One thing that jumps out for me with this remarkable tree, is the well developed ramification all the way out to the tips of the twigs. Here's Peter Tea's caption, "The deciduous work begins! Defoliated this Korean Hornbeam and a slight thinning and cut back."
Another one with good ramification. Here's Peter's caption, "Ramified Seiju Elm in a Sara Rayner pot! It’s going to get a repot in February."
Here's what Peter wrote about this tree, "Chinese quince getting more refined! The roots are also starting to fuse and we’ll show more of that in the next repotting. Graft I did in early 2023 up top is growing and looking forward to fill the hole there. Pacific Bonsai Expo 202?"
I'm looking forward to seeing this tree in few years after Peter has worked some of his magic. Here's what he has to say about it, "Japanese flowering apricot is blooming at the garden! We’re going to graft a few branches closer to the interior in March and dense this guy up!"
We'll let Peter do the talking, "Eli, Max and myself headed down to the Bonsai Garden in Lake Merritt and repotted this 1500+ year old California Juniper. It took three of us to lift the tree out of the pot and we were able to get the tree into a smaller oval pot."
By the way, Lake Merritt in Oakland CA is the home of the Golden State Bonsai Federation's bonsai garden.
Here's Peter's story with one, "Eli and I making some pancakes! Repotted a number of Black pines in big nursery containers. Whipped out the Sawzall to take slices of the rootball away to save time. Once we got close to the roots we planned to keep, we went at it with hand tools."
Peter's caption for this one, I purchased this Seiju elm back in 2017 at an auction and the first thing I did was cut all the branches to stubs and repotted it into a smaller pot. I did this because the branches were very leggy and pot was huge! After a few years of branch development I sold it to a client of mine and has been under his care for the last 5 years. He has since decided to downsize his collection and now the Elm has retuned to the garden! The tree is now just starting to bud out due to warm days in Sacramento last week. I plan to continue its branch development and hope to show it in the future! 🤩
The tree stand right at 17inches tall."
One more by Peter and it's a doozy. Here's what he wrote, "Rebuilding this funky little Black Pine! Looking forward to a good 2024 and the continued refinement of this tree.
"I feel like I should give this tree a name. What do you think?"
Sources:
Itoigawa juniper. There's a lot going on here, with such a wild, free play of fluid movement. I think the artist was fearless, not to mention skilled, when he or she set about to transform so much living tissue into dead wood.
This one, which Michael calls simply Chinese juniper, is another tree where the deadwood demands our attention..
Aha. Bunjin. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you see that many great bunjin (literati) style trees outside of Asia. I like both the fine deadwood touches as well as the way the whole tree hangs together, with the downward sweep of the branches and trunk's strong upward movement (at times like this, I wish I were a poet).
Michael's books are here and links to Michael's site and blog are below.
Sources:
We found this sterling Silver Fir at Bonsai Mirai. Here is their description:
Pacific Coastline - age: 100-250 Years - size: Large - collector: Jason Eider - potter: Byron Myrick - initial creator: Eric Shikowski - availability: Private Collection.
This magnificent Coastal redwood in an upright weeping style was styled by Eric Schrader. We found in on FB at Bonsai Society.
I've seen full grown Acacia along some highways in costal California, but I don't think I've ever seen one quite like this. It was posted by Pete Inglis on FB. Here's what he had say about it: "Friday night Bonsai. It's been a while. Acacia Howitti, Sticky Wattle. Imported Chinese pot. Loving the early spring weather."
Here's a highly stylized Moss cypress by Peter Tea. And here's what Peter wrote about it: "The yearly cut back and thinning of this Moss Cypress has occurred! Tedious work but well worth it. We’re planning on repotting to tree into a different pot next Spring."
Another one from Peter Tea. "2nd defoliation for this root over rock Trident Maple. Most of the time I defoliate this tree twice a year though sometimes just once depending on the strength of the tree that year. It’s nice seeing the Winter silhouette in the middle of Summer."
