NEW! Bonsai Embroidered T-Shirts

Brand new. Embroidered bonsai logo on all cotton black T-shirts. Kimura’s legendary formal upright Japanese white pine Long time bonsai embroidery maven Cindy Cones did a remarkable job of replicating Masahiko Kimura’s magnificent formal-upright Japanese white pine bonsai; probably the most distinctive, well-known formal-upright bonsai in the world. So distinctive and well-known that it appears in our Masters’ Series Pine book (2nd printing due in July), in The Magician, The Bonsai Art of Kimura 2 and on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 80. Discounted prices We’ve come up with new pricing formulas that are well below list prices on … Continue reading NEW! Bonsai Embroidered T-Shirts

Pine Book Now Due in July

This amazingly powerful and well balanced cascading Japanese Black Pine is from our book: Pines, Growing and Styling Japanese Black and White Pines. Apologies are in order Originally, I said the reprint of our Pine Book would be here in April. Then May. Then June. Now July. I won’t bore you with the details, except to say, that the root of the problem was overly optimistic misjudgement on my part (some lost digital files didn’t help either). In any case, I owe all of you who pre-ordered and pre-paid an apology. And a thank you for your patience and understanding. … Continue reading Pine Book Now Due in July

Michael’s Return (x 2 + Kokufu)

A luscious white pine that Michael Hagedorn wired in hopes that it will be accepted into the famous Kokufu Exhibition. Michael Hagedorn is back After a two plus month hiatus, Michael Hagedorn has suddenly resurfaced on Crataegus Bonsai, and in Japan no less. This is good news. Not only does it solve my problem (another day, another post; how can I keep this interesting?), but it also gives us a further glimpse into the life and times of our favorite American apprentice in Japan (Michael has a delightful book on the subject). We won’t spill all the beans Rather than … Continue reading Michael’s Return (x 2 + Kokufu)

A Great Transformation, But Still…

Though there is something dramatic and wonderful about this tree, there are a couple things that I’m not sure about. Most disturbing is the messy background that distracts from the tree. It’s actually worse in the original (Bonsai Today issue 56), but Photoshop helped solve part of the problem. The other more subjective issue is the rock, particularly the upper part. Though it is quite strong, to me it’s just not that attractive (though the more I get used to it, the less it bothers me). The tree is great with its powerful aged trunk, the way it clings to … Continue reading A Great Transformation, But Still…

The First Netsuranari

After restyling by Isaburo Nishiyama. A bamboo stick is used to support guy wires on this famous old sinuous root (netsuranari) Japanese white pine. See below for the before shot and for the original photo taken in 1937. All are from Bonsai Today issue 44. The original lives According to an article that appears in Bonsai Today issue 44, the tree pictured here is the first netsuranari (sinuous root style) bonsai. It came to light in 1937 at a famous Japanese auction where it was distinguished from the older clump style bonsai. Sinuous root style have multiple trunks growing from … Continue reading The First Netsuranari

Three Bonsai Masterpieces

This full cascade Japanese Katsura tree Kadsura vine is from Bonsai Today issue 5. Its overall height (not including the stand) is 31 inches (79 cm). Bonsai Galleries During its heyday, Bonsai Today magazine was known for its excellent how-to articles by Japanese and other masters, and for its world class bonsai galleries. The three trees featured here are from long out-of-print issues, and present just a very small taste of what lies beneath the covers of Bonsai Today.

Near Perfect in Every Regard…

We get so used to looking at exception bonsai that sometimes we stop really looking. For me, this bunjin style Japanese while pine (seven tree clump) on a slab, is near perfect in every regard. If you just look for a while, free from ideas about what it is or should be, then it has the power to transport you to someplace natural and free. From the cover of Bonsai Today issue 25. I doubt if these shears have the same power to transport you as the bonsai above, but they will help you style your own trees. Now on … Continue reading Near Perfect in Every Regard…

Rock Plantings

This Trident maple root-over-rock is from Bonsai Today issue 24 (a special issue devoted to rock planting). Root-over vs root-on Root-over-rock is where the roots grow over the rock and down into soil below. Root-on-rock is where the roots grow in a soil pocket (or soil pockets) in the rock (see below). A Black pine in the root-on-rock style. The way the tree is growing to the right serves to balance the part of the rock that thrusts out to the left. From Bonsai Today issue 24 (all of the photos in this post are from issue 24). Issue 24, … Continue reading Rock Plantings

Say Goodbye to an Old Classic (Well, Almost)

Almost gone. Our classic Pine book is down to less than 40 copies. We originally printed 5,200, so it’s been a pretty good run. One per person please While it lasts (and it won’t be long) we request that you limit yourself to one per person (or one per company). Thanks. No plans At this point, we have no plans to reprint, though in a year or two, we could change our minds.

Eccentric Bonsai: A Very Wild Mugo Pine

Almost like magic. This wild and wonderful mugo pine showed up on facebook a few weeks ago. It was posted by Bonsai Creativo School and Academy. Wild, wonderful and no so traditional There are at least two things that come to mind when I look at this wild mugo pine. First, that it represents a break with traditional bonsai styles, particularly traditional Japanese bonsai. It just doesn’t look like what bonsai used to look like not too long ago. The second thing about it is that it’s a mugo pine. It wasn’t too long ago that the only pines you’d … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: A Very Wild Mugo Pine