Close up of a famous old Japanese black pine named Zuio. This photo was taken at the 2015 Meifu Bonsai Exhibition one of Japan’s longest running bonsai shows. We found it on Danny Coffey's bonsai blog
All the photos shown here are borrowed from Danny Coffey's Tree the People blog. Danny apprenticed in Japan and studied under Jack Sustic at the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. He now lives and practices bonsai in Asheville North Carolina. We've shown some of these photos previously and some are new to us
Here's one we haven't shown before. It's an unusual tree in an equally unusual bonsai pot. The flowers look like they might be forsythia, but that's just my guess. Another guess might be, is this a phoenix graft (tanuki)?
Cropped and blown up a little for a closer look at the deadwood and sabamiki
Here's one we originally featured back in 2016. The caption is Danny's... "This exposed root Japanese black pine is a blend of Japanese sensibility and American craftsmanship.... Obviously it's a Japanese species, and it's hard to argue that several of the styling cues are based on Japanese bonsai. However, this tree is 100% made in America. The tree itself, started from seed and grown as bonsai material in California. The pot, hand made by American potter Dale Cochy, circa 2004. All brought together, styled and finished by me, an American bonsai artists trained in Japan. An exciting collision of several worlds and a respectful nod to all things bonsai from US and Japan."
Here's one we originally featured back in 2016. The caption is Danny's... "This exposed root Japanese black pine is a blend of Japanese sensibility and American craftsmanship.... Obviously it's a Japanese species, and it's hard to argue that several of the styling cues are based on Japanese bonsai. However, this tree is 100% made in America. The tree itself, started from seed and grown as bonsai material in California. The pot, hand made by American potter Dale Cochy, circa 2004. All brought together, styled and finished by me, an American bonsai artists trained in Japan. An exciting collision of several worlds and a respectful nod to all things bonsai from US and Japan."
Another one that's new to us. It looks like it might be a field grown Shimpaku
Danny Coffey with 47 Rhonin is another one we featured back in 2016. Here's his caption: "Recently the Pacific Bonsai Museum brought me out to Washington to do some bonsai work. This sub alpine fir forest was a really fun project. The bonsai was donated to the museum by Bob Kataoka. He originally built the composition in 1960 and named it 47 Ronin. Since then, it has died back to the 14 remaining trees seen in this photo. Still, I think 47 Ronin is a really cool name."
Danny Coffey with 47 Rhonin is another one we featured back in 2016. Here's his caption: "Recently the Pacific Bonsai Museum brought me out to Washington to do some bonsai work. This sub alpine fir forest was a really fun project. The bonsai was donated to the museum by Bob Kataoka. He originally built the composition in 1960 and named it 47 Ronin. Since then, it has died back to the 14 remaining trees seen in this photo. Still, I think 47 Ronin is a really cool name."
I cropped old Zuio for a closer look at the magnificent trunk
If you'd like to see more of what Danny Coffey is up to, here's your link to hisTree the People blog
