When to Let a Tree Run Off Leash – by Michael Hagedorn

This luminous Japanese maple in full fall color is from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai Portfolio. I don’t know for sure when, or for how long Michael lets this one off the leash, but after reading the article below, I have some idea. Once again we’re paying homage to the wisdom of Michael Hagedorn, our favorite source for the nitty-gritty of growing bonsai. This time it’s about managing and especially not managing the growth of our trees. The text and Winter Hazel photo below are from Michael’s Crataegus Bonsai blog In Michael’s own words… “We talk endlessly about how to manage the growth … Continue reading When to Let a Tree Run Off Leash – by Michael Hagedorn

Choosing the Right Bonsai Pot – Oval or Rectangle?

Which pot would you choose for this Western juniper?* There’s a direct path from Michael Hagedorn (see our last two posts) to his teacher Boon Manakitivipart (aka Bonsai Boon). This post originally appeared here in June, 2015. Sooner or later every serious North American bonsai artist is influenced by Boon Manakitivipart. For some, this influence is face to face (if you’re lucky). Or indirectly through one of his students that now teach bonsai (Michael Hagedorn is one of many). And then there are his regular posts on facebook (including our our source for this post) that are full of generous pointers and bonsai inspiration. Three … Continue reading Choosing the Right Bonsai Pot – Oval or Rectangle?

Still the Best Bonsai Read

I borrowed this potless Rocky Mountain juniper from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai Portfolio. Here’s part of what Michael wrote about this old yamadori… “This juniper has been growing in my backyard for a year. It’s a client tree, another of the great native yamadori that was collected by Randy Knight of Oregon Bonsai.” You can visit Crataegus for the whole story Continuing with the Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai and his now famous book… The photo and caption above are new. Most of the rest of this post is from April, 2009 when Bonsai Bark was in its infancy (our first post … Continue reading Still the Best Bonsai Read

More Before & After Bonsai Mania

Juniper before and after, by Michael Hagedorn, Crataegus Bonsai. Michael says it’s a Juniper procumbens, but it looks a lot like a J. procumbens ‘nana’ to me (that’s the dwarf cultivar), especially in the before below. Continuing with our Before and After mania. This one is from our archives (way back in July, 2010) with some value added today. I have long been a big fan of Michael Hagedorn’s bonsai and his approach to bonsai (here are some of our previous posts on Michael and his bonsai that you might like). Continued below… KILO WIRE ONLY 15.95 this exceptional special ends tomorrow Only 14.35 … Continue reading More Before & After Bonsai Mania

Juniper Bonsai Before & After – Cleanup Day

Before and after on cleanup day. It’s a Tam juniper (Juniperus sabina ‘Tamariscifolia’) that belongs to Michael Hagedorn. It’s finally sunny after interminable and often torrential rains, so it’s time to dig back into our archives so we can get outside asap. This post originally appeared almost exactly a year ago to the day. Here’s copy about the tree shown above that I lifted from Michael Horndorn’s Crataegus Bonsai: “The day these photos were taken was a basic ‘clean up day’ for the juniper—no wire was applied, removing only old and dangling foliage and shortening shoots that were overlong, and … Continue reading Juniper Bonsai Before & After – Cleanup Day

A Little Bonsai Love on Hot Summer Days

I borrowed this distinctive two-headed Shimpaku from Micheal Hagedorn’s Portfolio on Crataegus Bonsai. Specifically from the section titled Bonsai Work in Japan (see Post Dated below) The text below is from a 2010 post we borrowed from Michael Hagedorn on summer misting. In addition being a highly accomplished bonsai artist, Michael is a great teacher, with a wealth of bonsai knowledge almost unrivaled in the West. If you’d like to learn more than you ever imagined about bonsai, you’d be well served to visit Michael’s Crataegus Bonsai. Continued below… NEW BONSAI TOOL SPECIAL 30% to 50% off Yoshiaki Hand Tools … Continue reading A Little Bonsai Love on Hot Summer Days

A Golden Opportunity to Refine Your Bonsai Skills and Deepen Your Understanding

This striking shot was lifted from Bonsai Empire’s video on Bonsai Fundamentals, an upcoming course by Michael Hagedorn. This post is to unreservedly and enthusiastically encourage you to take Michael Hagedorn’s upcoming Bonsai Fundamentals Course. Here’s some copy borrowed from the host of the course, Bonsai Empire: “Bonsai Fundamentals is an online tutorial offering unique insights into the fundamental concepts of Bonsai design and techniques. It provides important but often neglected instruction of plant-physiology and Japanese aesthetics, deepening your understanding of the living art of Bonsai. Available from March 11th.” If you know Michael Hagedorn you don’t need any more … Continue reading A Golden Opportunity to Refine Your Bonsai Skills and Deepen Your Understanding

An Irreverent Bonsai Monk

This tree is a Sonoran scrub live oak (Quercus turbinella). Michael Hagendorn says of this tree: “I collected this oak from a mountain range in eastern Arizona in 1999, at around 5,000 ft. It was growing much like old pines or junipers along rocky breaks, in a ‘captive root’ situation. There were fine roots in a pocket of soil on bedrock. I cut the anchor root, lifted the tree, and it went into a small box. The oak from the start was very vigorous, and one or two years later was in a bonsai pot. The photo is from 2008, … Continue reading An Irreverent Bonsai Monk

A Heat Story from Japan by a Natural Story Teller

I borrowed this Vine maple photo from Crataegus Bonsai’s portfolio. If you’d like to see and read the story of this remarkably strange and wonderful bonsai, here’s your link. I never miss Michael Hagedorn’s posts on Crataegus Bonsai. He’s always got something useful to say and he’s a natural story teller. For evidence you can check out his eminently readable book, Post-Dated – The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk. There’s our last post too (Michael’s Spring Watering Tips). Back in 2009 Michael put up two posts that were prompted by a heat wave out west. One is a very … Continue reading A Heat Story from Japan by a Natural Story Teller

Michael’s Mountain Hemlock Clump After Some Serious Work & a Little Touch Up

January, 2015. Michael Hagedorn’s freshly touched up Mountain Hemlock clump. From Micheal’s Crataegus Bonsai blog. If you only had time to follow Bonsai Bark and one other blog, you wouldn’t go wrong with Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai. I won’t bore you by repeating the praise we’ve already showered on Michael in previous posts, but I will encourage you to visit Micheal’s blog and to serious consider reading his highly enjoyable page turner, Post-Dated, The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk. 2010. Taking nothing away from Michael’s cheerful demeanor, or the planting, I think the best part of this photo … Continue reading Michael’s Mountain Hemlock Clump After Some Serious Work & a Little Touch Up