Bonsai Pirates – If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated

This wild Mugo pine has nothing to do with our bonsai pirates theme, though it may raise some eyebrows given its break with traditional bonsai styles, particularly traditional Japanese bonsai styles. It was posted by Sandro Segneri of the Bonsai Creativo School and Academy. To reiterate, it has nothing to do with our bonsai pirates theme. Yesterday it was digital bonsai theft, today it’s piracy. Two ways of talking about the same thing, or has the severity of the crime graduated from misdemeanor to felony (figuratively and maybe literally)? The following was originally written in February, 2010 and reposted in 2015 (with some changes then and now)… At least one blog … Continue reading Bonsai Pirates – If you are reading this on any website or blog that is not ours, and is not attributed to us, then it has been pirated

Digital Bonsai Theft & Other Crimes & Misdemeanors

Did that huge apple really grown on this small tree? Occasionally you see fruit that is glued on, but in this case I think it’s the real deal. There’s something a little shady about putting your logo on photos that don’t belong to you, though in a world with more than enough serious corruption, this practice barely registers. Continued below… NEW 20% to 70% off Site Wide Sale see below – I’ve seen this tree before, but can’t remember where, or what it is. It’s even possible that it has appeared here on Bark. Continued from above… I can’t read the text … Continue reading Digital Bonsai Theft & Other Crimes & Misdemeanors

20% to 70% off Everything Bonsai*

Look familiar? It’s from the cover of our Masters Series Pine book – Early Spring Site Wide Sale 20% to 70% off list priceS on ALMOST everything* *Green T Turntables & 3 books are excluded due to contractual obligations plus FREE Shipping on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more Roshi Bonsai Tools quality materials and craftsmanship make for precision, durability and beauty at exceptionally reasonable prices now even more reasonable In addition to our Roshi Tools we offer a large selection of other famous brand tools This one is from the cover of our Masters Series Juniper book – – Bonsai Aesthetics Wire is known for ease … Continue reading 20% to 70% off Everything Bonsai*

Beauty Doesn’t Always Conform to Our Expectations

Before and after. This impressive and very unusual European olive (Olea europaea L. var. sylvestris) was styled by Javi Campos Juan. Continuing with Javi Campos Juan (see two posts from earlier this week)… You don’t often see Olives styled like this one; more like a conifer than an Olive. Regarding this, there is a good argument for styling in the way the type tree naturally grows. Trees that don’t follow this standard often look unnatural. Still, there’s a lot to like about this one and beauty doesn’t always conform to our expectations. New Site Wide Sale 20% to 70% OFF LIST ON ALMOST EVERYTHING* see … Continue reading Beauty Doesn’t Always Conform to Our Expectations

A Bonsai in Hand…

No variety is given with any of the photos featured here and we won’t bother to guess. Another big snow storm is blowing in and there’s too much to do, so we’ll take a shortcut and resurrect a post from August 2016 while staying with our Javi Campos Juan theme (see yesterday). I’ve always liked photos of hand held bonsai. The hand immediately provides a way to determine the size of a tree and it adds a personal touch, without the more intrusive photos of the proud artist posing with the tree. All the photos shown here were posted on Facebook by Javi Campos Juan. … Continue reading A Bonsai in Hand…

“Maybe Not the Best Bonsai in the World, but I Love Them All”

This Trident maple in its coat of many colors belongs to Tobie Kleyhans. One of the great perks of this job is the happy accident. Today’s is the discovery of Tobie Kleyhans’ bonsai. Tobie lives in South Africa and here’s something from his facebook timeline that I like … “Celebrating 20 happy bonsai years! I started this fascinating hobby during the first week of March 1998 and since then had heaps of fun, met the most wonderful people and encountered truly remarkable trees. Here are some of my favourite trees. Maybe not the best in the world, but I love them … Continue reading “Maybe Not the Best Bonsai in the World, but I Love Them All”

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

Got Pieces of Broken Bonsai Pots Laying Around?

Got pieces of broken pots laying around? No problem. Robert Steven’s caption for this photo… “Dedication of the broken pots” Time to visit our old friend Robert Steven again. Robert has been on the cutting edge of Indonesian and world bonsai for a long time and judging by his recent endeavors, you might conclude that he intends to stay there. All the text in italics are direct quotes from Robert SPECIAL BONSAI AESTHETICS WIRE KILO ROLLS ONLY 15.95 500 GRAM ROLLS ONLY 8.95 100 GRAM ROLLS ONLY 3.45 – Roberts writes… “Front’ is simply a viewing angle where we want … Continue reading Got Pieces of Broken Bonsai Pots Laying Around?