A muscular old Camellia full of flowers and buds. This photo and the others in this post, were taken by Bill Valavanis during a recent visit to Shunka-en Bonsai Museum in Tokyo

Shunka-en Bonsai Museum is the home, studio, gallery and growing area of Kunio Kobayashi. All the photos in this post were taken at Shunka-en a few weeks ago by the omnipresent Bill Valavanis (everywhere is the answer to the ‘Where’s in the Bonsai World is Bill‘ question).

 More color. This one looks like a Persimmon and the pot looks like it has a story to tell

Embrace

I cropped the Pine from yesterday to get a closer look at the trunk and bark

This powerful pine resides at the Shunka-em Bonsai Museum in Tokyo. Photo By Bill Valavanis (on his cell phone!) from his recent trip to Japan

As long as we’ve got this shot (above) by Bill Valavanis from his latest Japanese bonsai expedition (stay posted for more tomorrow), here’s an expedition with an invitation just for you…

Looking for a bonsai adventure this winter? Here’s your link to more information, and here’s a link to Bill’s International Bonsai website

Close up of multiple trunk Japanese white pine. It looks a lot like a raft style* planting. This and the other photos shown here were taken at the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition. I cropped the original shot (just below) for a closer look

We’ve got some Japanese white pines (Pinus parviflora) from the Kokufu Exhibition that we found at Kazumatsu Bonsai. They don’t say what year the shots are from, but given that they were just posted, you might guess 2018

Just in case you’re new to bonsai, Kokufu is the oldest and most famous Bonsai Exhibition in the world. It takes place every year in Japan (with a break in the 1940s) and the 2018 Exhibition was the 92nd.

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The original shot. As you can see, it's an exceptional planting with a healthy canopy and just enough holes for the birds to fly through. And the pot suits it to a tee

Another multi-trunked Japanese white pine, though this one is planted on a rock alive with ground cover. I can't tell for sure if it's a raft*

The original photo

Another close up. This time of a white pine with an unusual base. Looks bit like sea creature, maybe an octopus

Here's the original photo. It makes more sense than the closeup above. The 'octapus' is less dominating and the whole effect becomes more dynamic once you see the dramatic sweep to the right

Another close up. This one looks a single twin tree tree with one root system, rather than two separate trunks.

Perfect!

*A raft is characterized by a single fallen trunk that puts out new roots along the ground and has three or more trunks rising from it. Once you see and understand the concept in bonsai, you might start to notice them in nature (unless you live in NYC and never get out… sorry,  just amusing myself… if you’ve read this far, let me know and we’ll send you 5.00 Stone Lantern coupon)… looks like I made a mistake in assuming sinuous root is a category of raft style, below is a clarification by Bill Valavanis

Your main bonsai featured is a Zuisho Japanese Five-needle Pine trained in the sinuous style, NOT raft style.

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This Sargent juniper (Aka Shimpaku) resides at the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It was donated by Doug Paul, owner of the Kennett Collection. This photo and the others shown here, were taken and generously offered by Robert Vitale. The plant varieties and names of the donors are courtesy of Janice Vitale and Michael James

Closeup of Sedum in Rock Penjing “Li Jiang river in Spring.”  Donated by the Shanghai Botanical Garden.

This iconic Japanese White Pine ‘Miyajima’ was donated by Daizo Iwasaki, one of the world's great bonsai benefactors. Iwasaki sama passed away in 2011. 

Closeup of a Japanese White pine, that was gifted to Nancy Reagan by Hassan II King of Morocco. It has been in training since 1832

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Hinoki Cypress donated by Muriel Leeds. In training since 1964

A piece of a Pitch pine that was also donated by Muriel Leeds. In training since 1967

Close up of Chinese Elm penjing forest that was donated by Yunhua Hu. In training since 2004

Here’s a once in a lifetime job opportunity if you’re looking for serious bonsai training while working with some of the best bonsai in the world and a crew of dedicated people. Sounds like a great way to spend a year…

To apply: Please send a cover letter indicating availability, resume, references, and transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) via email to USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov
Questions? Contact the internship office at (202) 245-4563 or USNA.Internships@ars.usda.gov

This Kuromatsu, aka Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) was featured at the 27th Japan Bonsai Writer Association exhibition (Nippon Bonsai Sakka Kyokai exhibition), where this photo was taken. I cropped the original photo (see just below) for a closer look at just the tree

I found this magnificent tree on The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum‘s timeline. This famous museum is home to some of the best bonsai in the world and this Japanese black pine is certainly no exception. To my eye it is one of the most unique pines we’ve featured in our ten years of blogging (well, nine years and 10 months). It’s so wild and rugged that no matter what, it will never look like a more conventionally styled bonsai. Let alone many Japanese bonsai (some people complain about over-styling in Japan – a half formed notion in my opinion – and a topic for another time).

