Bonsai Brilliance in Brooklyn

Cork bark Chinese elm in fall brilliance at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. You don’t see that many good Chinese elm bonsai. This photo and the others in this post are from the bonsai collection on the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens website. The positive response to yesterday’s post, got me looking for Wisteria bonsai in our archives, and finally to this post on some bonsai at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden from October, 2015 (the Wisteria is below). Enjoy! Bonsai Aesthetics Tool Special Ends Tomorrow Night 40% OFF OUR LIST PRICES see below – This large root-over-rock bonsai is a Trident maple; the most … Continue reading Bonsai Brilliance in Brooklyn

Tiny Pots, Tiny Trees…

This tiny Shimpaku juniper belongs to Yoshiyuki Kawada. Staying with our little trees theme, but moving from Haruyosi to another Japanese artist who also makes their own small pots and plants them with small trees (even smaller than Haruyosi’s). His name is Yoshiyuki Kawada, and though I’m just becoming familiar with his trees and pots, so far I’m impressed (this post originally appeared here in November, 2016 – with some changes today). NEW BONSAI TOOL SPECIAL 40% off list prices on all our Bonsai Aesthetics Tools see below Another little Shimpaku. This one has a powerful feel for such a small tree Tiny … Continue reading Tiny Pots, Tiny Trees…

Fat Trunks, Small Pots

Japanese maple, borrowed from Bill Valavanis’ blog. Bill took this photo at this year’s Kokufu (the World’s oldest and most prestigious bonsai exhibition) along with several dozen shots of other remarkable trees. But there’s something about this one that keep me coming back. Part is the way the massive trunk almost fills the pot, something you don’t see every day and almost never with Japanese maples. And there’s more, including the tree’s unusual movement and direction that might make you wonder what it would look like shot from other angles. With the exception of the tree above, all the bonsai shown here belong to Tomohiro Masumi. All, … Continue reading Fat Trunks, Small Pots

Just One Today, but It’s a Good One

Bonsai perfection. Luis Vallejo provides the following information with this tree… “Fortunella hindsii Kumquat, By Nobuichi Urushibata, Taishoen. Luis Vallejo Bonsai Garden, Photo Miguel Krause.” Taishoen is Nobuichi’s bonsai nursery in Japan. Luis Vallejo is an accomplished bonsai artist and the owner of Museo de Bonsai Acalanes in Spain. Fortunella hindsii Kumquat, is of course the type tree, with the Fortunalla hindsii being the smallest of the Kumquats. Just one tree today, but it’s a good one. I found it on Luis Vallejo’s timeline. If you’ve been following Bark for a while, or if you’re someone who appreciates European (particularly Spanish) bonsai, you’re no … Continue reading Just One Today, but It’s a Good One

Bonsai Pest Control & Special of the Day

I borrowed this photo from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus website. Here’s part of what Michael has to say about it and some other trees he worked on while in Japan… “The work here was done as an apprentice in Japan, from 2003-2006…. in the second half of my apprenticeship, I was allowed a more natural and relaxed feeling in the branching and foliage presentation, represented in this image which won Mr. Suzuki a Prime Minister’s award.” The tree is a Japanese white pine. Michael apprenticed with Mr Suzuki for three years. Here’s your link for the part I left out. Continuing with the bonsai wisdom … Continue reading Bonsai Pest Control & Special of the Day

Cold Weather Bonsai by a Consummate Bonsai Pro

This is the second time we’ve shown this photo. I can’t find where I first found it (and the one just below). It’s sad coming from someone who preaches attribution and identification. Yesterday’s snowy post prompted the following question from Henry L. Miller… “Given today’s post, please update us concerning leaving bonsai outside in 15-30 degree weather.” Seems like a simple enough question, but you’d be surprised how much is involved. So much in fact, that this is a good time to call in Michael Hagedorn, a consummate bonsai pro and heavy lifter. In Michael’s own words… Seasonal Care for Cold Weather… … Continue reading Cold Weather Bonsai by a Consummate Bonsai Pro

Snow Flowers

Snow flowers at the Luis Vallejo’s Museo De Bonsais Alcobendas. The tree looks like it could be a Stewartia. Yesterday we enjoyed a touch of false spring in Northern Vermont. But winter never gives up this early, so we’ll have to wait a couple more months for the real thing. Meanwhile, we can look forward to some more snow and ice. Which bring us to today’s post. The luminous snow covered images are all from Luis Vallejo’s Museo De Bonsais Alcobendas (Alcobendas is a suburb of Madrid). ROSHI HIGH QUALITY BONSAI TOOLS 30% OFF OUR LIST PRICES see below – SPECIAL BONSAI AESTHETICS … Continue reading Snow Flowers

Feed Your Bonsai for Health & Beauty

Lush summer foliage and impressive deadwood on an old Shimpaku juniper.The lush foliage is the result of timely feeding.* The photo is from our Masters Series Juniper book. I know the tree is from Japan, but don’t know who the artist or owner is. For some of you lucky ones, it’s already spring. For most of the rest of us, it’s time* to start enriching the soil with slow release fertilizers. This post is one of our archival favorites (July, 2015). Nothing has changed since then, except our lower fertilizer prices. Many, if not most people underfeed their bonsai. There are … Continue reading Feed Your Bonsai for Health & Beauty

Walter’s Big, Brilliant Japanese Maple Bonsai

This brilliant Japanese maple belongs to Walter Pall. Walter lists its height as 75cm (30″) and its age as around thirty years. It was imported from a Korean nursery in 2016. The pot is a Tokoname from Japan. Just a quick one tree study today. But what a tree it is! It belongs to Walter Pall, a frequent headliner here on Bark and a widely recognized bonsai artist, entrepreneur and entertainer. NEW WIRE SPECIAL Kilo Rolls Only 15.95 Roshi Bonsai Tools 30% off Our List Prices see below – The ramification (fine branching) could use some more time and work, but … Continue reading Walter’s Big, Brilliant Japanese Maple Bonsai

Sumo Olive – Which Bonsai Pot Would You Choose?

Boon’s caption for this reads… “Selecting pot for sumo Olive — with Adair Martin” I like the tree and the pots, though there’s one pot that jumps out at me. But I’m not saying, at least until we hear from you. Boon Manakitivipart (Bonsai Boon) is at it again. This time you have a choice of six pots for a tree that he call a Sumo Olive (I don’t think Sumo is an official varietal name, more like a well chosen description that some bonsai enthusiasts like). If you’d like to play, please put your choice (or choices), along with your thoughts if you’d like, in the … Continue reading Sumo Olive – Which Bonsai Pot Would You Choose?