This Korean Hornbeam is  12" tall x 11" wide. It was originally collected (no location is given but it must have somewhere in Asia) and Imported. The pot is by Horst Heinzlreiter, a long time favorite on Bonsai Bark. Speaking of, you might notice how the pot and tree look like they were made for each other. I wonder if Horst first saw the tree and then made the pot. I cropped the original photo (see below) for a closer look at the pot and trunk

Earlier today I did a post on a Colorado blue spruce that belongs to Loren Buxton of buckstonebonsai. While I was there two other trees jumped off the screen and straight into that place in my heart and mind where we hold beauty. Maybe you’ll share my appreciation 

The original photo of the tree above 

By the way, today is the first day we've featured Loren Buxton's bonsai. I'm always a little stoked when I discover heretofore unbeknownst (to me that is) quality bonsai and bonsai artists

I cropped this one too. It's another Korean Hornbeam and considerably bigger  (18" x 18") and more muscular than the one above. It was also collect and imported. The pot is by Jack Hoover

The original photo 

I found the photos shown here on Loren Buckston's buckstonebonsai. Altogether Loren featured twenty three photos on the evolution of this remarkable yamadori Colorado Blue Spruce. I've picked a small handful to provide a glimpse into the story and to encourage you to visit buckstonebonsai for the whole story

I've also borrowed some text from Loren, including the fascinating story about the environment that produced and sustained this tree and other unique Colorado blue spruce. The following is in Lorten's own words...
"This Colorado Blue Spruce was collected by Jerry Morris from a very unique fin or microclimate in Colorado.  The Colorado Blue Spruce in this area grow on a very thin layer of soil, which manages to sustain over a river bed.  During the growing season, roots grow into the river bed for moisture, but then are essentially sheared off every winter when the river freezes.  This results in some very unique forms, often with exposed, crawling trunks and interesting deadwood.  Colorado Blue Spruce is the only conifer that grows in this microclimate." 
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 Part of the creek bed where the tree was dug

Continuing with Loren's text..,.
"This tree was purchased from Todd Schlafer of First Branch Bonsai in 2013, which also marked the beginning of my study with Todd.  Todd is an incredibly talented and hard-working individual, who has managed to propel himself to the top tier of bonsai professionals in the US in a very short period of time.  This is despite not having a formal apprenticeship in Japan....." 

Here it is, not too long after being dug

Skipping way ahead to several years later (the spring of 2017), here's Todd potting it in the pot you see at the beginning and end of this post

More from Loren...
"...the tree was ready for its first bonsai pot.  Repotting is one of Todd’s strengths – in particular the first repot from the container used after collection.  This repot is the most difficult and often requires a certain level of engineering.  For this tree, Todd used three wood blocks to brace the tree and position it at the right angle.  After filling the container, long pieces of sphagnum moss were placed along the areas with exposed roots, and then a fence was built using a small gauge of aluminum wire to secure the moss."   

It's come a long ways in just a few years. This shot was taken at the same time as the lead photo, just from a different angle

It's Satsuki azalea time again! Satsuki means fifth month in Japanese and now you know why

Bonsai in wine country. And why not, bonsai can be found almost everywhere these days. I stumbled upon these photos on Bonsai Barber's timeline. They are in the city of Bordeaux, France. A great place to visit and sip good wine (at less than half what it costs here) while enjoying the brilliance of bonsai in full bloom
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I'm embarrassed to admit that I was in Bordeaux in 2017 and completely oblivious of Bonsai Barber's existence. I guess I was too busy enjoying good wine, food and other pleasure to notice. Oh well, next time...

