Still Crazy and an American Bonsai Classic

Michael Levin’s ‘Hatanaka’ Prostrata juniper, June 2015. Even though the foliage hasn’t filled out yet, this shot clearly shows the bones of the tree and seems like a good place to start. Still Crazy. Yesterday we put together a Before and After post that featured three trees by Bonsai Crazy (aka Uchida Yusuki). This jogged my memory and led me back to a November 2015 post about this great old Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata juniper that Bonsai Crazy wired while he was in the States visiting Michael and some other American bonsai growers. Here’s what Michael Levin, owner of Bonsai West and … Continue reading Still Crazy and an American Bonsai Classic

Before & After (x2) with Crazy

After. The pot got chopped in this photo, but beggars can’t be cheesy. Way back on November 2nd, 2015, we did a post on an old Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata juniper, titled An American Classic (it’s worth a trip back in time). Now we’ve got two more Hatanaka/Levin Prostrata bonsai. Both freshly thinned and wired by Uchida yusuki, aka Crazy; the same Crazy that trinned and wired the American Classic. BTW, both of the trees here look as though Shimpaku foliage has been grafted on, to replace the coarser Prostrata foliage. Before. The same tree (the one at the top of the post) … Continue reading Before & After (x2) with Crazy

Revisiting a Great Shohin Display & More

This Shohin display is from Suthin Sukosolvisit’s Bonsai Gallery. Every National Bonsai Exhibition has featured at least one these by Suthin. This year I challenged myself to pick out Suthin’s display as I walked into the Shohin section of the Exhibition. It was easy. Taking nothing away from some other wonderful displays, still, Suthin’s caught my attention from across the room. Leaving for short vacation today and pressed for time so we’ll dip back into our archives. This one originally appeared just over a year ago, right after the 4th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Before any winners were announced. Though … Continue reading Revisiting a Great Shohin Display & More

An American Classic

Michael Levin’s ‘Hatanaka’ Prostrata juniper, 2014 June 2015. Even though the foliage hasn’t filled out yet, this shot clearly shows the structure (the bones) of the tree and seems like a good place to start. Here’s what Michael Levin, owner of Bonsai West and long time bonsai enthusiast, artist and entrepreneur wrote about this spectacular tree… “The Juniper as you know was originally styled by Mrs Hatanaka of Anaheim California and is a true american classic started from a cutting in the 1950’s, I purchased it in the mid 1980’s . I’ve tended it for 30 years and most recently … Continue reading An American Classic