Bonsai tree: Matt Reel in Japan!

The young, excellent and very tall Matt Reel has been apprenticing in Japan under Shinji Suzuki since 2006, and he might be there a while yet. Matt is from Portland, Oregon, and those of you here who know him have been asking me how he’s been doing… and there’s no better way than to SHOW you—

Matt was featured in the November issue of Kinbon, and as few of us get this magazine, I’ve copied a few pages so that you all can ‘read’ it… or at least view the photos of him creating a very nice juniper. Matt left Portland a tall quiet young man of 18 and is if anything is taller yet, bolder, and his work is as thoughtful as he is, as this article shows. His refinement is very skilled, and the last photo here is of Matt standing behind the black pine he was asked to work on for the Kokufu show, before he began with it…

For those who have not heard yet, Matt is planning on returning to Portland, Oregon to be a part of our growing band of brothers which includes the remarkable Ryan Neil, slightly shorter than Matt, to form our ‘Portland Bonsai Village’—Inspired by the century long tradition of professionals supporting one another in Omiya Bonsai Village, Japan.

Bravo, Matt! We look forward to your return!

Matt is on top; Mr. Suzuki, our bold and supportive teacher, is featured on the bottom of the page.

Matt is crouching here... but it is a darn big black pine.

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Bonsai tree: The Evolution of a Honeysuckle

Morten Albek’s now famous shohin Boxleaf honeysuckle as it appeared in the 2010 Danish Bonsai Exhibition where it was part of Morten’s winning shohin display (see below).

Morten is the author of Majesty in Miniature: Shohin Bonsai (Stone Lantern publishing) and creator of the Shohin-Bonsai Europe website.



Here’s how it looked when it appeared on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 105 six years ago. Same pot, but if you compare this with it’s later incarnation above (disregarding that this photo’s is much sharper) you’ll see a tree is maturing in a very positive direction.



Moten’s winning display. In case your eyes are tired, that’s the Honeysuckle up top.

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Bonsai tree: Another Yamadori Rocky Mtn. Juniper–

This juniper has been growing in my backyard for a year. It’s a client tree, another of the great native yamadori that was collected by Randy Knight of Oregon Bonsai.

Junipers don’t like to be repotted very early, they do better when repotted in late spring when it’s warmer. So this tree, which is in a box, needed a prop of a wooden block that could support it for a few months, at which time it would be potted in a bonsai container. I also cut the box with a circular saw and leveled the soil surface at the new inclination so watering would be easier.

It’s a fun tree, dynamic, and I liked the tensions between the jin to the left and the foliage to the right. I get into arguments with people about which way the foliage should go when there is jin or shari present in a forceful way. The jin or shari, in the presumed environment of the tree, are a great hint: Where the storms are coming from, prevailing winds, etc. If a jin is pointing in one direction, the living part of tree should be styled in the other direction. I see even professionals doing very strange things with jin, as an indicator of wind direction. Only several trees ‘flag’ in the wind, spruce being one of them. Juniper is not one of them. Go into the mountains and the dead limbs are facing the environment. Check out the Monterey cypresses; same story.

To critique my own work , I think the apex should be about three inches to the left. That would bring it closer to the base and more stable. Something for the next reworking…

(I’ve noticed an acute lack of dissension on this blog… the folks who are thinking, ‘You’re a flake, Hagedorn, and don’t know what you’re doing,’ are not writing. Please write your real thoughts!)

Before work

After bending the large branches

Reworking the wooden box

After styling

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Bonsai tree: Character, Strength & Boon’s Transplanting Tips

Though it has the raw look of yet to be refined tree, still, there’s a lot to like about this tree. Its massive nebari ads great strength, character and balance and the hollow in the trunk (sabamiki) provides a further touch of character and age that sets it apart from more ordinary bonsai. It belongs to Boon Manakitivipart, owner of Bonsai Boon and distinguished bonsai artist and teacher. Though Boon doesn’t say what it is, I’ll guess that it’s a California live oak of some sort (Quercus suber?).







