While Waiting for Spring – $100 Bonsai Detective Contest

Bonsai #1 Here’s a simple contest to amuse yourself with while waiting for spring. What you have to do to win Identify the variety and the owner of each tree shown here and provide a link to your source (Bonsai Bark does not qualify as a source, with one exception). What you’ll win The first person to get them all right (with links) will win a $100 gift certificate to Stone Lantern. If no one gets them all right, then the person to get the most right before the deadline wins. The Deadline The contest will run for one week … Continue reading While Waiting for Spring – $100 Bonsai Detective Contest

Bonsai Rafting One Year Later

Though a purist might find fault, I love everything about this wonderful raft-style planting: the way the trunks are joined together by the snakelike surface root; the way whole thing undulates across the pot; the aged bark; the lush foliage that imparts a feeling of robust health; its overall shape and the shapes of the individual pieces; and of course the wonderful pot and the unity of the pot and the planting (if you bothered to read this far, you win a prize – see *** below). Begging the question I found the photo above (and the one below) at … Continue reading Bonsai Rafting One Year Later

FREE! Bonsai Wire, Scissors & Other Good Stuff

These most excellent all purpose scissors/shears are amazingly good for the price, though in this case, the price doesn’t matter because we are giving them away. FREE items when you order from Stone Lantern Just be sure to put FREE ITEMS in the comments box (see Rules below) We just had a major website trauma that effectively took us offline for almost a full day. To celebrate being back online and to reward you for your patience and understanding, we’re going to give some stuff away. All you have to do is place an order and put in the comments … Continue reading FREE! Bonsai Wire, Scissors & Other Good Stuff

A Very Close Second

Tom Duong’s juniper (prostrata?) was a very close second in our Bonsai from Scratch contest. Second place prize Congratulations to Tom Duong, our Bonsai from Scratch contest second place winner. Tom’s juniper gave Aaron Klalid’s juniper a real run. Tom’s second place prize is a $250 gift certificate from Stone Lantern. Judges comments “Strong entrant. Using a branch to cover the abrupt bend on the main trunk is a good choice. Nicely wired crown.” “Great performance; some of the larger foliage masses lack clarity and definition, such as the large low branch to the left, and the smaller trunk is … Continue reading A Very Close Second

Omachi Relief Fund: Don’t Let Up Yet

Isao Omachi before the tsunami swept everything away. Don’t let up yet Just a little reminder about the plight of Isao Omachi and his family. It’s not too late to do something to help. As you know, relief efforts commonly suffer from short half-lives. Something horrible happens, we get worked up about people suffering and, in a matter of days, we’ve forgotten and moved on the next thing. Omachi Relief Fund The following was written by Bill Valavanis: Award winning bonsai artist Isao Omachi is one of the rising starts of the Japanese bonsai world. He lives with his wife, … Continue reading Omachi Relief Fund: Don’t Let Up Yet

Just So: Nature’s Brilliant Bonsai Inspirations

This monster Sierra juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) was shot by Craig Thompson somewhere in the Sierra Nevadas. The little one (is it a pine?) in front isn’t half bad either. Biggest Sale… … on Bonsai, Japanese garden & ikebana tools, books, and more at Stone Lantern. Virtually every item is discounted with double discounts for orders over $50..

Robert Steven Critique: Smaller Pot, Stronger Tree

Robert Steven’s digitally enhanced version of a Trident maple by Carl Morrow (the photo Carl submitted is below). The original photo. Robert’s comments Despite the details, bonsai design is all about composition, and the pot is one of the most important composition elements. A well chosen pot can reflect and enhance the best features of a tree and effect the overall image, adding both nuance and balance.

$25 Critique Contest

This photo is from Kiki Bonsai. Win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern Send me (wayne@stonelantern.com) your written critique of the planting in this photo. Try to keep it to 100 words or less. I will pick the winning critique based upon two criteria: 1. Content. How insightful your observations are. 2. Clarity. How clearly and simply you express your observations. DO NOT PUT YOUR CRITIQUE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. Email it to me at wayne@stonelantern.com. Put ‘Critique’ in the subject line. You will become famous I will post the winning critique and perhaps one or two others that … Continue reading $25 Critique Contest

Coming Soon! Calendar of Bonsai Events

Promoting the art of bonsai Bonsai Bark exists for at least two purposes. 1. To promote the art of bonsai, and 2. to bring people to Stone Lantern. In keeping with number 1, we are going start offering a regular calendar of bonsai events. At this point, I am not sure how often (maybe bi-weekly or even weekly), or exactly what will be included (we may treat non-profit organization differently than for profit businesses). In any case, if you want to promote your event, email me (put bonsai calendar in the subject line) or include it in the comments below, … Continue reading Coming Soon! Calendar of Bonsai Events

Coming Soon: North American Bonsai at the International Bonsai Symposium

This splendid Japanese maple by Bill Valavanis is from the cover of International Bonsai’s special Maple Issue. Do you like North American trees? Larch, cedar, bald cypress, buttonwood, Rocky mountain juniper will be all featured September 10-12 in Rochester NY. Meet some excellent bonsai artists and teachers, take a couple workshops and go home happy (visit International Bonsai for details). Speaking of North American Bonsai… …the gallery book North American Bonsai is now double discounted at Stone Lantern. So is The 1st U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Album.