This one was posted by 鳳鳴盆栽 on FB, and here's their comment:
"For all of you "WTF"? It may be considered "imitation", but it is a treasure to me. I've gotten much better after a couple of years since I was shaking. I love the shape of this tree 🤣 cleaned and measured. Fall leaves are just around the corner. My energy is number one 👍"
Another one by 鳳鳴盆栽. Are you detecting a pattern?
The other side.
Here's another one from Bonsai Mirai. This time from FB. It's about their Summer Tree Mercantile.
Gallery Sources:
I love everything about this tree. The lovely spring leaves, the pleasing shape of the crown, the profusion of rugged and distinctive trunks and and visible lower branches. And of course the powerful nebari. Here's Walter Pall's caption, "Japanese maple #30. About 65 cm high (26"). Pot by Walter Venne. Tree is originally from a cutting in a nursery in South Korea. It was imported to Germany in May, 2021."
Here's a beefy Oriental hornbeam by Walter. No leaves so you can see the profusion of small branches and twigs. This wild natural look is one of Walter's trademarks.
Another Oriental hornbeam, but with leaves and a bit more pleasing to the eye. What a difference a few months make.
Another rough and ready hornbeam. But this time a cascade.
Aha, a little less rugged and a lot more elegant. It's Walter's Trident maple #11. About 50 cm high (20"). Pot by Walter Venne. The tree was imported from Japan in 2001 and was styled by Jurg Staheli of Switzerland until Sept 2019 and then by Walter.
Another colorful Japanese maple. It's Walter's #17. height 40 cm (16"). Pot by Walter Venne. Tree originally imported from Korea.
Sources:
David Benavente seems to present an endless train of brilliant bonsai. Most set in his perfect (yet relaxed) Bonsai Studio garden wonderland.
Another one from David Benavente. Here's the caption, "New available. Wild olive, wild bonsai. Just restyled by Pablo Comesaña."
Here's one that was posted by Moyogi Chris at the Bonsai Club Eda Uchi Kai on FB. Here's the caption, "A species not seen every day as a bonsai, this Potentilla fruticosa. But this specific tree from one of our club members, as shown during our recent exhibition, is not only extremely well developed, the tree/pot combination is just as stunning as well. Sometimes good things come together ...."
After and Before. Itoigawa Juniperus chinensis by Francesco Santini.
Pinus parviflora by Francesco Santini.
This one was posted by Kuanghua Hsiao. Here's the caption, 分享自 Komunitas Bonsai 的的相片。And here's the machine translation, Shared photo from Komunitas Bonsai.
Here are a couple crazy Buttonwoods by Ed Trout who lives in Florida.
Here's Ed's caption. "I grew up climbing Buttonwoods during my youth in the Florida Keys. I clearly remember the odd shapes of these incredible trees, and how beautiful they are as giant specimans. The “crazy” ones stuck in my brain, so that’s probably why I style many of my trees in those contorted shapes. Not sure if the shapes are crazy, or it’s me that’s crazy 😂? Then again maybe I do know…."
And finally a Bougainvillea, also by Ed Trout.
Sources:
We're featuring just one tree again today. It belongs to Michael Roberts, a Southern California bonsai artist. Here's Michael's caption, "30+ year old twin trunk Cork Bark Elm prepped for the Baikoen “winter Silhouettes” show this January 13th & 14th from 10-5 at the Los Angeles Arboretum. Hope to see you all there."
Before and after trimming from back in August when it had leaves. You might notice how much light comes through in the after shot. John Naka's axiom about enough space for the birds to fly though was well heeded.
Sources:
Chojubai dwarf flowering quince by Mark Arpag.
I know this Beech belongs to Mark Arpag and that I got it on FB, but now I can't find what Mark wrote with it. Anyway, I like its natural feel and simple beauty.
Mark doesn't mention the variety, but he did offer this message on Dec 25th.
Peace, Joy & Harmony
Today & every day
Merry Christmas
I guess we're a little late with this, but it's a lovely photo and the sentiments in the first two lines could extend beyond the holidays.
One more by Mark Arpag.
Sources:
Can you see this...
... when you look at this?
Or how about this? All the same tree reimagined and styled by Harry Harrington. I think maybe Harry has been visited by the great Bonsai Muse.
