I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bunjin style bonsai in such a deep pot. You almost always see them in shallow round or near-round pots. No problem though, this one works to perfection; a spectacular tree with a simply lustrous pot. I think the heavy foliage (unusual for a bunjin) helps balance the heavy pot. Thanks again to Mr. Tea The photos in this post are all courtesy of Peter Tea, our current favorite bonsai apprentice (nothing personal to the rest of our apprenti in Japan, it’s just that Peter keeps sending great stuff). Meifu-ten, a show for hobbyists and collectors…
Bonsai
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Most Topular Stories
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Eighty Two and Still Going Strong
Bonsai Bark19 Jan 2012 | 8:19 am -
New Bonsai Training Video
Bay Island Bonsai14 Sep 2011 | 3:42 pmThe new bonsai video dedicated to the training of scale junipers was just released a few days ago. Here is the link to the new DVD and other training videos: http://bonsaiboon.com/pages/shopping.html -
Daisaku Nomoto Bonsai Award
Bonsai Tonight24 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amDaisaku Nomoto Bonsai Award Bay Island Bonsai was fortunate this year to have Daisaku Nomoto around to help with its 13th annual exhibit. Daisaku Nomoto Nomoto, Boon’s senpai at Kihachi-en, wired trees, prepared moss top-dressings, and carried many trees before, during, and after the exhibit. Somewhere along the way, he took a liking to a Western juniper. So much so, it became the recipient of the first Daisaku Nomoto Bonsai Award. The winning tree – Western Juniper Nomoto is a fan of trees styled in this fashion. The tree has a somewhat bunjin-gi feeling, but has a more… -
New USDA climate-zone map
BonsaiCHAT.net - YOUR Bonsai Community25 Jan 2012 | 8:24 pmFor those of us in the USA, the Dept. of Agriculture has just released an updated version of its climate-zone map. Here is a link to an article which in turn contains a link to the map itself. (Hope no one minds clicking twice.) New USDA climate zone map reflects warming trends ? USATODAY.com -
Collecting Trees For Bonsai – Free Trees!
ofBonsai Magazine26 Jan 2012 | 10:13 am
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Bay Island Bonsai
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Members at BIB show on Sunday
23 Jan 2012 | 10:27 pm -
BIB Exhibit 2012
23 Jan 2012 | 1:29 pmPictures from the show -
japanese maples
8 Nov 2011 | 3:27 pmsango kaku Kiyohime -
Japanese balck pine from the workshop
8 Nov 2011 | 3:21 pmgrown from seed about 15 yo. -
New Bonsai Training Video
14 Sep 2011 | 3:42 pmThe new bonsai video dedicated to the training of scale junipers was just released a few days ago. Here is the link to the new DVD and other training videos: http://bonsaiboon.com/pages/shopping.html
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Walter Pall Bonsai Adventures
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Back from Noelanders Trophy
26 Jan 2012 | 2:40 amSee about 100 images of the event attravelogues -
stuff for sale at Noelanders Trophy
18 Jan 2012 | 12:03 pmI will be there from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. In my car I will have the usual stuff:- biotreecleaner- wood hardener- lots of good small and medium sized collected trees, like oriental hornbeam, Scots pines, mugo pines, Sabina junipers, and other stuff. Prizes competitive.I am employed in the demonstration area. There you can speak to me or you can find my assistant Walter and he will show you the stuff. -
hackberry #1
18 Jan 2012 | 8:52 amEuropean hackberry, Celtis australis, collected in Italy. First image as of 1996. After more than fifteen years this starts to look reasonable finally. Last image as of spring 1996. -
second try
18 Jan 2012 | 8:48 amThis now looks just about right to me. This will be the setting for Noelanders Trophy. -
Chinese elm
16 Jan 2012 | 8:31 amChinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia
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BonsaiCHAT.net - YOUR Bonsai Community
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New USDA climate-zone map
25 Jan 2012 | 8:24 pmFor those of us in the USA, the Dept. of Agriculture has just released an updated version of its climate-zone map. Here is a link to an article which in turn contains a link to the map itself. (Hope no one minds clicking twice.) New USDA climate zone map reflects warming trends ? USATODAY.com -
Acer palmatum 'Katsura' Repot
