White Bear Bonsai Sale

Japanese black pine from White Bear Bonsai Garden’s sale. It’s caption reads “…personally selected by Susumu Nakamura, about 50 years old.” A first for Bonsai Bark If memory serves, this is first time that we’ve used this blog to promote a bonsai sale.To set the record straight, there’s nothing in it for us. I just stumbled upon the White Bear Bonsai Garden website the other day, saw they were having a moving sale of some quality bonsai and decided you might like to see some of what they have to offer. Grafted Kishu shimpaku by Mas Ishii (Chikugo-En Bonsai … Continue reading White Bear Bonsai Sale

BABA Tonight

One things that has long distinguished Japanese bonsai from bonsai in the West is superior ramification. This noble Trident maple, sans leaves, aptly represents a trend; gradually Western bonsai artists are taking the time and trouble to develop fine branching. I don’t think we’re all the way there yet, but trees like this are a clear sign that we are on our way. A few other things that stand out about this tree are; how well balanced it is, how lush and bright the moss is, and the absolutely wonderful pot. Normally you see deciduous trees in glazed pots. Not … Continue reading BABA Tonight

Weekly Wire: The End of Lime Sulfur?

This Trident maple root-over-rock belongs to Jonas Dupuich. It’s from a Bonsai Tonight article about the 11th Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. The Bay Island Bonsai 13th Annual Bonsai Exhibit is coming very soon (Jan 13-14 14-15). Judging by photos from previous exhibits, it looks like it’s one of the better bonsai shows in North America. It’s at the Oakland Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. For more information: (510) 919-5042 or visit their website. The following turned out to be much ado about almost nothing (12/24/12). Bad news about lime sulfur. It’s hard to imagine bonsai without lime sulfur. But … Continue reading Weekly Wire: The End of Lime Sulfur?

Eccentric Bonsai: Too Strange, or Just Strange Enough?

Strange as this magnificent old tree is, it all works together to with a perfect blend of eccentricity and balance. But the nebari? That takes some getting use to. (This photo and the others in this post are from Peter Tea Bonsai.) A good place to start resurrecting Way back in 2009 and early 2010 we ran a series of posts that we called Eccentric Bonsai (here’s the last one). Maybe it’s time to resurrect the series. If so, this absolutely unique Trident maple seems like a good place to start. Borrowing from Peter… As you may have noticed, we’ve … Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: Too Strange, or Just Strange Enough?

Fishing for Bonsai Muscle

European olives are often resplendent with character as well as muscle and this one is certainly no exception (to say the least). I found it on flickr and then, one thing led to another (see Gone fishing below) and to the conclusion that this tree belongs to Luis Vallejo (though I couldn’t find evidence on his very attractive but oh-so-slow site). Bonsai muscle There’s something grand about bonsai with thick, powerful trunks. Assuming that I’m not the only one that feels this way, here are three exceptional bonsai (that also happen to be quite muscular) for your enjoyment. Gone fishing … Continue reading Fishing for Bonsai Muscle

Kathy Shaner & Friends in Carolina

Ficus forest by Randy Clark. Bonsai Learning Center, Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s in Charlotte and it’s not really summer yet Bonsai Learning Center is hosting a Summer Time Picnic & Open House, May 20, 21 & 22. Aside of the fact the Randy Clark (BLC’s owner and resident bonsai artist) is a customer and a friend (if you can call someone you’ve never met face to face a friend), what really caught my attention was that Kathy Shaner will be doing two free demos and a workshop. Kathy Shaner Here’s what Bonsai Learning Center says about Kathy Shaner: “Starting her … Continue reading Kathy Shaner & Friends in Carolina

Correction & Apologies

Back on November 19th I posted this magnificent tree by Walter Pall. At the time I didn’t know it was Walter’s, so I didn’t attribute it, though I did say where I found it. So far so good… The problem was… … I was convinced it had been photoshopped to enhance the fall color. Now, after reading several comments, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t photoshopped. My apologies to Walter Pall and everyone else. The details are here.

Bonsai Gallery: Five Magnificent Trees

Forest on a slab from Bonsai Today issue 23. Though the photo is uncaptioned it looks like it could be an Ezo spruce forest by Saburo Kato. Slant style Japanese maple in fall color. From Bonsai Today issue 14. Artist unknown. This is one of a handful of outstanding Japanese winterberries (Ilex serrata) that pop up here and there in Bonsai Today. It’s from issue 14 (it appears on both the cover and inside, though with different backgrounds). Artist unknown. Trident maple forest from Bonsai Today issue 14. I counted 29 trees, though it’s difficult (if not impossible) to tell … Continue reading Bonsai Gallery: Five Magnificent Trees

Another Trident: More Fall Color

This monster Trident maple has it all; massive trunk, fluid natural looking nebari (some maple nebari seem overdone), good lines, perfect pot, healthy green moss, everything (you might question the placement in the pot). The artist is German Gomez. They’re popping up everywhere A few days ago we featured a very impressive but unattributed tree that we found on facebook. Turns out that it belongs to German Gomez, of Medi Bonsai in Valencia, Spain (thanks to Pedro Paes), as does the tree featured here. When I first visited German’s website I was amazed that I hadn’t heard of him. But … Continue reading Another Trident: More Fall Color

Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!

This remarkable Trident maple turned up on Bonsai Mania via facebook. It’s from the photo album of Alex Probst. A little update (1/7/2011) Now I know that this tree belongs to Walter Pall. I also know that it most likely was not photoshopped. My apologies to Walter. Enhancing color I realize that everyone’s monitor isn’t the same, but still, this looks like a case of photoshopping to enhance color, when color is the point of the photo. In this case it’s yellow that’s enhanced. You can tell by the yellowish trunk and the yellowish wooden slab that the pot rests … Continue reading Photoshop Enchanced Fall Color – Not!