An Exceptional Bonsai – Before & After

Here’s an excellent example of a before and after with an already established tree. It just needed a talented bonsai artist and some free time to bring it back to its previous splendor. In this case the artist is Gabriel Romero Aguade. The tree is an impressively masterful Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis). Not that you don’t have eyes of your own, but I feel that some extra excitement is warranted with a tree like this. It resides at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. Here are Gabriel Romero Aguade’s comment (Spanish then English)… “Antes y después del Juniperus chinensis trabajado en el Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid. Si quieres … Continue reading An Exceptional Bonsai – Before & After

Clip & Grow Bonsai – No Wire Necessary

This massive Trident maple most likely started in a field somewhere and was allowed to grow quite tall (the fastest way to thicken the trunk) before it was cut back. This first cut was the beginning of clip and grow styling (see below). The owner/artist of this outstanding bonsai is German Gomez. Most large Trident maples and many other deciduous trees are started in the field and developed using the clip and grow technique. The result is usually a heavy trunked tree with gentle curves, often in a more or less S shape. You can see this basic shape in … Continue reading Clip & Grow Bonsai – No Wire Necessary

Bonsai Art & the Art of Bonsai

The day has barely started and I’m already running out of superlatives. I guess spectacular will do in this case. It’s a Korean hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninowii) that belongs to Ian Stewartson. The photo is from Bonsai Art’s website. Delving into our archives, while sticking with our German theme (see yesterday). This one originally appeared March 2013. Bonsai Art magazine is very well named. As bonsai magazines go, it’s as beautiful and professional as they come. The problem, for most of us at least, is that it’s in German. But really, the photos and overall presentation are so good that maybe the … Continue reading Bonsai Art & the Art of Bonsai

Unique Tropical Bonsai – Tool Special Ends Soon

This tropical Dwarf black olive (Bucida spinosa, not a true Olive or Olea) with its melted wax feel and gaping trunk is a unique tree that only Mother Nature and Mary Madison’s skilled hands could create. It’s from the 2008, 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition album (out of print, but we still have 4 & 5). TOOL SPECIAL ENDS TOMORROW NIGHT see below – If the pot was better suited to the tree (or a least cleaned up) and the background was better, the rugged power and reach of this tree would easier to appreciate. Still, if you’re looking for unique bonsai, this … Continue reading Unique Tropical Bonsai – Tool Special Ends Soon

Magnificent Monster

In addition to its brilliant color, this powerful Trident maple has almost everything you’d want in a bonsai, including a massive trunk, fluid natural looking nebari, good lines, a well-matched pot and healthy green moss. The artist is German Gomez. Continuing with our Maple theme… Leaving for vacation in two days and still have a million things to do, so to save some time we’ll go back in time. The photos shown here first appeared on Bark way back in 2010. OKATSUNE TOOL SPECIAL ENDS TOMORROW NIGHT 25% OFF LIST PRICES ON ALL OF OUR OKATSUNE JAPANESE BONSAI & GARDEN TOOLS Special … Continue reading Magnificent Monster

More Magnificent Maples

Luis Vallejo calls this Yama momji Japanese maple. Yama is mountain and momiji is Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). So you’ll sometimes hear this variety referred to as Mountain maple, which is the original, naturally occurring, non-cultivar Japanese maples. Because of the differences in the leaves, I’m guessing that this was originally several different trees that were planted very close together, rather than a clump style planting. Yesterday we featured three magnificent maples that belong to Luis Vallejo. Turns out they are just the tip of his maple offering. Here’s a few more for your enjoyment. If you’re inclined, there are still more on Luis’s timeline SPECIAL … Continue reading More Magnificent Maples

Three Magnificent Maples

This multi-hued beauty is from Luis Vallejo’s Museo de Bonsai in Alcobendas Spain (near Madrid). It’s hard to distinguish individual leaves (I need new glasses!) but they look like they might be Trident maple. Today we’ve got three magnificent maples, each with leaves ablaze. Even without their fiery leaves all three would be brilliant bonsai. With them, well… you can see for yourself. They’re from Luis Vallejo’s facebook timeline. If you’ve got a moment, there’s plenty more where these came from. Visit Stone Lantern for the BEST PRICES ON BONSAI WIRE – Here’s a closer look at those suspiciously Trident looking leaves. Good look at the … Continue reading Three Magnificent Maples

When Was the Last Time You Climbed a Bonsai Tree?

It’s not that often you see a full grown man sitting in a bonsai tree (why doesn’t the tree fall over?). The caption and the photo are from BCI magazine. Yesterday we featured a major league rock planting by Simon Baron with Marc Noelanders. Simon is a new talent to us, but most of you know Marc, a respected and accomplished bonsai artist, teacher and author. Marc is also the founder and ongoing force behind the annual Noelanders Trophy Bonsai Exhibition. This post originally appeared here in December, 2015. It features the only photo I know of with a human sitting in a bonsai. SPECIAL … Continue reading When Was the Last Time You Climbed a Bonsai Tree?

The Sky Is the Limit

Here’s Marc Noelanders’ caption for this magnificent rock planting. “We do not only find high buildings in Israel, but also tall rock planting . The sky is the limit . This week Bonsai school in Israel and the rock planting from Sagi we started in December, finally the finish” I found these photos on Marc Noelander’s timeline. They are also on Sagi Baron’s timeline. All the information we have on this project is in Marc’s quote (in the caption above) and in the photos featured here. It would be good to have more photos and some detailed instruction, but beggars can’t… and I’m delighted to … Continue reading The Sky Is the Limit

No Matter Where You Go

This tall, wild looking Sabina juniper was styled by Walter Pall. The photo is from The Art of Bonsai Project. The pot is by Bryan Albright. Major computer meltdown here (fortunately not our website, so you can still order and we can still ship), but rather our bookkeeping system where we keep track of inventory, money etc (wish us luck!). So time for another shortcut while sticking with our Sabina juniper theme. This one is from October 2013. No matter where you go, there’s Walter Pall with some more bonsai from his seemingly endless collection and his tireless offering of valuable instruction, especially on … Continue reading No Matter Where You Go