Here's what Harry wrote about it. "Sometimes I’m forced to make room in my personal collection. It’s just not possible to keep everything when I have so many other trees coming through at a reasonable quality.
This is an English Elm bonsai I collected in 2004 (see image from 2005), that has brought a lot of pleasure but will soon be on its way to another garden.
I have heaps of progression and instructive images of the tree from over the years and will be in a book/magazine at some point in the future!"
Have you gotten your copy of Harry Harrington's Foundations of Bonsai yet? It is a must-have for bonsai beginners and long-time practitioners alike. Harry Harrington is a unique force in our world bonsai community. What he accomplishes with inexpensive, undeveloped and sometimes unattractive material is nothing short of impressive. We can all benefit from Harry evolution as a bonsai grower and artist of considerable dedication and skill.
You can get your copy here.
Sources:
No IDs are provided for the trees, so you'll have to enjoy them nameless.
Here's that little companion piece in the photo above.
Another of Andres' trees. Everything about it suggests Ginkgo.
Muscular! We could guess, but we won't. Can't quite make out the little complimentary piece....
... but this might help.
Here's Andres' caption with this one, There are trees that are engraved in our retina once contemplated. This is definitely one of them.. let's walk together, reinventing ourselves and reinventing ourselves.
Gallery Sources:
Andres Alvarez Iglesias on FB
Andres on Bonsai Bark
This colorful Japanese winterberry belongs to David De Groot. Here's his caption, My little JAPANESE WINTERBERRY (Ilex serrata) is still very much in development but is showing some Holiday Cheer.
Here's Dave's caption with this one, My Mugo Pine is getting into the act with a "Three Friends of Winter" display of the Mugo with a small Ume in a Bamboo container.
Dave decides to promote his most excellent book. Speaking of the holidays, if you still haven't gotten a gift for that special bonsai someone, there is still time to order my book "Principles of Bonsai Design" from Stone Lantern. Covering not only design, but container selection, display and evaluation, it's a book they will refer to again and again.
I'll second that!
In Dave De Groot's own words, I just finished the WINTER WIRING of my "Windblown" Chinese elm. I have shown this a couple times before, but the reason I'm showing it today is that after several years of training, I did not have to move any large branches, and as a result can show it with no large wire. I used only a few pieces of 2 mm, and the rest was all 1-1/2mm and 1mm. Parts of some branches could simply be trimmed, with no added wire. This is a good time to wire as the winter buds are tight and undamaged by handling small branches in congested spaces.
This one and the next two are pages from David De Groot's Principles of Bonsai Design.
We'll let the images do the talking.
Dave De Groot (in the vest) with Mauro Stemberger, who visited Dave recently. You might imagine Dave and Mauro worked that elegant Juniper together.
Gallery Sources:Peter Tea presented so many phenomenal shots from the 2023 Taikan-ten Expo, that it's hard to know where to start. I guess this juniper will do...
... or maybe we should have started with this Japanese black pine?
And then there's always this abundantly fruited little Princess persimmon.
Another Juniper from Peter Tea's Taikan-ten photos.
And one more black pine. This one looks like it might be cork bark.
Gallery Sources:
Akamatsu, aka Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). This one and the others shown here are from the 2019 Kofuku Exhibition.
Coiled muscle.
Muscle and movement accentuated by the lines in the bark.
Battle scars and a strong rugged base lend a feeling of age.
Gallery Sources:
]]>The second book we recommend for bonsai enthusiasts is Michael Hagedorn's Bonsai Heresy, a deep dive into the art and science of bonsai. Scroll down for more from Dave De Groot and Michael Hagedorn.
David De Groot's now famous Redwood bonsai bridge. David is one of North America's most respected bonsai teachers and the author of Principles of Bonsai Design. He was also the curator of the Pacific Bonsai Museum for 25 years (Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection at the time).
Principles of Bonsai Design by David De Groot
Dave De Groot's Masterpiece is back. And it's better than ever. New content and superior new layout & design makes the best English language how-to book on Bonsai Design even better. If you really want to learn bonsai, all the way from basics to advanced design principles and techniques, this is the book for you.
A piece of Dave De Groot's meticulously well organized, clean and all around impressive bonsai collection.
