Digging Deeper into Our Forest Bonsai Excavation

Does five trunks constitute a forest? Maybe we should call it a glade. A mossy glade at the edge of meadow somewhere. Whatever we call it, it has to be one of the most impressive multiple trunk bonsai anywhere. It doesn’t hurt that the individual trees can stand on their own, especially the twin trunk tree on the right (the focal point). With or without the second trunk. The magnificent pot looks like an escarpment in the Rockies. Robert Steven took the photo at the 2012 BCI convention in Guangzhou, China. We’ve been digging into forest type bonsai lately, so … Continue reading Digging Deeper into Our Forest Bonsai Excavation

Forest Bonsai – A Deeper Understanding

Robert Steven’s simulation of a forest planting that was submitted by Paulo Netto (photo immediately below). Here’s some of what Robert has to say about this simulation: “The irregular placement of the trees creates a better perspective and the impact of the focal point is more obvious. Sufficient empty space makes the scenery much more interesting and natural.” Yesterday’s post, ‘Evening the Bonsai Odds,’ featured forest plantings with some excellent commentary by Robert Steven. So it seems like a good idea to dig out an old forest planting critique by Robert. It originally appeared in February 2014. A good place … Continue reading Forest Bonsai – A Deeper Understanding

Evening the Bonsai Odds

How many trunk does this spectacular Trident maple (Acer buergerianum) grove have? It’s from an award winning display at the 2013 Taikan Bonsai Exhibition. The artist is Kenji Oshima. The photo is from Bill Valavanis Bonsai blog. The odd rule. Almost anyone who plays with bonsai for a while will incorporate the odd number of trees rule into their storehouse of bonsai wisdom. It goes something like this: In any group planting (with more than two trunks), you should use an odd number of trees. This applies at least up to eleven trunks. After eleven, it doesn’t matter because who … Continue reading Evening the Bonsai Odds

Super-Sized Penjing & Our Summer Bonsai Book Sale Is About to End

This super-sized three part penjing is by Robert Steven; renowned bonsai artist, teacher and author, and frequent contributor to this blog. It’s worth noting that this is freshly planted, so you might imagine what it would like after things settled and filled out. Every time I see this magnificent Penjing planting, I want to share it. For this and other reasons, this is the third time for this post, though the original photos have been enlarge to fit our newer format and a couple new cropped versions have been added. I’ve also stuck some pertinent books in to remind you … Continue reading Super-Sized Penjing & Our Summer Bonsai Book Sale Is About to End

More Bougainvillea Bonsai but More Elegant & Less Showy this Time

There’s something about a beautiful bonsai in flower. If you let your eyes linger for a few moments, you’ll notice how the seemingly perfectly placed flowers enhance the power of the tree rather than overwhelm it. It’s a bougainvillea by Robert Steven. All this photos in this post are from Robert’s facebook gallery. Yesterday we featured three Bougainvillea Bonsai. The first two were covered with brilliant flowers (actually bracts) and the third was less showy, more like the two you see here. From a purely bonsai perspective, these two are splendid and elegant, with or without flowers, though the flowers … Continue reading More Bougainvillea Bonsai but More Elegant & Less Showy this Time

What’s Wrong – A Follow Up

I got a little feedback in the comments from this morning’s post. One reminded me that not everyone uses facebook. Making the links provided worthless to these non-facebook folks. So, I’ll fill in a bit… The three trees on the left (above) are tropicals that are shaped like conifers. To Robert Steven and to many others, this a mistake. A common mistake to be sure, but still a mistake. The three trees on the right have more rounded and therefore natural looking tropical tree crowns. This more or less rounded look is also generally found on deciduous (see below) and … Continue reading What’s Wrong – A Follow Up

What’s Wrong with these Trees (or not)?

This sturdy little Ficus may (or may not) have a problem. Is there anything wrong with the trees shown here? Robert Steven, world famous bonsai artist, teacher and author thinks so. In his own words: “Have you ever made the same mistake I did on my deciduous/broad leaf/ tropical bonsai? …..and what are they? (Don’t be ashamed, they are common mistakes being taught all over the world).” Take a look at the trees shown here. Start at the top and look at the first four photos. Is there something wrong? If you can’t find what’s wrong (according to Robert at … Continue reading What’s Wrong with these Trees (or not)?

Robert’s Super Mini Bonsai

Several super mini Premna microphylla arranged on an impressive stone. This planting and the rest of the mini bonsai shown here are by Robert Steven. All good things… Today is packing up and leaving day. The end of an excellent vacation. I’ve been trying to post every day,* even if it means dipping into our archives. This one originally appeared in 2010. I’ve made a few changes, but it’s still about the same amazingly small bonsai (all Premna microphylla). The smaller the more difficult… Robert Steven sent us these incredibly tiny bonsai a few days ago. Here’s what he has … Continue reading Robert’s Super Mini Bonsai

Robert Steven Critiques a Black Pine and Offers Some Insights into the Five Schools of Penjing

Robert Steven’s simulation of a Japanese black pine that was submitted by Mike Liu (Mike’s original is below). I’m on a vacation of sorts, so we’ll dip back into our archives. This one is from 2010. I picked it for a couple reasons: first, Robert Steven is one of those bonsai artists that bothers to explain how he gets from point A to point B and why he takes the path he does. The second reason I chose to re-post this one has to do with Penjing and its place in the world of bonsai. Much of what we do … Continue reading Robert Steven Critiques a Black Pine and Offers Some Insights into the Five Schools of Penjing

Just for Fun – A Short & Sweet Bonsai Gallery

Bill Valavanis just put this remarkably brilliant Seigen Japanese maple up on facebook (with a value added short story). Just got back from two day trip with some catching up to do, so we’ll make this one a short and sweet three tree gallery (by three of our favorite bonsai artists). Suthin just put this Shimpaku and friends up with “Just for fun” as a tag line. BTW Though most people know him as just Suthin, his whole name is Suthin Sukosolvisit. Robert Steven put this distinctively thin tree up a few days ago. You don’t see slant … Continue reading Just for Fun – A Short & Sweet Bonsai Gallery