Big, Brawny and Beautiful, But How Many Trunks Can You Count?

Super Mario is at it again. From Mario Komsta’s facebook photos. How many trunks can you count? Does this magnificent tree have four or five trunks? Does it even matter? Actually, I think most of us would say that it does matter and that even though there are only four trunks at ground level, the effect, thanks to the tree on the left, is that of five trunks. What’s the big deal about even numbers? Generally, the Japanese abhor the number four, at least when it come to trunks in bonsai. The same can be said for six, eight and … Continue reading Big, Brawny and Beautiful, But How Many Trunks Can You Count?

Weekly Wire, Bonsai Comic, Shohin Maffia & A Colorful Bonsai Celebration

Look familiar? You may have seen this most excellent Mario Komsta pine before. In fact, it’s possible that we’ve already featured it right here, though I can’t find when or where. Anyway, if we did already show it; it was good then and it’s still good now. Do you recognize this tree? If so, It’s not too late to enter our Bonsai Detectives $250 Mystery Contest. Shohin Maffia? I guess you know what shohin means and you probably have a pretty good grasp of maffia too (even with the double f). Now you can see what happens when … Continue reading Weekly Wire, Bonsai Comic, Shohin Maffia & A Colorful Bonsai Celebration

Taxus Time & Missing Comments

After. Mario Komsta with Pete Carino and Bonsais Del Sur. Here’s Mario’s website for those of you who aren’t facebook friends. Mario Again? We (that’s me) tend to go on rolls around here. A couple years ago it seemed like every other post was about Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai. Then it was Bonsai Tonight. And of course there’s always Robert Steven (I reckon he appears in more of our posts than anyone). Not that these folks are the only ones that reoccur; when you post exclusively about bonsai three to four times a week for over three years you, recycling is … Continue reading Taxus Time & Missing Comments

Cliff Dwellers & NEW Bonsai Tools

Nature does it just right. This breathtaking photo is by Mario Komsta. No need to try to collect this beauty, it’s perfect right where it is. These attractive Bonsai Aesthetics tools are every bit as good as their Japanese counterparts and they are more affordable. For example, your price on this set of 3 is only 14.95. Each one is also offered individually. Bonsai Aesthetics is owned by Robert Steven. Robert, one of world’s foremost bonsai artists, personally stands behind every one of his tools. NEW tools at Stone Lantern We’ve been bringing new bonsai and garden tools from Japan … Continue reading Cliff Dwellers & NEW Bonsai Tools

A Little Bonsai Elegance on a Day of Wild Passions and Insane Hyperbole

This Oriental bittersweet belongs to Mario Komsta who is frequently featured on this blog. I found the photo on Morten Albek’s Shohin Bonsai Europe blog. It’s part of a shohin gallery from Noelanders Trophy 2012 Exhibition. The photo is by Mark Cooper, as are all the photos in this post. A little antidote Today is Super Bowl Sunday. A time of almost insane hyperbole and wild passions run amuck. A time when big, loud and violent is the norm and our connections with our more refined sensibilities are put aside in favor of baser impulses. On such a strange and … Continue reading A Little Bonsai Elegance on a Day of Wild Passions and Insane Hyperbole

Weekly Wire: Ancient Bones & the Wheel of Bonsai Wisdom

Ancient bones. I like the way the fresh foliage seems to hang from the tree’s ancient bones (though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a stand so in need of refinishing). This strikingly unique bonsai is one of many excellent trees at Taiwan Bonsai World. Free Advertising! What if you could advertise your bonsai event for free on a Bonsai Blog with over 30,00 visitors a month? Turns out, you can! Right here on Bonsai Bark. Just put your event (with links please) in the comments below and I’ll take from there. Have you seen this issue? Neither have … Continue reading Weekly Wire: Ancient Bones & the Wheel of Bonsai Wisdom

Weekly Wire: The End of Lime Sulfur?

This Trident maple root-over-rock belongs to Jonas Dupuich. It’s from a Bonsai Tonight article about the 11th Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. The Bay Island Bonsai 13th Annual Bonsai Exhibit is coming very soon (Jan 13-14 14-15). Judging by photos from previous exhibits, it looks like it’s one of the better bonsai shows in North America. It’s at the Oakland Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. For more information: (510) 919-5042 or visit their website. The following turned out to be much ado about almost nothing (12/24/12). Bad news about lime sulfur. It’s hard to imagine bonsai without lime sulfur. But … Continue reading Weekly Wire: The End of Lime Sulfur?

Mario’s Almost Bonsai

The third to last photo in a long sequence by Mario Komsta. Mario’s comment on this photo is ‘almost bonsai.’ Pretty good for an ‘almost.’ From a facebook album by Mario. From freshly dug to ‘almost bonsai’ The photos here present a sampling of a step-by-step series on a very creative (and skillful) bonsai transformation by Mario Komsta. We’ve featured Mario’s bonsai several times on Bonsai Bark, and for good reason. To my eye, Mario is one of the West’s elite young bonsai artists. You might even say that Mario is one of the elite bonsai artists, period. You can … Continue reading Mario’s Almost Bonsai

Mario & the Art of Bonsai

Bonsai calligraphy. Look familiar? We posted this wildly eccentric masterpiece right here on Bonsai Bark about a year ago. Maybe we’ll post it again next year. It belongs to Mario Komsta. Mario Komsta If you don’t know Mario’s bonsai, you’re in for a treat. If you do know Mario’s bonsai, you’re still in for a treat (exceptional bonsai bear repeated viewing). We’ve featured Mario’s trees several times now, and I suspect we’ll feature them again. The Art of Bonsai Project Without a doubt, the Art of Bonsai Project is one of the true quality bonsai spots on the web. Just … Continue reading Mario & the Art of Bonsai

Bonsai Rebar & Other Wonders

Have you ever used rebar to shape a bonsai? Every time I see it done, I get inspired, but still haven’t tried it. Mario Komsta calls this photo ‘sylvestris fever,’ so I guess it must be a Scot’s pine. Mario Komsta All the photos in this post are from Mario Komsta’s photos on facebook. Some of them are unique and most are quite compelling. Here’s a few to whet your appetite. There are plenty more where these came from. Encore! We’ve featured Mario a couple time on Bonsai Bark and also in Bonsai Today magazine (issues 102 and 105, and … Continue reading Bonsai Rebar & Other Wonders