powerful new website, but WordPress decided to upgrade last night, and now I need to relearn how to put up a new post. Meanwhile, we’re digging deep into our archives for this one (Feb 2015). I know you’re probably sick of hearing about football by now, but there’s always our FREE Green Dream Fertilizer Special to peak your interest (details below) FREE green dream Bonsai FERTILIZER Superbowl … Continue reading What Do FREE Bonsai Fertilizer & Football Have in Common?

Sheer Bonsai Power – Before & After

We usually start Before and After posts with an appropriate B & A photo (see below). But I couldn’t resist this one. I think it captures the essence of the tree. Or at least its size and sheer power I found this impressive before and after pine on Luis Vallejo’s timeline. The only caption provided is… “Hiroaki Suzuki , Pinus sylvestris, Luis Vallejo Bonsái Garden.” We know Luis from numerous posts here on Bark and we also know a bit about Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine). I’m not familiar with Hiroaki Suzuki, but if you’d like to do a little research, here’s a link for you … Continue reading Sheer Bonsai Power – Before & After

Omiya’s Pines, Bonsai Beauty & Heart

Combining two arts and two artists, here’s a small piece of the translation with this striking photo… “Daiki Abe: Bonsai Artist. Takashi Eguchi: Photographer. Name: the two exhibition of bonsai and photography ‘Pine Beauty heart'” There is no species given with this pine, but it looks like a Japanese white (Pinus parviflora). The photo is from Omiya Bonsai Museum’s timeline, along with more information on the display. The rest of the photos in this post are Japanese white pines, also from Omiya’s timeline, but not from this display We could go on indefinitely with photos from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. However, … Continue reading Omiya’s Pines, Bonsai Beauty & Heart

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, this time with new photos

Japanese apricot (often referred to as Ume) at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama, Japan. You can see the whole tree below We’re going to continue with the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum today, but this time with newly posted photos from their facebook timeline. Ones we’ve never shown before 20% OFF EVERYTHING SITE WIDE SALE ENDS TONIGHT PLUS AN EXTRA 10% TO 20% OFF ROSHI TOOLS AN EXTRA 10% OFF BONSAI POTS THESE SPECIALS END WEDNESDAY, JAN 23RD AT 11:59PM EST – Star jasmine fully cascading with all the foliage below the pot Another Japanese apricot (Ume). This time … Continue reading Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, this time with new photos

A Mid Winter Spring Color Tease

Today we begin the long two day journey from sea and sun back to waist high snow and sub zero temps. So no time to put together anything new for you, though this one is old enough (June, 2015) where it will be new to most of you anyway. They are all Azaleas (Satsuki, I think) from the Omiya Bonsai Museum. One of our favorites. Enjoy. SITE WIDE SALE ENDS SOON 20% OFF EVERYTHING PLUS AN EXTRA 10% TO 20% OFF ROSHI TOOLS AN EXTRA 10% OFF BONSAI POTS 20% off Site Wide Sale YOU CAN ENJOY EXTRA DISCOUNTS IN … Continue reading A Mid Winter Spring Color Tease