23 Jan 2012 | 9:23 amHey all, I repotted my Acer palmatum 'Katsura' today, and I thought I would show you the pics :) Pic 1: Before Pic 2: The new pot :) Pic 3: Roots after combing them out, this tree was only put in this pot last year, so that's a lot of root growth! Pic 4: The tree sitting in the pot Pic 5: The tree after root pruning Attached Images DSCF2784.JPG (36.6 KB) DSCF2785.JPG (31.0 KB) DSCF2786.JPG (42.1 KB) DSCF2787.JPG (40.8 KB) DSCF2788.JPG (40.3 KB) -
Collected Acer Pseudoplatanus
20 Jan 2012 | 10:32 amHey all, I mentioned in the other thread about my raidings of a Beech forest yesterday, well I found this there and the owner of the woods wanted it removing so I happily obliged :) It's an Acer pseudoplatanus AKA Sycamore maple. It's a couple of feet tall, but has such a lovely root flare I couldn't resist! Hopefully over the next year or two it will bud out all over and I'll be able to turn it into a formal upright which should look amazing! :) Cheers -Matt- Attached Images DSCF2759.JPG (56.8 KB) DSCF2760.JPG (46.3 KB) -
Collected European Beech
19 Jan 2012 | 3:41 pmHi all, not posted in a while, but I've got a lot of projects on the go (including spending this afternoon running around a Beech forest collecting trees, but that's for another day). I collected this tree a few weeks ago from a customers garden, It had to come out because it was nearing 20 foot and very close the their house. It's a good old common European Beech (Fagus sylvatica). I collected as many roots as possible with it, but I think the trunk and root spread will be worth the wait for the branches to re-grow. Pic 1: The tree after Collection Pic 2: After washing the roots off, the pot… -
looking for chojubai quince lovers
17 Jan 2012 | 1:38 pmFor some reason i have been smitten by this dwarf flowering quince and find few other affectionadoes, that i can share my passion with. So are there any others out there and can we begin sharing......until a few years back, this quince has had to play the role of a companion plant but in kokufu ten, it began making headway with major prizes in the 80th and 82nd show. I did try and post a picture of one from Ryan Neil's collection but of course as a new person posting it failed :)
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Bonsai Bark
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Lime Sulfur: A Story with a Happy Ending
26 Jan 2012 | 9:34 amHow many bottles of lime sulfur were used on this monster? I find this tree to be compelling in so many ways (much has to do with shear size, power & no small amount of detail). Still, is the foliage a little too manicured and the deadwood overwrought? I’m sure there are some purists out there who might say something like that, and there’s some sense to these observations, especially if you feel that bonsai should look like trees in nature. But still… why sweat the small stuff when you’re looking at one of the more imposingly powerful bonsai you’ve ever seen… -
Bonsai Paradise
24 Jan 2012 | 7:14 amI think this wonderfully convoluted beast belongs to Yusuf Sirait; at least it appears on his facebook page. It’s a Pemphis acidula (Santigi). Bonsai paradise I wonder just how common naturally contorted wild bonsai stock are on the islands of Indonesia. Based on what I’ve seen online and elsewhere, it’s easy to get the impression that they are so abundant that all you have to do is walk out your door, bend over and pick a few. Somehow though, I doubt that’s the case. If fact, I seem to remember photos from Robert Steven’s Mission of Transformation, that show… -
Weekly Wire: Ancient Bones & the Wheel of Bonsai Wisdom
22 Jan 2012 | 8:19 amAncient bones. I like the way the fresh foliage seems to hang from the tree’s ancient bones (though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a stand so in need of refinishing). This strikingly unique bonsai is one of many excellent trees at Taiwan Bonsai World. Free Advertising! What if you could advertise your bonsai event for free on a Bonsai Blog with over 30,00 visitors a month? Turns out, you can! Right here on Bonsai Bark. Just put your event (with links please) in the comments below and I’ll take from there. Have you seen this issue? Neither have I. My subscription… -
Eighty Two and Still Going Strong
19 Jan 2012 | 8:19 amI don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bunjin style bonsai in such a deep pot. You almost always see them in shallow round or near-round pots. No problem though, this one works to perfection; a spectacular tree with a simply lustrous pot. I think the heavy foliage (unusual for a bunjin) helps balance the heavy pot. Thanks again to Mr. Tea The photos in this post are all courtesy of Peter Tea, our current favorite bonsai apprentice (nothing personal to the rest of our apprenti in Japan, it’s just that Peter keeps sending great stuff). Meifu-ten, a show for hobbyists and collectors… -
A Cozy Companion
