Bonsai tree: Oh So Close, But We Have A Winner!

Richard Warner’s Southern beech (with mountains) was the inspiration for the contest and, as it turns out, the winner with 28 points. Though just barely. Richard’s take is a $60 gift certificate to Stone Lantern, and world fame, of course.
Thanks to all of you who sent in your choices (21 people in all). Unfortunately, none of you picked all three winners, let alone picked them in order of finish, so we have no winning judges. Next time maybe.

James Miles Juniper somewhere in the high Sierras, won second place; just 2 points behind first place. James wins a $30 gift certificate to Stone Lantern.


Aaron Khalid’s Engelman spruce leaning over a blue lake in Banff, Alberta won third place; just one point behind second place, and is worth a $10 gift certificate to Stone Lantern.

Rodrigo Sousa’s Almond came in forth; just one point behind third place and just out of the money.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: Photo Art Contest: Entry #11

This photo was submitted by Aaron Khalid, who says about it: “I love this picture because, to me, it is a great example of a natural saikei or landscape planting. The engelmann spruce learning out over a blue lake in Banff, Alberta with their gentle movement and definite age creates a wonderful image. The geese add to the perspective of the image.”
Don’t be shy. Send us your photo. Best case, you might win. Worst case, well, there really is no worst case, though you might not win. Entries must be received by Monday, May 24th.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: So You Think Winter Is Over?

Icy larches from my back yard this morning (May 11). 25 degree Fahrenheit (-4 celsius) last night here in the lovely, underpopulated Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. I left a mist on all night to protect these newly dug and newly sprouted larches. It worked, the ice has melted and all is well

An ugly little Eastern white cedar (Cham thyoides) made beautiful by icing. Eastern white cedars (not to be confused with Northern white cedars ‘Thuja occidentalis’ which are abundant around here) don’t do very well here, it’s too cold. I’ve had three or four that I’ve been trying to grow for years, but all they do is struggle and barely stay alive.

I don’t know what this is. I dug it along side the road where the town keeps cutting stuff down, just to see if it has any possibilities. I doubt if it will ever be a bonsai, but it might fit in as a landscape plant.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Michael Hagedorn’s Ezo Spruce

As we are on the subject of ezo spruce, I thought you might want to see this potless ezo clump from Michael Hagedorns Crataegus Bonsai.

Here’s what Michael Hagedorn has to say about this planting: “I have the tree on a wooden board, which will be temporarily supported for about 2 years. After that time, I hope the roots will be solid enough to support the entire kokedama and be able to be placed directly on a bench — sans pot or slab.”
Michael Hagedorn is an accomplished and well known bonsai artist and teacher. Michael lives, practices and teaches in Portland Oregon. 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!