From a bonsai tip entitled WINTER CARE: REPOTTING, by Boon that appears at his website, Bonsai Boon.

The last thing on your mind

If you don’t live in the San Francisco Bay Area or some other place with idyllic weather (relative to Vermont, at least), repotting your bonsai may be the last thing on your mind while you are thawing out by a fire or out shoveling snow*. Still, don’t put off thinking too long; even those of us who repot in May need to plan and get our materials together.

What Boon has to say

“Start repotting your bonsai now in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some of us have already repotted all type of bonsai in December. If you are not in the Bay Area, the best time to repot deciduous trees is after the buds start to swell, but before the leaves open; but do not wait too long. It is not safe to repot after the buds have opened.”

“Among deciduous trees, flowering apricots and Japanese maples are repotted first. Japanese beech is the last to be done because its buds open later than buds on other deciduous trees (do not wait until you see the buds swell; it may be too late). Repotting should be done by middle part to the end of February (remember, he’s still in the Bay Area). Trident maples can be repotted as long as new leaves still have a reddish color”(visit Bonsai Boon for the entire article).

*Most of you don’t have to wait until May. Just us poor slobs who made the unfortunate decision to move halfway to Siberia (from the SF Bay Area no less); a decision we come to loath every year until the buds break in May, when we start thinking it was the best decision we ever made.

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Bonsai tree: Robert Steven & the Tao of Bonsai

Movement and stillness. Robert Steven’s skill, energy and enthusiasm have done much to move the art of bonsai forward (even though there’s nowhere to go).

A little taste

These photos are from a facebook album that presents some samples of Robert Steven’s bonsai.

A simple tree with its gnarled time-twisted trunk, leans into the darkness.



Sentient trees in a ancient forest, a floating world.



Robert Steven is a frequent contributor to Bonsai Bark. In addition to being an acclaimed bonsai artist and teacher, Robert is bonsai author, with two very notable books under his belt (Vision of My Soul and Mission of Transformation) and a couple more in the works.

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Bonsai tree: Wire Cutters: A Little Tip from Graham

Graham Potter of Kaizen Bonsai holds up his stainless wire cutters so you can get a good look. From one of Graham’s excellent bonsai instruction videos.

No more twisting

I always thought bonsai wire cutters were shaped the way the are (with stubby blades) so that the tip of the blade doesn’t damage the bark when you remove wire. I still think this is true. However, Graham Potter says that it’s designed this way so the wire doesn’t twist when you cut it. This is news to me, but as I reflect on it, I think it makes sense. Anyone else?



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Bonsai tree: Mugo Pines: A Well Kept Secret

This powerful, well groomed yet craggy Mugo pine jumps off the page. It would be exceptional even if it didn’t have that wild and strange piece of deadwood that doubles back on the trunk; a feature that makes this tree uniquely distinctive and even more wonderful than it would be anyway (though I might remove the straight stick at the end that goes behind the trunk).

I might also take issue with the crown; it’s a touch too perfectly groomed and symmetrical for my taste, but still, this is an exceptional bonsai. Worthy of the finest collections anywhere. I found it in Carlos van der Vaart’s photos (facebook).



Why not Mugos?

Why haven’t Mugo pines received their due in bonsai circles? One glance at the trees in this post and you can see that they’ve got everything they need. Small tight needles, funky bark, great deadwood, gnarly shapes… the whole package.

To be blunt…

… Mugos aren’t from Japan. For a long time, the Japanese set the tone for bonsai (for good reason) and their bias is for the trees they know. This is especially true when it comes to pines, and, without a doubt, they’ve got great pines in Japan. Especially their famous Japanese black and white pines (speaking of; our Pine book is coming back soon).

Slowly but surely…

… people are recognizing Mugos for what they are. Especially in Europe, where they grow wild. If you need any evidence, take a look at these two great yamadoris (collected trees).



This craggy European beauty is from Wolfgang Putz’s most excellent website. Its natural come-as-you-are feel reminds me of Dan Robinson’s North American bonsai (Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees).

