Bonsai tree: Vacation Gallery & Scratch Prizes

This kind of monster tropical bonsai is not all that uncommon in Taiwan. It’s a Ficus microcarpa by Chen, Wen-Zhong. It won the Superior Prize at the 2010 Taiwan Bonsai Creator Association. Amazingly, it’s only 10 years old. Height: 100cm, Style: Raft.

Vacation quickie

I’m supposed to be on vacation (if only…) so I’ll make it quick. Here’s a gallery of monster bonsai from Taiwan that turned up on facebook. I hope you enjoy it.

$1,000 Bonsai from Scratch deadline

Don’t wait much longer. You’ve got one week to send us your final submissions (no later than Oct 15th). Here are the details.

Two more gift certificates

Thanks to the of ofBonsai Magazine for donating two $25.00 gift certificates. Here are some more prizes to get your juices flowing (there are well over $1,000 total).

Another Ficus microcarpa. This one belongs to Hsiu Yang. It was awarded the Bronze medal at the 2010 Changhua County Bonsai Exhibition. Raft style.

A Crossostephium chinense ‘Makino’. It belongs to Cheng, Cheng-Kung.

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Bonsai tree: Min Hsuan Lo’s Bonsai Teaser

Most bonsai shots show the whole tree, though you sometimes see partial tree photos (teasers). In this case, the photo has no trouble communicating the power and character of this magnificent bonsai, even if it only shows a little more than half of the tree and completely excludes the pot.

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Bonsai tree: Tropical bonsai at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Tropical bonsai at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. contains a number of bonsai that need far more warmth and humidity than D.C. winters can provide. They are housed in a greenhouse at the museum where they are currently thriving despite the impending cold weather. I’ve included photos of several below along with a few trees from the North American and Chinese Collections.

As before, the photos are presented in order of number of years in training, beginning with the longest in training. The banyan below has been in training since 1906.

Ficus microcarpa – Chinese Banyan. In training since 1906. Donated by Shu-ying Lui. Chinese Collection.

Crataegus laevigata – English Hawthorn. In training since 1953. Donated by Bertram F. Bruenner. North American Collection.

Bougainvillea glabra – Bougainvillea. In training since 1969. Donated by James J. Smith. North American Collection.

Ficus microcarpa ‘Retusa’ – Chinese Banyan. In training since 1971. Donated by Mike Uyeno. North American Collection.

Schinus terebinthifolius – Christmas Berry. In training since 1973. Donated by Edward Nakanishi. North American Collection.

Conocarpus erectus – Buttonwood. In training since 1975. Donated by Mary Madison. North American Collection.

Acer buergerianum – Trident Maple. Donated by Stanley Chinn. Chinese Collection.

Acer buergerianum – Trident Maple. Donated by Michael Levin.

There were a number of signs that fall was upon us around the garden. Banana foliage in the Chinese Pavilion had recently been hit by frost. Elsewhere, fall colors filled the museum.

Garden at the Chinese Pavilion.

Japanese Laceleaf Maple – beautiful fall color.

Japanese Laceleaf Maple.

I’d like to thank Jack, Aarin, and the many volunteers that maintain these trees for our benefit. It’s an outstanding collection and I appreciate all of the effort that goes into its maintenance. Thanks!

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Bonsai tree: ficus microcarpa

This tree isn’t exactly eccentric, but it's just powerful, handsome and unique. It’s by Budi Sulistyo and graces the cover of his excellent tropical bonsai gallery book.
I think this next tree falls into the eccentric category.

This ficus microcarpa by Budi Sulisyo from an album entitled ‘Stone Pot’.
This tree falls short of some of Budi’s other trees. I imagine that he posted it to show trees in stone pots. Or just to break with convention or maybe to encourage those of us who aren’t big time bonsai artists to not be afraid to show our trees.
First, it is eccentric and that’s what this series is about. Second, the trunk is heavy and has some movement and character. Third, the leaves are well developed, fairly small and healthy looking. Fourth, there looks to be a pretty good nebari, but it’s hard to tell in the photo.
The comments above are just a few quick impressions. I have too much respect for Budi to simply dismiss anything he does, let alone file criminal charges.

It features some of best tropical bonsai anywhere by some serious bonsai heavy weights from Asia and beyond. Read more!