Bonsai tree: Elevating the Art of Bonsai Display

Takashi Iura facebook photos. Astounding tree and a very interesting display.

Daring display

Many of the bonsai on facebook and elsewhere are poorly displayed, though occasionally you see trees where the artist/photographer took the time and trouble to set up a decent display. But none (that we’ve seen) are displayed in such a daring and imaginative way as the trees in these photos.

It’s not just the what, but also the where

I usually like to see bonsai displayed with a bare minimum of background clutter. The cleaner the better. But in this case, the art of display has been elevated by the background; a space in which the feature bonsai both stands out and blends in. My guess is that it’s an art gallery that happens to be featuring Takahi Iura’s trees.

Another great shot with a different feature tree and a deadwood composition in front. Is this an art gallery replete with liquor to lubricate potential buyers?

First tree from another angle.

Close up of the wildly dramatic first tree. A little grainy, but you get the drift.

Relief aid??

I’m going to Iwate Prefecture. Reaching You’ll Isao ! ! ! From a post by Takashi Iura on OMACHI GAMBATTE

What you can do

You can go here to learn how to help Isao Omachi who lost his bonsai, his house, and everything he and his family own….

…or you can purchase Japanese tools and other Japanese items from Stone Lantern and help out while getting what you need for your bonsai (we committed to donate 10% of all sales of Japanese items to the Japanese Red Cross before we heard about Isao Omachi’s plight, so we’ll stick with that good cause).

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Bonsai tree: Robert Steven Transforms Raw Stock

Robert Steven’s simulation of a tree that was submitted by David Royinsyah (below).

Robert’s vision and artistry

This one is quite unusual. The stock is totally raw and not that interesting. Robert simply manufactured all the branching and the foliage from nothing and the trunks have been transformed from taperless sticks to what looks like naturally time-worn wood. He even created a new pot from scratch. Testaments to Robert’s vision and artistry.

David’s original provides an usual challenge for Robert.
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Bonsai tree: Swept Away

Doing what you can

We encourage you to think about helping the Omachi family. You can simply send your contribution to the address above, or, if you have questions you can contact marco@marcoinvernizzi.com.

Doing what we can

Stone Lantern is pledging 10% of all sales of Japanese items to the Japanese Red Cross and several of our contributors and customers have already pledged their help by donating contest winnings (see comments here).

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: The Facebook Dilemma & Japanese Tools

Nice tree. From facebook; Liang Lim’s photos. Beyond that, we know nothing. Except that we are swamped (it’s corporate tax time and etc….).

The Facebook problem

We receive several bonsai photos every day on facebook. Almost none mention the artist, unless the artist happens to be the same person who posts the photo (you’d be surprised how often this is NOT the case and how difficult it can be to determine whether or not it is the case). When we have time, we try to track down the owner/artist, but often, this is easier said than done. Beside, who but teenagers and retired people have time to spend hours every day on facebook? So that’s our dilemma and the tree above is a perfect example of this dilemma; we know the Liang Lim posted it, but beyond that, we know nothing.

Japan and our next tool shipment

As you know, the situation is horrible. especially in the northeast. But as you might expect, the quake and tsunami’s effects have spread throughout the country; rail service is halted, roads are clogged, phones are down and so forth. Among other much more important things, this means that our current tool order will be delayed. We don’t know for how long, but we do know that many of you are waiting for your orders. Hopefully it won’t be too long and thank you for hanging in there. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Speaking of Japanese products

We are donating 10% of all sales of Japanese products to the Japanese Red Cross. It’s not much, but hopefully someone will benefit.

Koyo Standard 8″ Concave Cutters: was $43.25, now $30.50. Designed to cut and cut and cut. All Japanese tools are good, and this one is no exception. However, if you like to pay a bit more for the highest quality, then you might consider this one: Koyo High Quality 8″ Concave Cutters: was $55.30, now $40.90 Either way, the price is right and the quality is excellent.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: Talkin ‘Bout Tools: Shears

Koyo Masters’ Grade Sword Shears. If you try them, you’ll love them. I do a lot of field growing, so a tool like this that allows for quick work (but can make surprisingly fine cuts) is perfect for the job.

Was $144.55 now $109.20

Compare our prices

Competition on the web is fierce and the old days of 100% markups are over. So we’ve been steadily lowering our prices at Stone Lantern. Now they are virtually at wholesale levels and we intend to keep them that way.

Koyo 8″ Kiri Bonsai Shears. Another of my favorites. It’s almost a bud shear and standard bonsai shear rolled into one: the blade is fine enough for your delicate work, yet strong enough for good sized cuts.

Was $25.40 now $17.35





Okatsune Masters’ Grade Pine Thinning Shears. If you ask gardeners in Japan, they’ll tell you that Okatsune makes the best hand tools anywhere. This one is designed to allow you to cut pine candles and small branches without crushing needles. Beyond that, I find it to be perhaps the best all around light weight (amazingly light weight) pruning tool I’ve ever tried.

