An Impressively Massive Japanese Maple Bonsai & an Equally Impressive Japanese Garden

This impressively massive Momiji (Japanese maple), perched on its Green T Turntable, belongs to Jean-Paul Polmans. Today’s post is mostly about Jean Paul Polmans‘ extraordinary blending of powerful bonsai and beautiful gardens, and just a bit about our powerful and beautiful Green T Professional Turntables. Continued below… Extended One Day OUR BRILLIANT SITE WIDE SALE has been extended until 11:59pm EST January 1st Almost Everything Discounted Some Items as much as 70% off List Prices SALE ENDS AT 11:59pm EST, TOMORROW, JANUARY 1st The entryway into Jean Paul Polmans’ Japanese style garden and bonsai collection. I borrowed this photo and the one below from Andys Shohin … Continue reading An Impressively Massive Japanese Maple Bonsai & an Equally Impressive Japanese Garden

Bonsai Flowers, Snow & Nasty Bugs

Japanese Flowering apricot (Prunus mume). This would be a remarkable tree even without the flowers. With the flowers… well, you can see for yourself. The tree resides at Bonsai Aichien in Japan. Speaking of snow & winter, we seem to be entertaining a nasty flu bug in these parts. I’ve been down for a couple days, so if you’re wondering why we’re a little slow answering emails, and why we’re resorting to recycled photos (February, 2014), now you know. Both the photos here were posted on facebook by Juan Andrade who is (was?) an apprentice at Bonsai Aichien and a great … Continue reading Bonsai Flowers, Snow & Nasty Bugs

An Old Bonsai New Year

This brilliant penjing by Robert Steven appeared in one of our earliest posts (way back in 2009). It’s from Robert’s book Mission of Transformation (now out of print) In three days we’ll turn the digital page on another year of brilliant bonsai and occasionally intelligent comment. On behalf or my two hard working compatriots; Ric Walter (the heart and soul of our warehouse) & Barbara Patitucci (our all-accomplishing jack of all trades) and all the other good people who are part of the Stone Lantern family -Fedex drivers, postal workers, our vendors and countless others who keep our gears oiled – I would like to wish you a Cheerful, … Continue reading An Old Bonsai New Year

Happy Bonsai New Year!

Just couldn’t resist posting yet another yew (there have been several lately). This time it’s an English yew (Taxus Baccata) by Stefano Frisoni. It’s almost 2018 and there are countless loose ends to tie up, so with time being precious, we’ll dig up part of a December 2012 post with some trees that I particularly like. Meanwhile, may you and yours enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! And thank you for helping to make 2017 a happy bonsai year. Only 4 More Days for Our SITE WIDE SALE Almost Everything Discounted Some Items as much as 70% off List Prices SALE ENDS AT 11:59pm EST, … Continue reading Happy Bonsai New Year!

Weeping Bonsai & Old Men Drinking

Weeping tree with sitting man and pond. This tree and some of the other trees shown here, when viewed in scale, look like weeping willows. I doubt that they are however, as willow leaves would be much too large for these plantings. You don’t see that many good weeping bonsai. I think there’s a good reason for this… they take a lot of work to develop and maintain in a way that keeps them in scale and natural looking. Unless you can find small weeping trees with leaves and branches that are already in scale. Because we know nothing of the source and the varieties (see … Continue reading Weeping Bonsai & Old Men Drinking

Holiday Bonsai Delights!

We originally posted this magnificent tree by Min Hsuan Lo exactly 7 years ago today (sorry, I don’t know the variety Now I do thanks to Clinton Scott… it’s a Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis)). Anyway, it’s worth another look and the time is right All of today’s photos are from Min Hsuan Lo’s Bonsai blog and they all appeared here exactly 7 years ago today. That’s a great thing about bonsai of this magnitude… they are already so old and so well developed that seven years might as well be yesterday Year End Roshi Tool SPECIAL 40% off List Prices on Roshi Bonsai … Continue reading Holiday Bonsai Delights!

Happy Bonsai Solstice!

I don’t know if this qualifies as a Christmas tree, but it does give you a pretty good idea of what northern Vermont looks like this time of year. I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying a relaxed Holiday Season and that you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah (a day late), Sweet Solstice (today) and whatever you might celebrate. And of course that you enjoy a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year WE’VE DECIDED TO BRING BACK OUR EXCELLENT site wide SALE Almost Everything Discounted Some Items as much as 70% off List Prices Orders placed now will be shipped the week … Continue reading Happy Bonsai Solstice!

Wild Bonsai from Up Near the Tree Line

A great tree with a long story of a rugged life spent on the side of cold snow burdened mountain. Somewhere up near the tree line and far from the cushy life of domestically grown bonsai A little change of pace today; a rugged mix of yamadori (collected from the wild) pines. We originally found them at Amics Del Bonsai Corbera and featured them here last December. None are identified. Nor are their owners. IT’S NOT TOO LATE… orders received by noon EST today (Monday) will be shipped today HOME STRETCH SALE Almost Everything Discounted Some Items as much as 70% off List Prices Order Now for … Continue reading Wild Bonsai from Up Near the Tree Line

Happy Bonsai Holidays! Merry Bonsai Christmas!

Though it’s usually considered bad form to lop off part of the pot, in this case it’s all about the color (and the wildly expressive trunk). The variety is listed as Issho-no-haru. This and the rest of the photos in this post are from the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! No matter what you celebrate (or don’t celebrate), may you and your loved ones enjoy the Season and have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. This post is borrowed from our 2014 archives, so I’m cheating just a bit. But I like it so much and believe that you … Continue reading Happy Bonsai Holidays! Merry Bonsai Christmas!

Principles of Bonsai Design with a Personal Touch

This berry-laden Cotoneaster belongs to David DeGroot, long time bonsai artist, teacher, museum curator and author (Principles of Bonsai Design). Here’s Dave’s caption… “In honor of the approaching holidays I posed a cotoneaster that is decorated with its own red berries before a celebratory gold screen. The bonsai was originally developed by the late Ann Spencer of Portland, OR. The pot is by Sarah Rayner.” I took the liberty to crop this photo. The original is below I’ve long respected David DeGroot for his bonsai skills and for his contribution the American and world bonsai communities; as teacher, author and as … Continue reading Principles of Bonsai Design with a Personal Touch