Is There a Best View for this Exceptional Japanese Maple?

One possible front view of a freshly leafing Japanese maple. But this is not just any Japanese maple; it’s an exceptional one and it’s in an exceptional (and probably very expensive) pot. I borrowed this photo and the others shown here from Michael Bonsai. Michael doesn’t mention the artist or owner, but we’ll give him a pass as he is a very good source for professional quality photos of excellent Japanese bonsai. If you’re a bonsai enthusiast, spring starts when buds begin to swell. Here in northern Vermont, trees in the ground aren’t quite there yet, but my trees that are just out of winter storage certainly … Continue reading Is There a Best View for this Exceptional Japanese Maple?

Great Close Ups and other Bonsai Wonders

It’s not that often that you’ll find a tree with with the top half of the trunk deadwood. When you do, and in the right hands, the result can be striking. It’s a Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa) that belongs to Ryan Neil (Bonsai Mirai). All the photos in this post are from Ryan’s facebook photos. One of the things I like about Ryan Neil’s photos are his close-ups. It doesn’t hurt that his trees are phenomenal and so well photographed in the first place. But then to show such vivid close-ups invites you in further. Like you are there in … Continue reading Great Close Ups and other Bonsai Wonders

Bonsai Up Close – Fertilizer Special Ends Tonight

Harry Harrington’s dramatic closeup of a Trident maple root-over-rock by Ian Cuppleditch. Sticking with Harry Harrington. But this time it’s photos he took of other people’s bonsai at the Expo Bonsai UK 2018 Show. Here’s what Harry had to say about them… “After many hours of editing my favourite images from yesterday’s Expo Bonsai UK 2018 Show in Harlington, London, England. The show had an incredibly high standard of trees and I was lucky to get some great photos!” We’re featuring some of Harry’s closeups here. If you’d like to see photos of the entire trees, you can visit Harry’s bonsai4me website FERTILIZER SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT 30% … Continue reading Bonsai Up Close – Fertilizer Special Ends Tonight

Que Hermoso Bonsai!

I believe this pine (variety unidentified) belongs to Pavel Slovák (see below for links). I assume it’s yamadori (bonsai collected from the wild) and the lower trunk’s curve is the result of countless years of snow load. Monday morning, so we’ll make it quick with a one tree post. I found it on Magdalena Chiavazza’ timeline. The caption reads Que hermoso ejemplar! (What a beautiful specimen!*) – Pavel Slovák, so my assumption is that it belongs to Pavel. SPECIAL BONSAI TODAY BACK ISSUES Only 5.00 each while they last the next best thing to studying with the old masters Trunk and guy wire A closer … Continue reading Que Hermoso Bonsai!

A Bonsai Artist on a Mission

This rugged beauty with its luminous fall foliage is a Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Like most of the photos shown here, it’s from Harry Harrington’s bonsai4me website It has been a while since we visited our friend Harry Harrington, a bonsai artist on a mission to style ten thousand bonsai in one lifetime (or so it seems). In addition to being one of the most prolific and visible bonsai artists we know (Harry’s timeline and his website provide ample evidence on both counts), Harry often specializes in bonsai that come from humble origins… Continued below… SPECIAL ENDS TONIGHT HIGH IMPACT PLASTIC BONSAI POTS 25% OFF LIST PRICES ENDS … Continue reading A Bonsai Artist on a Mission

A Brilliant Before & After Bonsai from Humble Beginnings…

Before and after Japanese maple. Another magical transformation by Suthin. We’ve been enjoying some excellent before and after transformations lately. Particularly ones by our friend Suthin Sukosolvisit, one of our most prolific and brilliant North American bonsai artists (Suthin is originally from Thailand, but he has been here long enough to to have American children and grandchildren, so I think he qualifies as North American). This time it’s an almost obscenely lush Japanese maple from humble beginnings. SPECIAL ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS 30% TO 40% OFF LIST PRICES – Humble beginnings. Not a very good photo and not a terribly promising tree. At least to an untrained eye. After! Suthin doesn’t … Continue reading A Brilliant Before & After Bonsai from Humble Beginnings…

Messages from Our National Bonsai Treasure

John Naka’s famous Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has been in training since 1963. It was donated to the North American Collection at the U.S. National Bonsai & Penjing Museum by Alice Naka in 1990. There’s something about a quality bonsai displayed with a beautiful scroll. Our thanks to Alexander Voorhies for this and the other photos shown here. Our friends at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum invite you, as a fellow lover and supporter of bonsai, to sign up for Museum Messages today. Once you join the mailing list, we hope you will see and appreciate all the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum has … Continue reading Messages from Our National Bonsai Treasure

Gilding the Bonsai

Gilding the lily. Or more accurately, gilding the Satsuki azalea. You might like this brilliant tree in such a colorful pot when it isn’t blooming, but as is… well, you be the judge. I found the photo and the other two shown here on Kuanghua Hsiao’s timeline. Mr Hsiao wrote… By Bonsai Addicted, but we know better (Addicted is one of those places that posts a lot of other peoples trees and often doesn’t attribute or identify). Only one of the three trees shown here is attributed to its owner. We try to be honest about our sources and let you know when they’re not the owner or artist. … Continue reading Gilding the Bonsai

Bonsai Book Special 30% to 50% off Ends Tonight plus NEW Roshi Tool Sale

30% to 50% off Bonsai Book Special ends Tuesday April 3rd at 11:59pm EDT BRAND NEW SPECIAL Roshi Bonsai Tools 30% to 40% off list prices ROSHI BONSAI TOOLS quality materials and craftsmanship make for precision, durability and beauty at exceptionally reasonable prices now even more reasonable Deeply Discounted BONSAI AESTHETICS WIRE KILO ROLLS 17.95 ONLY 15.95 EACH FOR 3 OR MORE 500 GRAM ROLLS 9.95 ONLY 8.95 EACH FOR 3 OR MORE 100 GRAM ROLLS ONLY 3.95 plus FREE Shipping on Continental U.S. orders 75.00 or more

Perfectly Rugged & Bonsai Book Sale Ends Tonight

I am struck by just how rugged and natural this tree is. A fitting contrast with the way the it is presented; the professional studio photo, the quality stand and pot cleaned and oiled to perfection. As you can see, it’s a pine. I won’t bother to guess the variety. Only one tree today. Got up early this morn but circumstances are conspiring and now my schedule is shot. Here’s where I found the tree and here’s the caption… Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyookai Europe España a SAKKA TEN 2012 – PEÑISCOLA. Fotos de estudio realizadas por Alex Espuny (Studio Photos by Alex Espuny). I would like to … Continue reading Perfectly Rugged & Bonsai Book Sale Ends Tonight