A young and happy Dave De Groot with the great John Naka 'The Dean of American Bonsai.' Circa 1974.
Michael Hagedorn is the author of Bonsai Heresy, a must-read for any and all bonsai lovers.
Here is Michael's impressively unique Vine maple tower. In addition to a wide range of traditional bonsai skills and knowledge, Michael's fearlessness and humor when it comes to breaching established bonsai conventions is evident.
Bonsai Heresy by Michael Hagedorn
This photo was posted in a review of Bonsai Heresy by Brown C. that reads as follows:
" Bonsai Heresy, by Michael Hagedorn, is an articulate, balanced, researched, captivating — and sometimes witty — discussion of bonsai topics covering everything from techniques, to supplies, to aesthetics. So thoughtful and well written, I couldn't put it down. It's a serious book, more than 300 pages, substantive for the longtime practitioner as well as accessible to the bonsai beginner. Personally, I agree with Michael's assessment and conclusions regarding — well, everything. I'm sure that I'll be going back to reread portions as various situations arise. I highly and enthusiastically recommend the book!!!"
For more on Dave de Groot, check out his New Zealand Bonsai Demo.
For more on Michael Hagedorn, check out this collection of his bonsai.
Gallery Sources:
David De Groot on FB
David De Groot on Bonsai Bark
Michael Hagedorn Crataegus Bonsai
Michael Hagedorn on Bonsai Bark
The fingers give away just how tiny and intricate this Rock-over-rock wire sculpted bonsai is. The artist Ken To, someone we featured several times way back in the pre-pre-covid era.
It's impressive how much scenery Ken can fit into such a small space.
Gone fishing.
Must be a juniper with all that deadwood.
Gallery Sources:
Art by Ken To
nanobonsai
Ken To on Bonsai Bark
Developing Bonsai from Seed is offered by Bonsai Empire and it's not just about seeds, but includes other time tested ways to start bonsai from scratch. Scroll down, take a look, give it some thought and then sign up (you can watch it whenever you want as many times as you want). You'll be happy you did.
Michael Hagedorn, bonsai artist teacher, author of Bonsai Heresy and Post-Dated, and the perhaps the person who has had the most profound influence on my bonsai journey...
... and Bjorn Bjorholm who just might be the most recognized North American bonsai artist and teacher (and for good reason). BTW, both Michael and Bjorn apprenticed in Japan.
Another shot of Michael from Bonsai Empire's Developing Bonsai from Seed course.
And Bjorn again.
Here's your link to Bonsai Empire's Developing Bonsai From Seed course.
Speaking of Bonsai Empire's Courses
and Michael Hagedorn: Bonsai Empire's Kimura Masterclass, Reviewed by Michael Hagedorn
Sources:
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Here's a representative sample of bonsai by 鳳鳴盆栽. Or, at least some of his bonsai.
None of the trees are ID'd, but as you can see, there is a preference for junipers.
Loop to loop.
Same tree. New apex.
Maybe not eccentric, but a little unusual.
Ditto.
A lot of his tree's are rangy like this, but this one strikes me as particularly well done.
Loopy Crape myrtle.
One of my favorites. Not as unconventional as some, but still pretty wild.
Aha. 鳳鳴盆栽's perfect nod to tradition.
Gallery Sources:
]]>Japanese maple, photo by Jonas Dupuich (all of today's bonsai photos are by Jonas).
Olive.
Scroll down for more photos from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society's 37th annual show.
Grafted juniper. Photo by Jonas Dupuich.
Chinese elm.
Satsuki azalea 'Akanagi' from the recent Redwood Empire Bonsai show.
Olive.
Gallery Sources:
All of today's photos were borrowed from Bill Valavanis,
Looks like a root-on-rock juniper. With the exception of this one and for the sake of accuracy, I will forego captions unless they are Bill's.
Special exhibit: Japanese Black Pine from the Imperial collection.
Kokufu prize. Korean hornbeam.
Kokufu prize. Japanese black pine.
Gallery Sources:
]]>This Juniper from this year's Kokufu Exhibition belongs to Doug Paul, owner of the Kennett Collection in Kennett, PA. Doug often has trees accepted by Kokufu.
