Juniper Bonsai – Before & After

Before and after on an already established Juniper procumbens. By Naoki Maeoka Traveling today, so we’ll make this sort and sweet. It’s what you might call a maintenance before and after. The tree is already well developed and just needs and expert’s touch to bring it back to it former glory and perhaps elevate that glory some. The expert is Naoki Maeoka. Beyond that, we’ll let you fill in the blanks MID WINTER SITE WIDE SALE 20% OFF EVERYTHING PLUS AN EXTRA 10% TO 20% OFF ROSHI TOOLS see below – Before After ROSHI TOOL SPECIAL EXTRA 10% OFF 1 – 2 … Continue reading Juniper Bonsai – Before & After

Shimpaku Bonsai Before & After

This Shimpaku juniper before and after with it’s striking deadwood, single living vein and masterfully redesigned crown (not to mention the perfectly chosen pot), stands out as an impressive work of bonsai art. The artist is Naoki Maeoka. At first glance you might call this a ‘maintenance’ before & after, where an already established bonsai is simply brought back to it’s original beauty with some trimming, wiring and cleaning up. But as soon as you take a closer look, it’s obvious that there’s more going on than just that. Continued below… Bonsai Fertilizer Special 30% OFF LIST PRICES In addition to Green Dream & other … Continue reading Shimpaku Bonsai Before & After

Master Bonsai Potter Gyozan Nakano

I don’t know who styled this wild looking azalea (I don’t read Japanese) but I do know that Master Potter Gyozan Nakano made the pot. Here’s an old one from our archives (July, 2009) that I like. I’ve done a little editing – mostly cringe reduction – but the photos and most of the text are the same. A few years ago I was given a remarkable book by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, who had received it courtesy of Masahiro Tokuo (President of Kindai Publishing). Since then, it has spent most of its time sitting on my shelf, though … Continue reading Master Bonsai Potter Gyozan Nakano

Refining a Masterpiece Japanese White Pine

Left side of a recently trimmed and wired masterpiece Zuisho Japanese white pine. The artist is Naoki Maeoka. This Zuisho Japanese white pine must be one of the most outstanding formal upright bonsai in the world. It’s perfect taper, perfect branching with just the right amount of open space between each branch, perfectly rounded apex, and so on, all attest to this view of near perfection. But then near perfection is the goal with formal upright bonsai. And Naoki Maeoka is a master when it comes to refining extraordinary bonsai. 20% off all Bonsai Wire Sale Ends Tonight at 11:59pm … Continue reading Refining a Masterpiece Japanese White Pine

No Problem that 20 Hours of Expert Work Can’t Solve

After. If you look at the before photo below, two big differences jump out. First is the trunk, where hours were spent meticulously applying lime sulfur on the deadwood and cleaning up the living vein. And then there’s the total restyling of the crown. The resulting form is classic Japanese style and the mastery is impressive. Naoki Maeoka wrote that he he spent 20 hours reviving this tree. Yesterday’s post was about reviving a neglected bonsai and so is today’s. The artist in both cases is Naoki Maeoka, and both trees are junipers, but this time it’s a Shimpaku. Yesterday’s … Continue reading No Problem that 20 Hours of Expert Work Can’t Solve

Reviving a Neglected Bonsai

After. The fresh lime sulfur causes the deadwood to be a little too white, though it will fade in time to create a more natural look. If you look closely, you can see some of the foliage is still recovering from stress. Today we’ve got just one tree for you. A dramatic before and after. Well actually, after, before and then after again. The artist is Naoki Maeoka. His short caption reads Styling a Tosho (Needle juniper). Continued below… Last Day! 30% off Roshi Bonsai Tool Sale ends tonight Roshi Tools are known throughout the world bonsai community for exceptional … Continue reading Reviving a Neglected Bonsai

Power, Elegance & a Bonsai Youth Movement

Sheer power. This impressive Japanese white pine was styled by Naoki Maeoka. In his own words: Every single branch of each tree was looked at carefully, and strong branches were cut, while leaving the soft ones to balance the foliage. Then I detail wired the entire tree to put the remaining branches in an ideal position. Trees were simply wired in these positions for the time being. It’s not the final goal of styling. It’s a new beginning towards achieving that eventual goal. The two trees shown here couldn’t be that different in terms of styles and effects. The Japanese … Continue reading Power, Elegance & a Bonsai Youth Movement

Before & After – Spectacular & Even More Spectacular

That’s a Japanese yew that this spectacular piece of deadwood is clinging to. It was styled by Naoki Meaoka. The first thought that came to mind when I saw this tree was Yes! The second thought was; ‘is that piece of deadwood for real, or was it just stuck onto an otherwise unspectacular tree? But of course it’s for real. Naoki Meaoka wouldn’t do that. Anyway, it’s that time of year so we’ll keep this short and simple. If you want more photos of this tree, you can find them on facebook. You can also visit Naoki’s website. Before Before. Close up of the deadwood … Continue reading Before & After – Spectacular & Even More Spectacular

Bunjin Wizard

Triple trunk bunjin. I’ve long had a soft spot for trees with long straight trunks, topped with dynamic flowing curves. Exactly like this one. Which, along with the other two trees shown here, was styled by Naoki Maeoka. After close up. A good view of how the flowing lines at the top of each trunk are carried over onto the branches. Before. Triple trunk bunjin. You don’t see that many triple trunk bunjin (literati) bonsai. Especially ones as elegant as the one above. It, and the others shown here, belong to Naoki Maeoka. Bunjin wizard. Naoki Maeoka is a resident … Continue reading Bunjin Wizard

Tamarix Bonsai – An Unusual Tree

I can think of at least three reasons to be impressed by the tree. First, it’s a Tamarix tenuissima* (a type of Salt cedar), an usual genus and a very unusual species, when it comes bonsai at least. Second, it’s a beautiful, well-balanced, dynamic bonsai. And third, wiring every single little branch down, is a true labor of love. My only complaint is the fuzzy photo and that’s on me (I blew it up to fit our format). It’s Monday morning and I’m already way behind schedule, so we’ll keep it short and simple; one tree, a variety of Salt cedar,* … Continue reading Tamarix Bonsai – An Unusual Tree