It takes a strong tree to handle a pot like this. This Pistacio (Pistacia chinensis Bunge) has at least two features that qualify: its muscular trunk which works well with the depth of the pot (deep pots with thin trunks just don't work) and its lushly hued full crown which contrasts with the pot's brilliance.

Today is the first day of a short summer vacation. We’ll try to keep Bark going by employing some favorites from our archives. This one is from January, 2016 (with a couple revisions today)

The trees shown here are all Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s creations. Cheng is famous for his Sidiao method (a technique for creating and enhancing deadwood – more on this tomorrow), but today we’ll show his more colorful side.

We’ve featured Cheng, Cheng-Kung’s bonsai several times here on Bark. You can also find his bonsai and Sidiao technique featured on his website, on facebook and in dozens of other places on the web.

One of two brilliant Satsuki azaleas featured on Cheng-Kung's web gallery.

 The other one.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum Linn).