The photo is by Bill Valavanis, who, no matter what, keeps showing up at all the major Japanese (and other) exhibitions.
Here's Doug's whole display.
This powerful maple (looks Trident from here) with its rather impressive nebari is owned by Mark Cooper, another Westerner (UK).
Had to show this one. The boundaries of what is acceptable in major exhibits and elsewhere have expanded over the years. In my fifteen years of bonsai blogging, the movement beyond conventional styling seems to have accelerated. Especially in Japan of all places. Or maybe Bill just has an eye for the unusual.
Here's another one that strikes me as a tad out of the mainstream.
No caption with this one.
None with this pine either.
It wouldn't be a bonsai exhibition without some Shohin displays.
Gallery Sources:
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No variety is given with any of the photos featured here and we won't bother to guess. They all belong to (or belonged to back in 2016 when they were taken) Javi Campos Juan.
Great tree with a powerful base and excellent taper, but what about that distracting shoot on the left? Well, eventually it will be shortened, but for now it's there to draw energy into the branch and hasten its development. It will be removed once its purpose is accomplished. It's called a sacrificial branch and sometimes they are allowed to grow very long before they are removed.
You may have noticed by now that these are exceptional bonsai. The skilled work of an accomplished bonsai artist over many years.
This gnarly little tree with its gnarly little pot also shows a sacrificial shoot.
A closer look without the hand and pot.
And one more. The more I look at these photos, the more impressed I am.
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You don't see many trees that are as distinctive and altogether outstanding as this one. Unless you're somewhere like the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, which is where this photo was taken. It wasn't identified, but at a glance and with a nebari like that, I'd say maple. Except for how white it is (could it be a Japanese beech?). Anyway, the profusion of so many flowing branches with such fine ramification all the way out to the tips, along with that nebari, make for a tree that's designed to stop minds.
We've shown this one before, but the photo shows it in a different light (literally). I don't know what kind of pine it is, though it looks like it could be a Japanese white, nor do I know if the rock is natural or manmade. But I do know that that together the result is just right.
Without the leaves you might confuse Japanese maples with Trident maples. Both can feature dominant nebari. However, Japanese maples tend to be more delicate than Tridents and this one has that delicate feel.
Nice raft (perhaps sinuous root) style Japanese white pine.
Here's a powerful tree for you. I can't see the foliage clearly enough to guess (perhaps yew or shimpaku juniper?)
Nice shot. Looks like a shimpaku juniper in winter color.
This one looks like a shimpaku in summer color.
We've shown various photos of this tree four or five times over the years, but I think this shot with such lovely sunset (sunrise?) light is perhaps the best of all.
Gnarly works for this one. Or Gnarled too. How about very old?
A piece of the Museum, bird's eye view.
Gallery Sources:
Four powerful shohin trees by Miyazato Rintaro. Two junipers and two pines.
Miyazato Rintaro posted these four small trees in 2019. Here's a strange machine translation for you... "For Sale. I'm going to give it to the net in the afternoon. This time, from mini bonsai to small pieces, We have a tree with sights. Please contact us"
Machine translations have gotten steadily better over that last few years. By now you might expect something a little more sensible.
Bill Valavanis took these two photos at the 45th Gafu Ten Shohin Bonsai Exhibition in Japan. Both are Shohin and both are in strikingly brilliant yellow pots that are so strong that only extraordinarily strong trees could hold their own. And, as you can see, both trees do just that.
This tiny Shimpaku juniper belongs to Yoshiyuki Kawada. As do the next three trees below.
Teeny pyracantha (firethorn).
No ID given, but it looks like it might be a Crape myrtle.
Another Shimpaku juniper.
Whoa! Just found this photo on FB. Looks like Yoshiyuki knows something about making pots too.
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We'll start with this famous Seigen Japanese maple. If you've been around a while, you've seen it...
... but have you ever seen it like this?
And by the way, that's Bill Valavanis our 'local bonsai man' just in case you haven't figured it out (and if 'local' is Rochester, NY).
Here's what Bill wrote about this maple. "This afternoon I thinned out my large Seigen Japanese maple, well almost defoliated it. The fine twigs must now be checked and thinned out."