Akamatsu, aka Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). This one and the others here are from the 2019 Kofuku Exhibition book. Courtesy of Michal Bonsai

This is a follow up on a Japanese red pine post we did a week ago. This time we're focusing on Red pines with muscle, straight from Kokufu, the world's foremost bonsai show

If you've been around bonsai for a while, you most likely know Japanese black pines and Japanese white pines. But do you know the third sister in the trio, Japanese red pines? If you don't. here's another chance for an introduction

Coiled muscle 

Muscle with movement amplified by the lines in the bark

 A little less muscle here, but still a strong base lends a feeling of strength and stability

 Still on vacation so we'll make this one short and sweet. Three photos originally from the world famous Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Saitama, Japan.  Our original source (on fb) doesn't bother with identification and rather than take the time to hunt these down (a quick look on Omiya's website yielded nothing), we'll invite you to do your own detective work. Or, you can simply enjoy the photos

Before and after of one Harry Harrington's famous privets

Vacationing this week with a little work thrown in, so to keep it simple we’ll resort to one from our archives (July of 2017)…

It’s amazing what seven years and an ample supply of skill and imagination can do. The impressive transformation shown here is the result of efforts by Harry Harrington, a bit of a whiz at transforming material that many of us wouldn’t give second look. The photos shown here are from Harry’s timeline. You can also visit Harry’ website bonsai4me

After, up close. Pot by Erin Pottery

The other side

The Foundations of Bonsai
A good place to start if you want to see how Harry does it
Bonsai Inspirations 1
Digging deeper
Bonsai Inspirations 2
Digging even deeper

Before, close up

Because Michael Bonsai showed this view first, we’ll call it the front, though you could just as easily choose the opposite side. You could even make an argument for a corner view (see below) if the tree had been positioned differently in the pot

Yesterday it was Japanese red pines with photos via Michael Bonsai and today it's a look at a single Japanese black pine, again with the photos via Michael
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This tree is said to be 80 years old and judging by the muscular trunk and well aged bark that seems entirely reasonable

Continued from above...
Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii) aka Kuromatsu in Japanese, is sometimes called the King of Bonsai. This has to do with the obvious power and often dynamic movement that so many express, as well the thick plated bark and lush emerald green needles. An altogether great tree for bonsai. 
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The other side. Or you might say the other front. I think the bark on this side might give it an edge as the best view

Continued from above...
The one drawback, or perhaps better stated 'challenge' when growing JBPs for bonsai is the tree's naturally long needles. Unless you want a tree with shaggy, out of scale needles, you need to learn and practice needle reduction.

Needle reduction is a series of step taken annually to keep the needles small and tight. We won't go into the details here, but you can find good step-by-step instructions in our Masters Series Pine Book, Growing and Styling Japanese Black and White Pines.

A peek inside to a spot where a large branch was once removed. It has healed well, almost to the point where you have to look twice to see it 

You would never call a corner view the front, but had this tree been positioned differently, this might have worked. Especially given the strong taper from this view

Someone has done a great job reducing the needles  

 Akamatsu, aka Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). This one and the others here are from the 2019 Kofuku Exhibition book. Courtesy of Michal Bonsai, a certified pine lover

If you've been around bonsai for a while, you most likely know Japanese black pines and Japanese white pines. But do you know the third sister in the trio, Japanese red pines? If you don't. here's a chance for an introduction. And it's good one, straight from Kokufu, the world's foremost bonsai show.

This one is just a tad eccentric, the way it loops back on itself. And even the rock that it's growing on is bit unusual. And there's that tray! A masterpiece in its own right, and no doubt way over our budget

A little more classical feel than the one just above. Slanting trees with branches hanging down like this are not uncommon. Though ones with this much character and age are

 Another unusual one, rich with character and age

 First day of vacation today, so we'll keep it simple. One photo and message from Golden Statements a long time California classic, devoted to the best in bonsai and the bonsai community. Well beyond the any state borders

Here's a quote from their staff.... "The staff for the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) Golden Statements Magazine is working hard to bring the free digital magazine online. It will be posted about mid-June. This is the GSBF Convention 42 in Riverside, California preview issue containing all the details for the up-coming convention. Stay tuned!!!"

Before and after pine by Suthin Sukosolvisit. No variety is listed

 It has been a while since we visited Suthin, one of our favorites. And even though he promised he was retiring to become a full time nanny to his grandchildren, somehow he still finds time to weave his bonsai magic

After the miraculous transformation. And as a finishing touch, it's on a slab no less. As far as you can get from its original deep cascade pot

Before. It must have taken years to get from here to where it is now

A closer look at the trunk 

The original after photo, fence and all