Bonsai articles and blog posts
Other Bonsai places of interest in Japan
Needless to say, there are literally hundreds of interesting Bonsai sights in Japan that are left uncovered in this section. Some of the most important ones will be covered briefly in this article. These include the world famous garden of master Masahiko Kimura near Omiya Bonsai village, the Bonsai area close to Osaka and the Taikan museum (owned by master Shinji Suzuki) in Obuse.
Pinus Sylvestris in Ikadabuki (Raft) style
In the year 2005, it happened that through a very good friend of mine I was able to see some pictures of sales materials. I was looking for a Pinus Sylvestris able to fly off my collection and to provoke emotions, the less artificial possible, remaining enchanted every time I looked through it. I was shocked immediately by this exemplar for its maturity due to the ages of cultivation in vase and for its style (ikadabuki) very rare and suggestive.
My compliments go to the previous owner Peter Brown, for excellent cultivation all over these years, and to Gordon Duffet for the magnificent vase.
A 4 years-long renoval; Quercus ilex Bonsai
Every day we have objectives to catch up trying to arrive to the goal in the best possible way searching for old and new experiences that could teach and guide us without errors on this route. This is a short story where technique, cultivation and passion render this Quercus ilex a Bonsai ready for a maturation path made of goals to reach with time, without haste and with great respect.
From tree to Bonsai; styling a Cupressus sempervirens tree
When we work on a Yamadori, we must remember and respect the great work that Nature did with it. We do always arrive after her.... Cultivation, cures and the elevation of its beauty is what we do when a Tree takes the path of Bonsai.
I do repute this Cupressus Sempervirens to be a Nature's work of art for its unusual style, for its character and for the force it releases. The art of the Nature joins our own art, so that we can create a well-esteemed Bonsai for the years to come.
Yamadori: Shohin Bonsai
Ones first image when thinking of ‘yamadori’ bonsai is of a large tree discovered in the mountains with an ancient twisted trunk, shari and jin and beautiful cultivated foliage. One does not at first think of a yamadori shohin bonsai.
There are yamadori style shohin shimpaku that are cultivated to appear as their larger brothers and sisters in the mountains. Some of these are fantastic with all the elements of naturally created yamadori.
Pots used for Shohin and Mame trees
Pots used for Shohin and Mame are a study in themselves. Beautiful pots are now being made in the West for Shohin and Mame, especially with the increased interest shown in this variety of bonsai since the new millennium.
The Japanese have also developed a greater interest in Shohin, resulting in the creation of a broader variety of pots. Pots in all price ranges are available from bonsai stores or the Internet.
Advanced wiring: Developmental and Exhibitive Wiring Techniques
Using wire, both aluminum and copper, for bonsai art design is a relatively recent practice, dating from the 20th century. Before the advent of wire, string and rope were used to aid in the aesthetic design of bonsai. The use of such rope for binding and manipulating plant material likely dates from the Heian period (794-1185AD) and was first used for the maintenance and design of larger garden plant material known as niwaki in Japanese.
Bonsai presentation; use of Haiku in a Tokonoma display
If you’ve ever attended one of my talks on displaying bonsai, you will recall my enthusiasm for doffing the cap towards traditional Japanese display ethics while adopting those principles for our own environment and indigenous tree species here in the UK or Northern Europe.
In this display with English oak, I made this scroll with a traditional brush painted Haiku poem for a theme on hibernation, which could be considered perfect for early to mid winter display.