Golden Bonsai Statements

Magnificence in miniature. This is one of the most striking mame (literally ‘bean’) bonsai I’ve seen in a long time. And I don’t think we need to say much about the pot, it can speak for itself. At a glance I’d guess this little bonsai is from Japan, but we can’t be sure without attribution. I found it at the Golden State Bonsai Federation.* Here’s part of their caption: “Steve DaSilva reminds all FBS (Fresno Bonsai Society) members that there will be four shohin bonsai workshops offered on Saturday, April 22nd, at the Koen-Nai fundraiser for the Clark Bonsai Collection…” … Continue reading Golden Bonsai Statements

Reviving a Powerful Old Shimpaku Bonsai

After. A dynamic & powerful Shimpaku juniper that belongs to our friend Suthin Sukosolvisit, one of a handful of the most highly talented and accomplished North American bonsai artists. This is our third straight before and after. All three started with superior but neglected junipers and ended with masterful bonsai. And all three were revived and upgraded by highly accomplished and well known bonsai artists; Naoki Maeoka for the previous two and Suthin Sukosolvisit today. Continued below… NEW Sales 20% of Yoshiaki Tools, Turntables, Sieves & Wire plus an extra 10% off orders 100.00+ Before. Great skill is required to … Continue reading Reviving a Powerful Old Shimpaku Bonsai

Wild Apples & Other North American Natives

This humped back Wild apple appears on the back cover of Nick Lenz’ Bonsai from the Wild (long out of print). In fact all of the photos shown here are from Nick’s book. I’m a little pressed for time, so we’ll use our old archives trick. The photos are from a June, 2011 post. The text is heavily edited. It’s no secret that Nick Lenz is a brilliant, innovative and daring bonsai artist. It’s also not much of a secret that Nick is a genuine holder of extensive bonsai (and horticultural) knowledge and wisdom, with perhaps more expertise when it … Continue reading Wild Apples & Other North American Natives

Three Juniper Bonsai & One Juniper Bonsai Book

Here’s one that jumped off the page while perusing everyone’s favorite social media site. Looks like a Shimpaku juniper. There’s a lot to like here: the way the living veins merge in an inverted U shape on the trunk (a strange feature that might disqualify the tree from exhibiting in the famous Japanese bonsai shows, but one that you might appreciate for its unconventional effect); the dynamic movement of the trunk from the base to the top and the feel of coiled stored energy in the trunk (it’s the coffee). Then there’s the way deadwood in the middle of the … Continue reading Three Juniper Bonsai & One Juniper Bonsai Book

Micheal Hagedorn’s Respect for the Natural Way (& Newly Upgraded Website)

This shot is from the portfolio on Michael Hagedorn’s recently upgraded Crataegus Bonsai website. I’m too busy now to try search out the varieties (I couldn’t find them in his portfolio), but I could guess that this one is a Rocky Mountain juniper, though I wouldn’t carve that in stone. The thing that I really like about Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai is the respect he shows for the natural way of bonsai, by allowing each tree to speak for itself. And very skillfully too, with an equal respect for bonsai technique. If you know Michael’s bonsai, you already know what I … Continue reading Micheal Hagedorn’s Respect for the Natural Way (& Newly Upgraded Website)

A Steady Stream of Excellent and Often Unusual Bonsai

An impressively complex cascading juniper by Isao Omachi. Is it too busy, or would it diminish the tree’s magic if you tried to simplify it? We can count on Isao Omachi for a steady stream of excellent and often unusual bonsai. As a result of this steady stream, we’ve featured his trees well over a dozen times here on Bonsai Bark and I suspect we’ll continue to feature them for as long as we keep posting (going on eight years and still counting). This time it’s three trees from Isao’s recent facebook photos. Two of them are full cascade junipers … Continue reading A Steady Stream of Excellent and Often Unusual Bonsai

If you only visit one bonsai event this year, make it the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

I borrowed this famous cascading Juniper from he 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition website (cropped to better fit a certain social media’s format). If you only visit one bonsai event this year, I suggest you choose the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Rochester NY, September 10th & 11th. Rearrange you life if necessary so you can be there. Each one is better than the last and the last one (two years ago) was mind-stopping. The buzz was palpable and from conversations with dozens of others, the feeling was universal. And it wasn’t just the bonsai, though they amazed more each … Continue reading If you only visit one bonsai event this year, make it the 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

High Quality Bonsai (& Photos) in Hand…

It’s not unusual to see a photo of someone holding a small bonsai in one hand. However, you seldom see a photo with two hands. This two-handed approach gives the feeling the tree is being offered. This photo and the others in this post are from Japan Shohin Bonsai. The tree appears to be a Shimpaku juniper. One of the problems with photographing bonsai is conveying size. The easiest and perhaps best way is to provide something familiar for contrast. It used to be fairly common to see bonsai with cigarette packs before smoking fell out of favor. You also … Continue reading High Quality Bonsai (& Photos) in Hand…

More Sacrificing – No Ceremonial Drums, Just Sharp Shears Required

The styling on this Juniper is almost done (at least for now). The exception is the sacrifice branch on the top. The artist, Mr Toshinori Suzuki, has decided to leave it on to strengthen the tree’s apex. When he is satisfied with the apex, he’ll sacrifice the branch. No ceremonial drums, just sharp shears required. Most trees are apically dominant (most of the tree’s energy and thus growth, tends to flow up into the apex). However, most junipers, including this one, are laterally dominant (most of the energy flows into lower lateral branches). In order to develop a new apex … Continue reading More Sacrificing – No Ceremonial Drums, Just Sharp Shears Required

Excellence in Bonsai for Over Fifty Years

Massive trunks and extensively carved deadwood aren’t the only way to go. Delicacy, grace and color work too. This photo and the others in this post are from Rosade Bonsai Studio. The tree looks a lot like a Virginia creeper. It has been a long time since we visited Chase and Solita’s Rosade’s Bonsai Studio. If you’re old enough, you might even remember when it first opened. I don’t know the exact date, but I do know that it was over fifty years ago (proof is just below). Which must make Rosade Bonsai Studio one of the older Bonsai nurseries … Continue reading Excellence in Bonsai for Over Fifty Years