Rilke & Bunjin, A Literati’s Literati

Deeper in debt. I’ve been borrowing from Michael Hagedorn (Crataegus Bonsai) for years. It’s a debt that can only be repaid by appreciation. This strange and wonderful bunjin Sierra juniper was restyled by Michael’s students at one of his Seasonals. Rainer Maria Rilke I know that Rilke departed this earth long ago, and that he most likely never heard of bonsai, still, this quote (also borrowed from Michael) captures something sweet and true that might apply to how we approach our bonsai: “If you will love what seems to be insignificant and will in an unassuming manner, as a servant, … Continue reading Rilke & Bunjin, A Literati’s Literati

The Prime Minister’s Award

Shinji Suzuki’s 2010 Prime Minister Award Juniper. Borrowed from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai (the original photo includes the stand – it’s a long story). Michael is an accomplished American bonsai artist and teacher, and the author of Post-Dated: The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk. In Michael’s own words The following was lifted from Crataegus Bonsai: “My teacher’s juniper from the 2010 Sakafu show has been my favorite since it first came into his studio in 2006, and I was in my last year apprenticing there. The delicacy and naturalness of this meter-high tree has always left me spellbound. He … Continue reading The Prime Minister’s Award

Stealing from Michael Once Again: Matt Reel & Other Bonsai News

Matt Reel. Another American apprentice in Japan. From Kinbon magazine via Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai. Japan’s most prestigious I don’t think it’s very often that a young American bonsai apprentice shows up in Kinbon, Japan’s most prestigious bonsai magazine. The artist is Matt Reel, who has been apprenticing in Japan under Shinji Suzuki since 2006. Matt is from Portland, Oregon (that’s where Michael Hagedorn and Crataegus reside). If you’d like see more photos and read what Michael has to say about Matt, you can visit Crataegus (one of my favorite bonsai sites). Michael’s excellent book Michael Hagedorn also apprenticed in … Continue reading Stealing from Michael Once Again: Matt Reel & Other Bonsai News

Digging Around Pays Off

You can find this monarch of bunjin pines and other great trees on Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai website. This one is from the 2004 Taikan Ten show in Japan and is part of an article called Japanese Shows that Michael posted in 2008 (the caption says White pine; however, it looks like a Black pine to me). Digging around Sometimes digging around through old material pays off (if you call 2008 old). I found this powerful, stately old pine (above) and several other magnificent trees while digging around Michael Hagedorn’s postings on Crataegus Bonsai. It’s part of a posting called … Continue reading Digging Around Pays Off