Was $69.00 now $52.55

8″ All-purpose Scissors. Chinese cutting tools are getting better and better, as witnessed by this surprisingly sharp and durable little tool. If you are a beginner who’s just testing the bonsai or flower arranging waters, this is tool provides you and excellent and very affordable way to start. Was $7.20 now $4.70

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Bonsai tree: Chinese Garden of Friendship

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Chinese Garden of Friendship

I had the fortune to visit Australia last month. After a long, sleepless flight, I arrived in Sydney unable to check into my hotel for several hours. So I wandered around. Just five minutes from the hotel, I stumbled into Sydney’s Chinese Garden of Friendship. And right inside the front gate, I found myself in the “Penjing Courtyard.” I found it funny that my first photos of Australia featured small trees in pots.

Penjing Courtyard – Chinese Garden of Friendship

Penjing Courtyard

Penjing Courtyard

The rest of the garden was a pleasure – a perfect way to while away the warm afternoon.

Chinese Garden

Bridge and waterfall

The Seven Sages in Bamboo Forest

“Sage”

Waterfall

Slope below Clear View Pavilion

Australian White Ibis – these birds are all over Sydney

Iguana

Lantern in the Gurr (Clear View Pavilion)

Sleeping Boy Buddha

Frangipani (Plumeria acutifolia)

Grotto

Grotto behind Peace Pavilion

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Bonsai tree: Mystery Tree: Win $25 Gift Certificate

Stable and wild all at once. This tree has to be one of the most perfect and powerful bonsai around. The highly refined look of its massive crown, combined with its huge, wild nebari and trunk (twin trunks actually) and its almost static sense of stability, make for a mesmerizing bonsai.

Win a $25 gift certificate to Stone Lantern

Be the first to properly identify the owner (artist), the species, where this photo was taken and the name of the photographer (if you are the photographer, please do not enter this contest), and you’ll win a $25.00 gift certificate to Stone Lantern.

Put your answer in the comments below

Be careful; if you put up a partial answer, then you’re just helping someone else win.

Sales

It’s a good time to visit Stone Lantern. Right now we’ve got sales on Tools, Books and Back Issues of Bonsai Today.

Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!

Bonsai tree: GSBF Collection North

Source: Bonsai Tonight
GSBF Collection North

After visiting the GSBF Mammoth Fundraiser last weekend, I stopped by the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Spring is a great time to visit the garden as the quince are in bloom and the maples are just starting to leaf out. It’s also a good time of year to see the blooms that make the winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata) unique.

Winter hazel blossoms

Winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata)

The garden is home to the largest pomegranate bonsai I’ve seen. According to the garden’s website, the tree was “Dug from an old orchard (thought to have been planted in late 1800s) in Lodi by Vince and Kathy Owyoung. They donated the tree, Sept. 2002. Styled by Seiji Shiba. A glass jar was found embedded in the trunk. Potted at the Garden, Aug. 5, 2008.”

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Pomegranate – trunk detail

A number of Japanese maples had just started to leaf out. The new foliage is beautiful.

Japanese maple

Japanese maple foliage

Japanese maple – note bamboo used to arrange trunks

Japanese maple grove

I’ve watched the California juniper below develop for close to 15 years – it has an interesting curve to the trunk. From the website: “Collected in 1954 from the high desert region near Palmdale in southern California, this tree was styled about 1964.”

California juniper

The fruit on the citrus below puts the tree in perspective. Every visitor that passed by stopped for a closer look.

Orange

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Bonsai tree: There’s Something About Larches

Larches in training by Francois Jeker.

Good stock helps

Larches are easy to grow (especially if you live in the north), easy to train and they are naturally attractive trees. If you start with decent stock and you have some grasp of design and technique, you can end up with the kind of results you see above.

Near limitless possibilities

This is not to say each tree couldn’t have been styled differently as they certainly could have. Give the same potential bonsai to five different bonsai artists and you’ll end up with five different trees.

Bonsai Aesthetics

If you’d like to dig into the aesthetics of bonsai, check out Francois’ excellent book, Bonsai Aesthetics. You can also visit his website.

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Bonsai tree: Alive & Well in Rio

We haven’t done anything with our calendar of events for a while, so what better way to start catching up, than with a good excuse to visit Rio.



Projeto Bonsai

The other day, in our ongoing quest to discover new bonsai information sources, events, galleries, etc, I stumbled upon Projeto Bonsai. I wasn’t familiar with them, but from the looks of things, they are doing what they can to keep bonsai alive and well in Rio de Janeiro.

Returning a favor

Two things caught my eye: the graphic above, with its promising, freshly carved little tree, and a review of Robert Callaham’s Satsuki Azalea book (published by Stone Lantern) with a link to Stone Lantern. So we decided to return the favor.

Here’s a photo of Carlos Tramujas’ book and a link to a excellent site on Carlos and his nursery. The photo below is the aforementioned Satsuki Azaleas by Robert Callaham.







Source: Bonsai Bark Read more!