Larch Forest, Twenty Years from Zero

This simple lovely Larch forest belongs to Mariusz Folda. Here’s his caption… “Larix decidua – European Larch. About 20 years ago I made cuttings from a forest larix. I recently noticed that the bark starts to be flaky on the cuttings … am I getting older ;))) ?? There is something very very special to start something from 0 and stick with it. Every time I look at the so simple composition I remind mine self to enjoy what I have. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. We must never forget to love and enjoy our trees, even so simple as this forest. Isn’t … Continue reading Larch Forest, Twenty Years from Zero

Tropical Bonsai Before & After by Robert Steven

Before and after by Robert Steven. The before is a photo that was submitted to Robert by David Royinsyah. The after is a digital simulation by Robert. The tree is a Tamarindus indica, a type of tropical legume. The photos are from the Black Scissors Community. It has been a while since we posted one of Robert Steven’s simulated before and after photos. In addition to being one of the foremost bonsai artists in the world, Robert is a bonsai teacher, so his before and afters are always information rich, with comments about style, technique, horticultural considerations and even bonsai history. Continued below… Brand … Continue reading Tropical Bonsai Before & After by Robert Steven

Buy a Level for Your Bonsai Bench – Even Better, Use It!

This Red maple (Acer rubrum) is from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai Portfolio. To my mind it represents something basic about the best bonsai. The ones you might pass by while searching for something showy. I was lucky when I was there, Michael pointed this one out and told me a story about it. Now you can read that same story. Micheal, ever the poet philosopher, titled it The Blaze of Autumn Sweetly Burns. This post is a twofer. First there’s the tree above and an invitation to learn more about it and other trees that belong to Micheal Hagedorn. And second … Continue reading Buy a Level for Your Bonsai Bench – Even Better, Use It!

More Magnificent Mugo Pines

This superb Mugo pine has a distinctly natural feel. Almost as if someone found it just as is, growing somewhere high in the European Alps. Still, whenever you see a bonsai, a human hand is intimately involved. Even when the tree appears perfectly natural (in some cases, especially when the tree appears perfectly natural). In the case of both trees shown here, the human hand belongs to Georg Reinhard. We borrowed the photos from a post we did in November, 2010. It was titled Mugos by Mother Nature & Georg Reinhard Continuing with our Mugo pine theme from yesterday… I … Continue reading More Magnificent Mugo Pines

Bonsai Wizardry – Before & After

Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) before and after. The artist is Suthin Sukosolvisit, who wrote that it took only one year from before to after, which might lead you to believe that the before tree is bigger than it looks. Here’s your link to the original Suthin, day three… Part of this post is from one we did back in December 2013. It was titled Flying High with Suthin (don’t even think it… I was on a plane). Coincidentally, in that original post I happened to mention a bit about flying by the comedian Louie C.K., who unfortunately is in the news this week . NEW Bonsai Aesthetics … Continue reading Bonsai Wizardry – Before & After

Just for Fun!!! – Shohin Mugo Pine Before & After

After. Mugo pine by Suthin Sukosolvisit. We know you like to see the before and after photos side by side, but in this case it doesn’t fit the format on social media, so we put it just below Continuing with Suthin. Today it’s a Before and After. As you can see just below, something very unusual has happened. How did he compress this tree so radically? And how long did it take him? Suthin doesn’t say, but if you look at the closeup below, it’s not too difficult to see. Both photos shown here are from Suthin’s timeline. Continued below… NEW SPECIAL Okatsune Bonsai & … Continue reading Just for Fun!!! – Shohin Mugo Pine Before & After

Redwood Empire

Though the trunk on this two header monster expresses sheer power, the branches and foliage are surprisingly delicate and graceful. The tree is a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), a species* that happens to be the tallest tree on this planet (there are a few hidden in the wilds of northwest California that tower to as high as 400 feet – 122 meters). You don’t see that many top notch Redwood bonsai and, in my experience, most of the ones you do see come from members of the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (who knew that the group that calls themselves Redwood Empire would have … Continue reading Redwood Empire

NEW 2018 Bonsai Calendars Are Here!

2018 Bonsai Calendars They’re here and they’re beautiful – Enjoy 26 powerful Japanese bonsai Next year you can cut off the dates & enjoy beautiful wall hangings 30″ x 14″ – 13 pages – made in Japan – Note: The photos shown here are from 2017 Our photographer is off for a couple days & we didn’t want to wait we’ll have our 2018 photos by Tuesday special extended one day! BONSAI AESTHETICS TOOL SPECIAL 30% OFF LIST PRICES extended until tomorrow Aesthetics tools for the budget minded bonsai enthusiast special ends Monday Nov 6th at noon EST

Bonsai – Small – Medium – Large

Based on the brilliant little apples and what look like apple leaves, you might conclude that this is a crab apple. The whole tree is shown below All the photos shown here are from a post titled Small – Medium – Large on Morten Albek’s Shohin-Europe blog, though medium and especially large bonsai are pretty scarce. Here what Morten wrote about them… “The Danish Bonsai Society – and the local group mainly – did an exhibition over the past weekend. I visited and found some very nice displays. Autumn is a great time to display, especially Shohin that express the seasons … Continue reading Bonsai – Small – Medium – Large

Another Outstanding Before & After Bonsai

Before and after by Mariusz Komsta. Mariusz doesn’t identify the tree, but I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s a yew (Taxus). Two recurring themes these days are before and after bonsai and yews (Taxus). I like both and you seem to feel the same, so why not? All the photos in today’s and yesterday’s posts were borrowed from Mariusz Komsta, a long time favorite here on Bark LOWEST WIRE PRICE YET 500 gram (1.1 lb) BONSAI WIRE ONLY 7.95 PER ROLL this special will end November 8th at noon EST Before… After. From overgrown to a balanced, open and refreshed … Continue reading Another Outstanding Before & After Bonsai