17 Jan 2012 | 7:59 amI’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a potted companion sitting on the soil surface of a larger bonsai. I found the photo on facebook (unattributed, which seems to be a norm). I think the companion is a Mondo grass. Is the tree a Serissa? Just a quickie this time I’m still trying to catch up between vacations, so we’ll have to settle for a one tree post. Next time we’ll give you a little more to sink your teeth into. Tweet
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Bonsai Tonight
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Looking for directions
27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amLooking for directions I had a lot of fun setting up Bay Island Bonsai’s exhibit this year. Having recently returned from Japan, I found myself looking at trees in a very different light than I had before the visit. I now get much more enjoyment from flowering and fruiting trees, and I’m even more fascinated by the idea of balance in bonsai. On that note, I’ve really appreciated the recent discussions about whether certain trees point left or right. If an idea as simple as direction can lead to such rich discussions, either the trees in question – or our understanding… -
Daisaku Nomoto Bonsai Award
24 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amDaisaku Nomoto Bonsai Award Bay Island Bonsai was fortunate this year to have Daisaku Nomoto around to help with its 13th annual exhibit. Daisaku Nomoto Nomoto, Boon’s senpai at Kihachi-en, wired trees, prepared moss top-dressings, and carried many trees before, during, and after the exhibit. Somewhere along the way, he took a liking to a Western juniper. So much so, it became the recipient of the first Daisaku Nomoto Bonsai Award. The winning tree – Western Juniper Nomoto is a fan of trees styled in this fashion. The tree has a somewhat bunjin-gi feeling, but has a more… -
Rocky Mountain Juniper bonsai
20 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amRocky Mountain Juniper bonsai One of the trees displayed at Bay Island Bonsai’s 13th annual exhibit got a lot of funny looks. It’s a Rocky Mountain juniper, Juniperus scopulorum. Rocky Mountain Juniper It’s not exactly “show-ready” as we like to say – the tree is only a few years out of the ground and branch pads have yet to be defined. The tree offers, however, a glimpse of how floppy the tree’s foliage can be and plenty of interesting deadwood. Maybe too interesting. The large piece of deadwood on the left looks like something an undiscerning artist… -
Displaying a shimpaku juniper
17 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amDisplaying a shimpaku juniper Bay Island Bonsai held their 13th Annual Exhibit this past weekend at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, CA. The exhibit featured a well developed shimpaku juinper. Shimpaku juniper Before reading any further, which way do you think the tree points – to the left or to the right? When setting up exhibits, we often start by identifying trees that point left or right and put these at the ends of each row where they can point toward the center. Cascade and semi-cascade bonsai often end up at the ends of rows as they are strongly directional trees. With… -
A really full black pine
13 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amA really full black pine The Japanese black pine below was one of the many great trees I saw in the workshop during my visit to Aichi-en last fall. I caught Peter Tea cleaning it up for the sales area at Gomangoku. You can see a before photo on Peter’s blog. What made the tree stand out to me? The fullness, the health, and the density of shoots were impressive, and the bark and roots were also very good, but above all, I appreciated the silhouette of the tree. Solid blocks of foliage can do a great job defining a tree’s character. Good balance between the left and right sides of…
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Crataegus Bonsai
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Winter Cold And Tree Roots
17 Jan 2012 | 4:26 pmIt pays to read. Not long ago I came across this paragraph in a book on tree maintenance, and thought it very succinct in describing what is going on invisibly inside the tree during times we might think it is fully dormant: Cambial activity shuts down first at the top of the tree, then in the trunk, and lastly in the roots. Therefore a tree may well have an active root system well after visible growth or leaf drop has occurred. Also, the upper roots of trees in the ground are the first ones active in the springtime. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Another complicating piece of the puzzle… -
Why Won’t My Wisteria Bloom?