Source: Bonsai Bark

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Bonsai tree: King Arthur’s Bonsai?

Juniper. From a series of photos entitled ‘King Arthur’ by Zino Rongo.

A very sweet tree

Though it’s unclear what the connection with the legendary King Arthur is, it is abundantly clear that this is a very sweet bonsai. It presents a strong feeling of balance and unity that isn’t always that easy to achieve, and the flowing lines of the shari are so well done that the wood appears naturally aged by time and the elements (it wasn’t). Even that slightly unsettling piece of deadwood that sticks up and points the opposite direction from the flow of the tree provides interesting contrast. I’d love to see this tree in a bonsai pot.

Some of the best

Just a little more about the shari; the deadwood on this tree is some of the best I’ve seen. The shape, the color, the lines, the contrast between light and dark, the flow, the naturally aged feel… everything about it. I think that even Francois Jeker would be proud of it.



Mr. Rongo and this tree came a long ways from here to the photo at the top of the post. Here’s the whole series of steps.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: Another Yamadori Rocky Mtn. Juniper–

This juniper has been growing in my backyard for a year. It’s a client tree, another of the great native yamadori that was collected by Randy Knight of Oregon Bonsai.

Junipers don’t like to be repotted very early, they do better when repotted in late spring when it’s warmer. So this tree, which is in a box, needed a prop of a wooden block that could support it for a few months, at which time it would be potted in a bonsai container. I also cut the box with a circular saw and leveled the soil surface at the new inclination so watering would be easier.

It’s a fun tree, dynamic, and I liked the tensions between the jin to the left and the foliage to the right. I get into arguments with people about which way the foliage should go when there is jin or shari present in a forceful way. The jin or shari, in the presumed environment of the tree, are a great hint: Where the storms are coming from, prevailing winds, etc. If a jin is pointing in one direction, the living part of tree should be styled in the other direction. I see even professionals doing very strange things with jin, as an indicator of wind direction. Only several trees ‘flag’ in the wind, spruce being one of them. Juniper is not one of them. Go into the mountains and the dead limbs are facing the environment. Check out the Monterey cypresses; same story.

To critique my own work , I think the apex should be about three inches to the left. That would bring it closer to the base and more stable. Something for the next reworking…

(I’ve noticed an acute lack of dissension on this blog… the folks who are thinking, ‘You’re a flake, Hagedorn, and don’t know what you’re doing,’ are not writing. Please write your real thoughts!)

Before work

After bending the large branches

Reworking the wooden box

After styling

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Bonsai tree: Plan Ahead for Our Next Big Contest

Simon Carr styled this little gem from scratch (see below) for an artofbonsai.org contest way back in 2005. It later appeared in Bonsai Today issue 103 in an article entitled ‘Instant Bonsai’ (I’d like to see what it looks like now).

Bonsai from Scratch

It’s time to get start thinking about your entry in our upcoming Bonsai from Scratch Contest. We’re going to make it worth your while with a $250 Stone Lantern gift certificate for the winner and other gifts for outstanding entries.

Five easy steps to get you started

1. Find an untrained stock plant. Your choice of size, variety etc.

2. Photograph it from all four sides (and any other angels you want) before you do anything else.

3. Grab your tools and get to work. Take your time; the contest won’t close for months. This will give our snowbound northern friends a fair chance.

4. Take photos as you go. The more the merrier.

5. When you’ve got what you want, put it in a bonsai pot (if it isn’t already) and photograph it from all four sides (and any other angel you would like). Hint: an uncluttered background that shows the tree to its best advantage is a good idea.

Stay posted

We’ll be following up with more information, like: categories, judges, deadlines, and whatever else we think will enhance the contest. Meanwhile, it’s not too soon for you to start planning.



Before. The stock Simon started with. A good example of what we mean when we say untrained.

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Bonsai tree: Mistakes & Apologies All Around

Our first mistake (see below) has to do with those of you who have already ordered this book.