Moving along.
Almost there. This may be that moment where he said... "The fine twigs must now be checked and thinned out."
So much of success is about making good choices. Here's what Bill wrote about this pot and the choice he made... "Yesterday I finally figured out what to plant in the wild commemorative container from the Omiya Bonsai Cooperative. Made from the Koyo Kiln. So today I plated it with large Horsetail."
Quoting Bill Valavanis again... "Today we transplanted my Scots pine I've been training for 50 years. Needs repotting! Last time 2012."
It's already transformed some over the years. Now to see what Bill does with it.
Looks like the roots are trying to push the tree out of the pot.
Aha! Transformation complete (for now at least).
Gallery Sources:
Three merging crowns with soft shades of pink. From the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.
Here's one you could show without its flowers. Muscular and highly defined trunks like this are not uncommon with Satsuki.
There's a lot going on here. Especially with the tree on the right; twin straight elegant trunks, horizontal lines contrasting with the vertical trunks, and an abundance of brilliant flowers with lovely mixed hues and shades. And lest we forget, a very impressive nebari which lends of feeling of stability to the whole tree.
If it wasn't peeking out at the top, you might not know that part of the trunk is rock.
Not only does the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum feature stunning bonsai, but their display areas are perhaps as good as it gets.
I love the size, spread and shape of this tree. A fitting bookend with the first tree (way up at the top).
Gallery Sources:
All of today's photos were borrowed from Ryan Neil's Bonsai Mirai on FB. However what you see here is merely the tip, and I strongly encourage you to visit Mirai and avail yourself to the wealth of valuable bonsai insights and endless supply of great photos you'll find there (scroll down for links).
At the risk of stating the obvious, the attention to detail and particularly the integration of bonsai and architecture is as good as you'll find anywhere.
This year has been amazingly good for irises here in northern Vermont, and it looks like perhaps the same is true of northwestern Oregon.
This photo and next are from a Mirai feature on refining larches.
The following is a quote from Ryan Neil. For the whole story visit Bonsai Mirai (links below). "Watering is the most fundamental and crucial technique to master in cultivating bonsai. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most elusive and misunderstood, with a copious amount of confounding advice out there about when and why we water. At Mirai, we always seek to ask ourselves the ‘Why’ behind every interaction we have with our trees to ensure we address their individual needs rather than the hearsay of commonly accepted practices."
Mirai specializes in yamadori* and yamadori specializes in deadwood.
*Yamadori are bonsai collected in the wild.
All of today's photos were borrowed from Ryan Neil's Bonsai Mirai on Facebook. Some were posted with captions and others were not. Because of their simple beauty (and time considerations), we are not including most of the captions. However, I strongly encourage you to visit Mirai and avail yourself to the wealth of valuable bonsai insights, not to mention the endless supply of great photos you'll find there.
Gallery Sources:
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Before shot of one of Dave De Groot's demo trees in New Zealand. It's a Thuja (Arborvitae), often called Cedar here in the states, even though it's in the Cypress family. Dave says it's an urban yamadori (tree collected from a landscape). No matter how we label it, we can all agree that it's a monster.
Four hours and four hands later (Dave had an assistant). Looks like a promising direction and to my eyes has the mark of Dave written all over it.
Before. This pine was getting ready for another Dave De Groot demo somewhere in New Zealand.
After. Windblown, nice touch!
Trident maple in what looks like late fall color. This and the other photos shown here were taken by Dave De Groot on his recent NZ trip. It might have been spring here, but it was autumn down there.
This unusual pine was also shot by Dave.
More tree from Dave's trip.
Seduction! Courtesy of Dave.
Gallery Sources:
Thought we'd lead with this one. Even though the tree is a little lost against the background, still its shape is quite distinctive like so many yamadori (bonsai collected in the wild) and you can see what it is (barely).
Feel free to guess or simply enjoy without knowing (no captions, so some of today's trees will remain unidentified).
Another yamadori (I think they all are, with possible exception). Based on the bark and foliage, you might guess spruce for this one. Or, maybe if your eyes are young enough...