6 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pmGood question. It seems that while many people would like to have a wisteria bonsai, they give up on them when they fail to bloom consistently. After all, it is a rather dull looking plant when not in flower. I’m sure there are many non-blooming wisteria currently being used as umbrella racks. 'yaaaaaaAAAA!' ---The sound of a pleased wisteria owner Wisteria bonsai fail to bloom for several primary reasons. The first is that people tend to repot them too frequently. Keeping the wisteria a bit root bound is important—in fact, you should not repot your wisteria more often than… -
Are We Missing Something?
31 Dec 2011 | 3:49 pmA comment from last week’s post on Chojubai by Mr. Grahn had me thinking about connoisseurship. A connoisseur, as a rough definition, is someone with much knowledge of arts or food, and is a particularly good judge of aesthetics and taste. A sort of art critic, you might say. The very people who end up ‘discovering’ something and, because they have loud voices, everyone looks over to see what they’re pointing at. The quintessential connoisseur...a kind of art snob that you'd probably hesitate to invite to dinner, but who tends to be insightful. For bonsai, this… -
‘Chojubai’ Quince—Diminutive Jewels
22 Dec 2011 | 3:43 pmThis unassuming dwarf quince can steal your heart. There are many who have gone to Japan for the spectacular pines, junipers, and maples, only to discover the quiet but memorable Chojubai. Those ‘many’ included a few friends of mine, and myself. This post is a little longer than most because Chojubai is so little known in the West, and, frankly, I think it deserves better. Also, waiting for you at at the end of this long post is a question… A well-known root-over-rock Japanese flowering quince 'Chojubai'. 45 cm high Fairly typical of the multiple-trunk old Chojubai… -
Tar and Feathering? Changing a Famous Juniper…
14 Dec 2011 | 1:09 pmNo matter how assured you are, changing the design of a famous tree is done with a deep intake of breath. One takes precautions. Like boarding up windows and doors, in premonition of a rowdy gang of tree maniacs in green cloaks with picks and axes and rolls of wire for who knows what horrible use, in the street outside your house. And you imagine thinking, as you stand quietly looking out at growing chaos and red torch fire, with chants like ‘Let’s redesign HIM!’, that a bonsai-free life in Acapulco sounds nice. But at this point it’s too late. The deed is done. My…
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ofBonsai Magazine
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Collecting Trees For Bonsai – Free Trees!
26 Jan 2012 | 10:13 am -
Making A Large Wheel-Thrown Custom Bonsai Pot
11 Jan 2012 | 7:07 pmI thought I would do a progressive photo article on making a LARGE round pot. A few years ago I received a commission for a round pot that would be the biggest I had thrown on a wheel up to that point. The customer gave me the INSIDE diameter and depth that he wanted and explained that he wanted it made from stoneware and finished as some of mine he had seen that I had made in smaller versions. After calculating out shrinkage for the clay I was using I began the job. This calculation is important as most stoneware clays shrink 10-13% during drying and firing and you must figure out just how… -
Bonsai Deadwood Refinement Techniques
7 Jan 2012 | 4:54 pm -
Critique: Gede Merta’s Pemphis acidula
19 Dec 2011 | 12:40 pmName of the Tree: Pemphis acidula Bonsai Titles : casper Tree Height: 43 cm (17 inches) Pot Height: 14.5 cm (6 inches) Pot Length: 43 cm (17 inches) Pot made in Bali It is a delight to comment on such a beautiful and well-crafted tree. My comments will be brief and minor as it is a nicely organized composition. The trunk is marvelous, which is always inspirational for decisions regarding what to do with the branches. I have little to disagree with in the basic design of the tree. A couple of things, which might be in the mind of the artist as well, are more in the way of development and… -
Pseudomonas syringae: Read This If You Grow Japanese Maple
15 Dec 2011 | 8:47 pmNow that I have your attention… This post is about a common bacterial disease called Pseudomonas syringae, which frequently affects Japanese maples yet is relatively easy to control. It is often misidentified as Verticillium wilt, as both cause tip dieback. The Pseudomonas bacteria form purply-black stem discolorations, which is the result of a toxin produced by the bacteria which kills cells. Twigs, branches and eventually the entire tree may die. Older and stronger growing trees are less susceptible, as are some varieties. Do not prune maples in the fall (especially in the Northwest) as…