If you are not familiar with it, it’s our famous Pine book and it’s coming back in April (maybe May). We recommend it for anyone interested in growing pine bonsai.



If you are interested, you can pre-order now and you’ll receive two discounts: $5 (for pre-ordering and pre-paying) plus a 10% to 30% book sale discount.

First mistake (don’t read this unless you’ve already ordered our Pine book)

Yesterday we took our Pine book off our site because of our new book sale. We didn’t want to upset any of you that had pre-ordered it and had paid more than you would if you ordered now.

But we’ve had second thoughts, so we put it back up. Otherwise we’ll be inundated with people looking for it.

First solution (same as above: don’t read this unless….)

Because we made a big deal about pre-ordering the Pine book, we want to make good with those of you who already ordered it and aren’t getting the extra discount.

—Continue reading below the fold if you want to know the rest of our first solution, or if you are interested in overseas shipping rates.—

So here’s what you do if you’ve already pre-ordered our Pine book: next time you order from us, put (10% additional discount) in the comments and we will give you a 10% discount on your order (just this once though!).

Second mistake (overseas shipping rates)

This isn’t really a mistake. More like a problem or a puzzle.

We’ve been trying to adjust our overseas shipping rates to make them more fair for everyone. However, the US Post Office doesn’t make it easy.

All shipments must go via air (no more savings on surface rates) and the PO’s mix of box sizes and rates are enough to drive any sane person crazy (and who’s all that sane to begin with?). Especially given our large mix of products, shapes, sizes and weights.

So, we’ve been adjusting and readjusting to try to find a non-existent sweet spot. In the process, we may have confused you, our even scared you away.

Second solution (this one’s not easy, but we’re trying)

If the shipping charge comes out too high on your order (we won’t know until it is packed), we will notify you and correct the amount before we submit the final charge to your credit card.

And, we will continue to try to refine our rates to make them as close to correct as possible.


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Bonsai tree: A Virtual Bunjin Challenge Winner

John Geanangel’s final rendition. Not only did John make some fairly radical changes, including a brand new pot (actually a rock serving as a pot), but he did it on youtube.

Thank you

Thank you to the twenty four of you who entered our Bunjin Contest. It’s always refreshing to know that someone is paying attention, especially when you are motivated enough to do something about it.

A tough act to follow

John Geanangel’s was the sixth entry and as soon as I saw it I figured the party was most likely over (sure enough that’s what our panel of distinguished judges thought too). This is not to say there weren’t some good ones, cause there were. Some were excellent. Still, they were all written (which is more or less what I asked for and expected), while the winner journeyed out of box and came up with something new.

Virtual bonsai skills

John created a video (below) that he put up on youtube. It’s comprised of step-by-step dynamic images that show how he got from there to here, along with clear spoken explanations of his thinking. I enjoyed John’s bonsai skills (virtual at least), his digital skills, and his explanations. My hunch is that you’ll enjoy them too.

watch?v=gKgVxc1M6Fw

The original. It’s from Bonsai Today issue 31. Here for more on it and the contest.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: Another Yamadori Rocky Mtn. Juniper–

This juniper has been growing in my backyard for a year. It’s a client tree, another of the great native yamadori that was collected by Randy Knight of Oregon Bonsai.

Junipers don’t like to be repotted very early, they do better when repotted in late spring when it’s warmer. So this tree, which is in a box, needed a prop of a wooden block that could support it for a few months, at which time it would be potted in a bonsai container. I also cut the box with a circular saw and leveled the soil surface at the new inclination so watering would be easier.

It’s a fun tree, dynamic, and I liked the tensions between the jin to the left and the foliage to the right. I get into arguments with people about which way the foliage should go when there is jin or shari present in a forceful way. The jin or shari, in the presumed environment of the tree, are a great hint: Where the storms are coming from, prevailing winds, etc. If a jin is pointing in one direction, the living part of tree should be styled in the other direction. I see even professionals doing very strange things with jin, as an indicator of wind direction. Only several trees ‘flag’ in the wind, spruce being one of them. Juniper is not one of them. Go into the mountains and the dead limbs are facing the environment. Check out the Monterey cypresses; same story.

