Shimpaku Bonsai Before & After

This Shimpaku juniper before and after with it’s striking deadwood, single living vein and masterfully redesigned crown (not to mention the perfectly chosen pot), stands out as an impressive work of bonsai art. The artist is Naoki Maeoka. At first glance you might call this a ‘maintenance’ before & after, where an already established bonsai is simply brought back to it’s original beauty with some trimming, wiring and cleaning up. But as soon as you take a closer look, it’s obvious that there’s more going on than just that. Continued below… Bonsai Fertilizer Special 30% OFF LIST PRICES In addition to Green Dream & other … Continue reading Shimpaku Bonsai Before & After

Mystery Bonsai

Our source for this lovely beast doesn’t say a word about the artist or the tree itself, and Image Search proved itself useless again (“Best guess for this image: flowerpot”), so your guess is as good as mine. Getting another late start today* so we’ll make this one short and sweet. Just one magnificent mystery tree. Continued below… NEW Bonsai Fertilizer Special 30% OFF LIST PRICES In addition to Green Dream & other Bonsai Fertilizers this special includes Superthrive, Pro-Tekt, Rooting Compound & Mycorrhizal Fungi Here’s a closer look at the large sabamiki and the rest of the trunk with all the wild texture and movement … Continue reading Mystery Bonsai

Near the Top of the Bonsai & Penjing Pantheons

This remarkable planting by Kuanghua Hsiao belongs somewhere near the top of the Penjing pantheon. Getting a very late start today, so we’ll take the quick and easy way out and show you this post from January, 2016 (with a little value added today). I think it’s worth another look anyway. Just two remarkable photos today. It’s not that often you see two bonsai by the same person, each so completely different from the other and each among the best you’ll see anywhere. I found both photos here. Continued below… SPECIAL ENDS THURS NIGHT Kilo Bonsai Aesthetics Wire Special YOU WON’T … Continue reading Near the Top of the Bonsai & Penjing Pantheons

Bill’s Bonsai Photos at the Zhongguo Feng Penjing Exhibition

It’s hard to tell how large this tree is, but I’d guess that it’s fairly substantial. No matter how large or small, it’s a powerful twin trunk juniper with excellent taper, fluid lines and deadwood that’s just right (substantial, but not overdone). I borrowed this and the other photos shown here from some shots Bill Valavanis took at the 4th Zhongguo Feng Penjing Exhibition Even before Bill Valavanis was inducted into the U.S. Bonsai Hall of Fame (see our post from one week ago), we always tried to keep track of what he was up to. In this case he was taking photos at the recent 4th … Continue reading Bill’s Bonsai Photos at the Zhongguo Feng Penjing Exhibition

Another Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Foliage & Other Famous Trees

Always nice to lead with a little color. This cheerful full fall color Trident maple belonged to Suthin Sukosolvisit when we first showed it way back in 2009. I don’t know who the lucky owner is now. Suthin’s luminous little tree above plays well with our ongoing fall foliage theme, while the rest of the trees shown here, play well with our long standing appreciation of Suthin’s bonsai. Continued below… Two NEW Yoshiaki Sales Yoshiaki Japanese Bonsai Wire 40% OFF LIST PRICE YOSHIAKI JAPANESE BONSAI hand tools 40% OFF LIST PRICE Yoshiaki, a leading name in Japanese Bonsai Products This Tsukomo cypress-on-a-half-shell was offered … Continue reading Another Brilliant Bonsai in Full Fall Foliage & Other Famous Trees

Bonsai that Don’t Bust Your Bank Account & an Important Natural Phenomenon You Might Not Be Aware of

We’ve featured this tree before, but because I don’t think you’ll see many bonsai quite like it, it’s worth another look. Two photos just below show the natural phenomenon behind this type carving. The tree is a yew. The artist is Harry Harrington. All the photos in this post are courtesy of Harry Harrington, an artist who specializes in what you might call found bonsai (bonsai from the wild or from hedgerows and gardens or wherever else the original stock might come from that doesn’t bust your bank account). Harry is also the author of The Foundations of Bonsai, a book that explores the … Continue reading Bonsai that Don’t Bust Your Bank Account & an Important Natural Phenomenon You Might Not Be Aware of

Bonsai Stories

The smaller trunk was blown over in storm and saved when it landed on a tiny rock island. Fortunately, just enough of the roots are intact and a surviving branch has grown up to become the new crown. One of several stories told by this remarkable planting. The artist is Nacho Marin, a frequent presence here on Bark Traveling today so it’s archive time. This one is from one year ago yesterday The best bonsai tell stories. Usually it’s about hostile environments and hardships, though you could have a robust and stately tree that speaks of a more gentle climate … Continue reading Bonsai Stories

A Feel for Small Bonsai

It’s not that often you see such a small Bunjin style bonsai (calling this a bunjin is probably a stretch, as it lacks that extra character that only time and rough conditions can bring*). But then, there aren’t that many artists with a feel for small bonsai quite like Haruyosi. I cropped this photo to emphasize just the tree. The uncropped version is below It has been a while since we visited Harayosi, one our favorites. Especially when it comes to small bonsai. Almost all of his trees are mame (lit. bean) and many, if not most, are junipers HERE’S A GOOD REASON TO STOCK UP ON WIRE … Continue reading A Feel for Small Bonsai

Is This Really One Tree in Two Pots?

Is this really one tree in two pots? Or is it a just a bit of tricky photography? This might be settled by more photographs taken from different angles, but this one is all we have and there’s no written explanation. Anyway, I’m inclined to believe that it is what it appears to be… but then we’ve been fooled before. It was posted by Trang Jira. His only caption is the word Diospyios* We don’t usually feature novelty bonsai (with the possible exception of halloween specials- see below). Still, and though one tree in two pots is a novelty, it is a decent … Continue reading Is This Really One Tree in Two Pots?

Coming Soon… Fall Potting Season

A freshly transplanted Black pine. From our Masters’ Series Pine book. When it comes to transplanting, timing depends on your climate. Here in northern Vermont seasons can change rapidly and winters are very cold, so fall transplanting season starts and ends early (more on this below) If you live in a warmer climate fall comes later for you and there is more margin for error. One advantage to transplanting in the early fall is when the spring season starts, little or no growing time is lost. Roots grow in the fall when the soil is still warm and after diminished … Continue reading Coming Soon… Fall Potting Season