Practically Small

This banyan style dwarf Snow rose serissa (Serissa foetida microphylla) was styled by David Fukumoto of Fuku Bonsai in Hawaii. The pot is a Tokoname from Japan. Living in the tropics really helps when it comes to growing aerial roots. Based on thirty years experience in bonsai business, I’d guess that the majority of our readers and customers are into their middle years or beyond. To be sure, there are some younger bonsai enthusiasts, but clubbing and couch surfing don’t mix all that well with bonsai care. Nor do small children and the rigors of a budding fast track career. … Continue reading Practically Small

The Most with the Least

Even though the crown is leaning back a bit in this shot, still, I’m going to call this side the front. Especially if we take front to be the best view of the trunk and deadwood rather than imposing some imagined rule. The four photos of this tree are by Haruyosi, as is the tree itself. We don’t usually show four shots of the same bonsai, but I like this little tree a lot and the shots were just sitting there begging to picked up and shared. It’s a Shohin (you could even say Mame) Shimpaku juniper by Haruyosi. From … Continue reading The Most with the Least

Precision, Power & that Natural Feel

I don’t think there are many trees in our bonsai universe this powerful and that are styled with such precision (and without sacrificing the natural feel). It’s a Ficus by Min Hsuan Lo (Min doesn’t give the variety, but does say there are details in his book, Bonsai Journey). You don’t see many defoliated Ficus either. The absence of leaves allows you to better see the structure and fine branching, both of which are exquisite (in case you didn’t notice). I like the pot too. Its dark reddish-brown helps bring out the texture of the trunk and also highlights the … Continue reading Precision, Power & that Natural Feel

Komsta Bonsai

Calligraphy anyone? I don’t know if calligraphy was on Mario Komsta’s mind when he styled this remarkable tree. I do know that there was a time when bonsai that looked like calligraphy was popular and that many scholars agree that bonsai was, in part at least, inspired by the calligraphy of the old Chinese masters (this is especially true of bunjin style bonsai). Of course you could say that nature created the long calligraphic stroke that helps make this tree so unique, but we don’t know what Mario removed or otherwise changed to enhance the effect. We’ve been featuring the … Continue reading Komsta Bonsai

Kimura on the Rocks

The mature look. It helps to start with well developed trees. I think most of us would be happy to have trees like these Shimpaku as single bonsai, let alone as parts of group plantings. Time for another summer rerun. Today I’m embarking on a trip to the other coast, so it seems like a good idea to continue our summer vacation series of resurrected oldies but goodies. This one is from last December. Kimura’s rock plantings. These photos are all from a facebook posting by Alejandro Sartori that he took during a recent visit to Masahiko Kimura’s nursery. I’ve … Continue reading Kimura on the Rocks

A Compelling First Look

This photo of a Shimpaku that appears to be growing out of the side of a lava rock, came out better than most of the photos from Korea Bonsai Museum’s Exhibition at theplace gallery. Though some of the trunk is too dark to allow for any detail, the lower section is pretty good. Good enough to show off the rich cinnamon bark that you often find on Shimpaku. I realize we have never featured bonsai from Korea. An oversight for sure. Once it dawned on me to do something about this oversight, it turned out that there is a little … Continue reading A Compelling First Look

Year End Loose Ends & Shameless Promotion

Just couldn’t resist posting yet another yew (there have been several lately). But, as you can see, it’s not just any yew. I found it here with this caption. Taxus Baccata (English yew) by Stefano Frisoni from Italy. Newsflash! I’ve been having a strange feeling that I’ve seen this tree somewhere before. Turns out it was right here on Bark 17 months ago. Oh well, this photo is much better. Shameless promotion There are three reasons why I spend so much time on Bonsai Bark. To spare you the boredom, I’ll skip the first two… the third is to promote … Continue reading Year End Loose Ends & Shameless Promotion

Deceptively Good – This Time with Attribution

Shohin bunjin? This little Shimpaku looks a lot like a bunjin bonsai, even though it may not fully reflect all the qualities, particularly age, that we associate with larger bunjin trees (the comments on this post may help shed a little light). Also, I wonder about the puffy little foliage pads. Still, in shape at least, I’d say there’s something bunjin about it. No matter, it’s an eye catcher that most of us would be happy to see sitting on our bonsai bench. Like the little trees in our last post, it’s from Bonsai-Mikunien (The Bonsai and the Moss Ball). … Continue reading Deceptively Good – This Time with Attribution

Antes y Despues (Before & After)

Before & after (antes y depues) Shimpaku juniper by Salvador de los Reyes. You can find all the photos in this post on facebook and on Salvador’s blog. The bonsai of Salvador de los Reyes Thanks to facebook I recently discovered the bonsai of Salvador de los Reyes. I count this as good fortune, especially given that Salvador doesn’t just post on facebook, he also has an excellent bonsai blog (not too many bonsai artists are also successful bloggers). The upside There are at least four things you might like about what Salvador de los Reyes is doing: 1. his … Continue reading Antes y Despues (Before & After)

Stolen Bonsai

This Shimpaku juniper was stolen recently from New England Bonsai. Bonsai theft There’s a long list of businesses and individuals who have had prize bonsai stolen. The other day it was New England Bonsai Gardens in Bellingham Mass. Fortunately, they have photos of all four of their missing trees and a local TV station featured them on a news program. Unfortunately, the chances of survival of stolen bonsai is low. Unless they are recovered soon, odds are whoever ends up with them won’t be able to keep them healthy. Years ago a friend (and customer of New England Bonsai) had … Continue reading Stolen Bonsai