To critique my own work , I think the apex should be about three inches to the left. That would bring it closer to the base and more stable. Something for the next reworking…

(I’ve noticed an acute lack of dissension on this blog… the folks who are thinking, ‘You’re a flake, Hagedorn, and don’t know what you’re doing,’ are not writing. Please write your real thoughts!)

Before work

After bending the large branches

Reworking the wooden box

After styling

Read more!

Bonsai tree: An unusual collected juniper

Source: Bonsai Tonight
An unusual collected juniper

If the collected Sierra juniper below tells a story, I’m not sure what to make of it. Nicknamed, “hermaphrodite,” the tree received a lot of attention at Bay Island Bonsai’s recent exhibit. The deadwood and shari are interesting, but not without controversy. Discussion often involves whether or not the primary branch is necessary. For now the answer is yes.

Sierra juniper

side view

Deadwood detail

Deadwood detail

deadwood detail

As displayed in the exhibit

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Bonsai tree: The Akio Kondo Bonsai Award

This awesomely stocky little Korean Hornbeam by Jonas Dupuich of Bonsai Tonight (photograph also by Jonas) recently won the Akio Kondo Bonsai Award at the Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit in Northern California (my apologies to Jonas for cropping his photo, but I wanted to show the tree as close up as possible).



Boon & Bay Island Bonsai

Boon Manakitivipart is one of North America’s most accomplished bonsai artists and the owner of Bonsai Boon (we’ve featured Boon’s trees several times on Bonsai Bark). He is also the driving force behind Bay Island Bonsai, which is one of North America’s paramount Bonsai Societies (maybe even the paramount bonsai society, though I could be asking for trouble). Boon is also teacher to several accomplished bonsai artists, including Jonas Dupuich.

Jonas Dupuich & Bonsai Tonight

Jonas Dupuich is Mr. Bonsai Tonight, which is one of my three or four favorite online bonsai destinations. In addition to being an ace photographer, Jonas is a bonsai artist in his own right, which brings us back to the Akio Kondo Bonsai Award and to the winning tree (above) that belongs to Jonas. For more on this tree, the award and a host of beautifully photographed high-quality bonsai, visit Bonsai Tonight.



You don’t see that many good slant style bonsai and this one qualifies in both respects: it’s good and it’s definitely slanting. Sierra juniper from Bay Island Bonsai’s 12th annual Exhibit. I don’t know who the artist is, but the photographer is (once again) Jonas Dupuich.

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Bonsai tree: Robert Critiques a Unique Trunk Line

Simulation by Robert Steven. The original, which was submitted by Ihwanuddin Lutfi is below.

Send us yours for a free critique

For a while we were getting regular submission, but now, the well seems to be a little drier. Don’t be shy. Robert can be very direct, but then, how many people have the expertise and confidence to be so direct? And so helpful in viewing your bonsai in a new light? You can send your photos to me, or directly to Robert.



Ihwanuddin Lutfi’s original. Notice how Robert softened the background color in his simulation (above).

Robert’s critique

Pemphis acidula is an iconic bonsai in Indonesia. This bonsai is very simple, yet presents interesting material for a critique.

The focal point of this bonsai is the unique trunk line. The artist obviously realizes this, but the overall composition needs to be improved in order to emphasize the focal point in better unity and create an overall sense of harmony.

The three main design elements: the trunk, the foliage and the pot, seem to be separated. The main object (the tree) is biased by the over-size pot. This is made even worse by the dark color of the pot, which creates extra visual weight and dominates the tree.

The composition can be improved by:

-Developing a bigger crown, which overlaps the trunk, and covering a little bit of the “neck” in order to create unity.

-Using a smaller round pot with a lighter color that doesn’t overwhelm the tree.

-Letting some leaves grow on the small lower branch and in the back to create accentuation, fill the wide-open space and to create depth.