Aha, another Ponderosa. Endowed with an excellent nebari and of course well-aged bark. I wonder if it was close to this near-perfect informal upright shape when it was dug.
Nice tree.
Would this one surprise you if it turned out to be a Rocky mountain juniper?
Twisted! Could it be another Ponderosa?
Limber pine. The foliage and the bark are a little different the Ponderosas.
Needles are smaller on this pine. Still even with a magnifying glass I can't make out the name.
I think this one says Carpinus coreana (Korean hornbeam). Most definitely not a native.
Gallery Sources:
Here's a small, richly complex flowering quince by Haruyosi.
And here's a tiny quince also by Haruyosi (as are all of today trees).
Haruyosi has presented an abundance of magnificent mini Shimpaku junipers over the years. These three are all excellent examples of his mastery.
Twisted Japanese black pine.
Tiny Trident.
Haruyosi also makes his own bonsai pots.
More flowering quince. Haruyosi will remove the flowers before potting.
Ditto!
Last but not least, a Flowering cherry.
Gallery Sources:
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I count nineteen trunks on this classically designed Fagus sylvatica (aka European beech) forest. It was posted by Danny Use (aka Danny Ginkgo) and lives at the Bonsai Center Ginkgo, Heirweg 190, 9270 Laarne, België (aka Belgium).
All of today's photos were posted by Danny and presumably make their home at the same place.
Danny's caption reads: "Kei Bonsai Kai" Ten - Crataegus van Nico DC. FYI, Crataegus is Hawthorn.
Danny's caption with this Shimpaku: "Kei Bonsai Kai" Ten - Juniperus chinensis van Patrick VDK.
Danny's caption with this Japanese maple says: Acer matsumurae van Rudy VDW.
Matsumurae is a variety I'm not familiar with (feel free to look it up, though I couldn't find much useful info).
The caption on this one says: Sabigawa van Patrick VDK. When I looked up Sabigawa,, Juniperus sabina comes up. Can we assume that Sabigawa is Japanese for Sabina?
This one is a Pinus pentaphylla. Some sites say that pentaphylla is a synonym for parviflora (Japanese white pine) and others say it's a parviflora sub species.
This one says: Prunus mahaleb, aka Mahaleb cherry.
Danny's caption says: Juniperus parsonii van Marnic DT. Parsonii is a variety of Chinese juniper (Jun chinensis). van Marnic DT seems to refer to Purple martin (bird), but I'm not sure why and don't quote me.
Aha! A ginkgo by Danny Ginkgo.
Danny demoing.
Lush, luminous and verdant Hinoki forests by Danny Ginkgo.
A simple, flowing Japanese maple with companion. Here's the caption: Acer p. Aragawa of Wouter C.
Clean lines, good movement. Simple raw power. Caption reads: Juniperus squamata van Dirk H.
Though not everyone defines trees by style, this pine is a good example of what you could call slanting style. Pinus pentaphylla by Patrick VCr.
Phillyrea van Nico DC. Phillyrea is sometimes called false Olive. It's from the Mediterranean region.
Ginkgo biloba van Alain DB.
Juniperus parsonii by David R.
Juniperus chinensis van Patrick VDK. Displayed In a Tokonoma.
A rustic Tokonoma. I lost the text for this photo. The root-on-rock tree looks like it could be a Full moon maple. But don't quote me.
Cydonia van Tom H. in another rustic Tokonoma. Cydonia is type of quince.
Gallery Sources:
]]>Today we're featuring Mauro Stemberger. Someone with a powerful and prolific presence throughout our bonsai world. And he's not afraid to take on very large trees with gusto and considerable talent.
A Taxus cuspidata (var Nigata) from Bonsai club Dolomiti night, at Mauro Stemberger's ItalianBonsaiDream.
Crazy action on the trunk...
...that pops up on the crown.
Mauro calls this unusual little beauty a Southern box, so we know it's some kind of Buxus. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine.
A closer look.
'Duckbilled box'?
Another Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew) which proves once again that for deadwood, Taxus is hard to beat (and HARD too!).
Creature feature.
Foliage framing the lower trunk.
And it's a lower trunk worth framing.
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