Bonsai tree:Japanese Slab Forest & Other Issues

This illustrious bonsai forest is from Bonsai Today issue 23. Among other things, it shows how one very strong bonsai tree can add drama and power to a bonsai forest planting. Though the original doesn’t say, I’ll guess that it’s by Saburo Kato (Japan’s most revered bonsai artist) and that the trees are Ezo spruce.
Most of the content in Bonsai Today magazine is from the old Japanese masters, and even though there is much to be excited about in contemporary Western bonsai, you would be hard pressed to find a forest with this level of refined precision anywhere outside Japan. Even the ferns and other little plants that make up the forest floor seem to be in scale.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: River Critiques: We Have Two Winners!

Way back on April 4th, we asked our readers to critique this planting (A River in India by Lew Buller, in his Saikei and Art). Now, we have two winners. First place ($25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern): Donna Lynn. Second place ($15 gift certificate): Zack Clayton. (winners can contact wayne@stonelanten.com to find out how to get your prizes).
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Saikei. Create a Planting with a Deep Ravine

This planting from Toshio Kawamoto’s Saikei classic is quite similar to the planting on the cover: same trees, same pot and somewhat similar rocky ravine separating two tree and moss covered areas. The main difference is that this one shows a deep ravine. The rocks that define it represent tall vertical cliffs.

How to create a deep ravine saikei
The purpose of this section is to show how to create a deep ravine saikei. In fact, if you look at the drawings, it is almost as if the author is inviting you to duplicate his work.



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Melba Tucker’s Olive and Suiseki

This dramatic European perfect olive forest on a rooted burl is by Melba Tucker. It is borowed from The National Bonsai Foundations 2008 calendar.

Though it goes without saying
This old gem looks like a forest growing on a rocky ledge somewhere in Spain and though it goes without saying, I will say it anyway: it is one of the most wonderful, natural looking forest plantings anywhere. If you are ever anywhere near Washington DC, check it out. It’s at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.



Melba found this distinctive American Pattern Stone in the Mojave Desert. The photos are by Peter Bloomer. Peter and his wife, Mary Holmes Bloomer are the editors.




A Chrysanthemum stone from Japan. Read more!

The Formal Bonsai Forest

Finished for now. Three years after planting. Masahiko Kimura styled this Ezo spruce (Picea Glehnii) planting with a high mountain stand of conifers in mind. You may also notice how Kimura enhanced the feeling of age by removing or jining about half of the limbs. Trees tend to shed limbs as they age. This is especially true of trees in forests where growth folows light.




An intermediate stage. One year after planting and two years before the top photo. It’s quite powerful at this stage, wires and all. Notice how all the trees are almost perfectly straight and vertical. The look isn’t completelly natural yet but still prety impresive.



Freshly planted. Kimura started with inexpensive, untrained trees. The placement of each tree is carefully thought out to create a natural feel. We will discuss some of the concepts behind placement in future posts. Read more!

Bonsai forest pictures

Here are some amazing forest pictures, I like bonsai forests most of all, just incredible nature art:
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