-Carving the blunt cut of the jin at the top in order to create a more natural look.

The improved design in the simulation below shows a charming bonsai…however, yellow is not an ideal background color for bonsai.

General comments

There is more than one way to design any bonsai and my critiques and recommended solutions might not always fit your taste because of personal preferences. But I always try to give my opinion based on artistic and horticultural principles.

To understand my concepts better, please read my books Vision of My Soul and Mission of Transformation which are available at Stone Lantern.

You can also visit my bonsai blog.



Cose-up of Robert’s simulation.

My two cents

The background in Robert’s simulation is not a bright as the original. Based on Robert’s comment that “yellow is not an ideal background color for bonsai,” I imagine that the change is intentional. Unfortunately, making the background less bright also makes the tree a little duller. I played around with photoshop in an effort to brightened the tree without doing the same to the background, but my photoshop skills weren’t up to the job.

I have long considered Robert Steven to be one of the most daring and innovative bonsai artists anywhere. His tireless energy and enthusiasm and his understanding and respect for tradition combined with his willingness to break with convention, have done much to promote and move the art of bonsai forward.

Having now put things in perspective, I do have a small question about the rocks. The rock to the right blends in quite well, but I’m not sure why Robert left the two small rocks in front of the tree. Given the small size of the pot and the details in the nebari, they seem to distract more than enhance.

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Bonsai tree: Juniper for Kokufu show

This was the second tree I wired for the Kokufu show, shortly before the end of my stay in mid-January 2011. The challenge with working on juniper is to not overwork them so that they look controlled and rigid, but to retain that soft billowing feeling in the foliage masses. And yet… get the foliage masses where you want them. Tricky.

Before wiring. Apologies for the backgrounds in these photos... sometimes you don't have time to move things around for a better shot.

After wiring. The changes were slight; tightening up some areas, lowering the bulging foliage mass on the right, removing dangling foliage. As ever, the trick is knowing what to adjust and move, and what is fine where it is.

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Bonsai tree: Show trees are full trees

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Show trees are full trees

You’ve heard the phrase if you’ve heard Boon talk about show prep. Full trees demonstrate health and maturity. Although there are exceptions, most bonsai look their best when they’re full.

Fullness means different things for different varieties. I consider the deciduous trees below from Bay Island Bonsai’s recent exhibit to be “full.”

Chinese quince ‘Chojubai’

Root over rock Japanese maple

Shohin trident maple

Some of the other deciduous trees in the exhibit are on their way to becoming full. The trident maple below has a wonderful trunk, but the branches aren’t yet as well-developed.

Trident maple

The same could be said of the trident maple below. The primary branches are in place, as are a number of the secondary branches.

Root over rock trident maple

I’m not very familiar with Amur maples. Based, however on the specimen below, I imagine that they will ramify well in time.

Amur maple

Chinese quince grow quickly in hot and humid weather, less so in more temperate climes like Northern California. In time, however, I expect this tree to ramify well.

Chinese quince

The same can be said for bald cypress, a variety that can develop quickly in the right weather.

Bald cypress

Fullness is a different matter for conifers. Shown year-round with their foliage, conifers are often the fullest trees in winter exhibits. I think of the two Japanese black pines below as being “full.”

Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine

I’ll say the same for the following black pine. Bunjin are not typically as full as non-bunjin bonsai. The bunjin pine below, however, has a thick trunk, and can support the additional foliage. By showing the tree unwired, the artist conveys the tree’s age through the foliage as well as the trunk.

Japanese black pine

The following three pines aren’t as full as the above examples. I expect each to be as full as the above examples after a small number of good growing seasons.

Corkbark white pine

Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine

From the beginning, Bay Island Bonsai exhibits have featured trees at a number of stages in their development. And I think this will be the case for the foreseeable future. The trees in my collections are at wildly different stages, as are the collections of most enthusiasts I know – which is fun, as this means we all have plenty to look forward to as our trees and exhibits improve.

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