An Embarrassing Possibility, Wiring All the Way Out to the Tips, Bill’s Japan Bonsai Tours & The Moss Myth

Akamatsu (aka Japanese red pine). I’m usually loath to lead off with an unattributed tree, but just couldn’t resist this one. It turned up here. No word on who the artist is (this often seems to be the nature of the facebook beast), though I think I’ve seen it before (I wonder if we’ve already featured it on this blog; always a somewhat embarrassing possibility). Want to improve the quality of your bonsai? Try wiring all the way out to the tips of the smallest branches. You’ll be astounded by the results. Now in stock. Our largest shipment ever … Continue reading An Embarrassing Possibility, Wiring All the Way Out to the Tips, Bill’s Japan Bonsai Tours & The Moss Myth

New American Masters at the Rim

I was struck by this large Ponderosa pine at the 3rd U.S. National Exhibition. It’s even bigger than it looks here and also has more depth and movement than this two dimensional representation shows. Still, you can get some idea of its natural power. It belongs to Ryan Neil. New American Masters show at the Pacific Rim Collection Michael Hagedorn and Ryan Neil both apprenticed in Japan where the term Master isn’t thrown around casually, and my guess is that neither of them is completely comfortable with it being used in reference to themselves. However, whatever term your choose, there’s … Continue reading New American Masters at the Rim

Only 15 Months til the Artisans Cup

Next year’s big event What better time to talk about next year’s biggest North American bonsai event than when we’re still feeling the buzz from this year’s biggest bonsai event? It’s the Artisans Cup in Portland Oregon, and you’ve got fifteen months to plan, pack your bags and show up. Your links are here for the website and here for the blog. The images in this post are from the Artisans Cup website.

A Levitated Bonsai Platform

After. A twin trunk Mountain hemlock that was collected, styled and placed on a very thin piece of plastic by Michael Hagedorn and friends. It’s been a while… …since we featured Michael Hagedorn (Crataegus Bonsai). This is partly because lately we’ve been focusing more on international bonsai than North American bonsai; and partly because if we do too much Michael, you might suspect there are kickbacks involved (Michael is way too clean for that; as for me…). Mountain hemlock on levitated nylon board I won’t say too much about the nylon board or the steps that were necessary to cause … Continue reading A Levitated Bonsai Platform

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

Weekly Wire: Iron Men of Naka, Bonsai with Rebar & Sleepless Nights

Sinuous and dynamic. Though this little gem doesn’t exactly look like most trees you find in nature, still its sinuous twists and turns make for a very dynamic little bonsai. It’s from a facebook album by Jordi Ugena. Our favorite bonsai apprentice Peter Tea is at it again. This time with rebar. Don’t miss it! The new U.S. Bonsai Stamps will be offered at the 3rd U.S. Bonsai Exhibition along with perhaps the best bonsai collection ever seen in North America. Don’t miss it. The dates are June 9-10. It’s in Rochester NY. We’ll be there offering rare … Continue reading Weekly Wire: Iron Men of Naka, Bonsai with Rebar & Sleepless Nights

BIB Tonight, BABA Last Night

I wonder where this little Japanese black pine came from originally. My guess is that it was imported from Japan. I’ll also guess that, though it looks like a Yamadori (collected from the wild), it was actually grown for bonsai. I could be wrong on both counts, but there’s one count I’m pretty sure of; this is an excellent little tree, with it’s strong base, aged bark, compact twisted shape, small bright needles and complimentary pot. BIB then BABA I should have posted BIB before BABA (see last post). Confused? Okay, here’s how it goes: There are two (at least) … Continue reading BIB Tonight, BABA Last Night

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

Still Scratching (the Judges backs)

New England’s best. Teddi Scobi’s easy-going personal style is a big reason for New England Bonsai’s success for the past 27 years (photo is from New England Bonsai’s Kaikou School of Bonsai). If you don’t believe me, visit New England Bonsai and meet her for yourself. Be sure to tell her I said hello. Still scratching Judges Though we already featured our judges once, for some reason I feel compelled to do it again. I think it’s because I’m already getting excited about our next Bonsai from Scratch Contest (here’s an early post on the just completed 2011 contest) and … Continue reading Still Scratching (the Judges backs)

Old News on the Pacific Rim

This stately Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is from Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Bonsai collection. The photo is from a gallery of Pacific Rim bonsai from Kahlua Bonsai on facebook. I was going to use this photo to start a post on Formal upright bonsai when, in the course of a little research, I stumbled upon an important piece of old news about the Pacific Rim Collection. Better late…. Way back in April 2009 we featured a post titled Pacific Rim; a Glimpse of What You Can’t See. The Pacific Rim refers to Weyerhaeuser’s rather famous bonsai collection in Washington (near … Continue reading Old News on the Pacific Rim