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Here's the original photo

STONE LANTERN & BONSAI TODAY'S FAMOUS PINE BOOK

Cropped and blown up for a closer look at the gnarled old trunk

At least two things set this Root-over-rock  Trident maple (Kaede Ishitsuki - maple planted on a rock) apart from thousands of other root-over Trident maples on this planet. First there it's exceptional quality, and second, it's part of Japan's Imperial Bonsai Collection. The tree's age is about 90 years. Its height is 57 cm (22.5"). Here's a quote from the Imperial website... "Among 'zoki' deciduous trees, 'momiji' (Japanese maple) and "kaede" (maple) (I'm not sure why this isn't translated as Trident maple) are particular favorites of bonsai lovers because of the way they show off the four seasons. Aficionados appreciate the young buds in early spring, the fresh green leaves in May, the red foliage in autumn, and the bare trunk and branches in winter. Kaede does not turn as red in fall as momiji does, but its autumn leaves -- a mixture of yellow and red hues -- are equally prized.
 "At the Imperial Palace, this kaede tree has been transplanted almost every year according to the condition of its roots. Due to its beautiful appearance, it is used for ornamental purposes throughout the year."

Yesterday we featured a tree that was donated to the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by The Imperial Household of Japan. Going to the source today, here’s are some more from the Imperial Collection. Only this time, they’re ones that are still there.

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"Bright reddish leaves cover a 'De-Shojo momiji (Acer palmatum 'De-Shojo') in the budding season in April, as shown in a photo. Most of those leaves turn green in summer, but some remain red. They turn red again in autumn before the tree loses leaves toward winter. " From the Imperial Bonsai website. 
The tree is about 50 years old. Its height is 95cm (37.5"). If you'd like to dig in further, there's more on this tree and the others shown here at the Imperial site

Another momiji  (Japanese maple). This one is a Seigen (Acer palmatum 'Seigen'). It's age is about 100 and its height is 74cm (29"). Here's teaser from the Imperial site... "Red leaves bloom from the tree in April. The color is not as vivid as hues found in the leaves of "deshojo," another momiji species (above), but it is a cherished spring color.
 "The tree features radial "nebari" (surface roots) and dynamic "tachiagari" (the initial rise of the trunk) that help balance the shape of the whole tree. Its "mikihada" trunk surface gives a sense of old age and represents an ideal momiji bonsai work. Given that its leaves grow strongly in summer, the tree was planted in a relatively large vessel. This makes viewers think of a tree growing from Mother Earth." There's more on this tree here

This Fuji Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda Fuji) is about 450 years old! It's height is 83 cm (almost 33"). This time we'll show you the entire quote from the Imperial site...."The tree age is astonishing. Despite the great age, this tree continues to bloom flowers powerfully every year without showing any signs of weakening. 
 "The viewing season falls in late April. But this year, the Fuji tree sent out flowers a bit earlier than usual. The Fuji was in full bloom in mid-April with its long bunches hanging down.
 "After the flower season is over, what appears to be a dent which looks like a hole comes to be seen in the lower part of its trunk. But it is not a hollow hole, but a work of natural formation that has grown into something like a dent over a long period of time.
 "Despite the large size of the tree, it is planted in a relatively small pot. The vessel is overcrowded with tree roots. So, the Fuji tree is transplanted once in every two years with the roots being unstiffened (untangled?). 
 This is considered to be a species of the original Fuji, or the so-called yamafuji (silky wisteria), that had not been modified."

Here it is. It's a Pinus densiflora (Japanese Red Pine) that was donated to the U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum by The Imperial Household of Japan. It has been in training since 1795. My apologies for the fuzz. I cropped the original photo (from 2010, see below) for a closer look at the texture on the trunk

The Japanese Collection. It’s right here in North America and it’s one of the best bonsai collections outside of Japan. Here’s an excerpt from the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum’s website... “The Japanese Collection began with the gift of 53 bonsai from Japan on the occasion of the American Bicentennial in 1976.  The trees, which were from private collections, were selected by the Nippon Bonsai Association with financial assistance given by the Japan Foundation.”
Continued below…

Not 1795, but not exactly yesterday either. This striking Japanese Camellia (Camellia japonica 'Higo') with its full display of remarkable flowers has been in training since 1875. It was donated by the Kyushu Branch of the Nippon Bonsai Growers Cooperative.

Continued from above…
Does the reverse taper on the camellia above jump out at you? When it comes to flowering bonsai, Japanese growers don’t seem to mind features that would be considered flaws in non-flowering bonsai. As long as the flowers themselves are beautiful and well displayed, much is forgiven.
Continued below…

This old Japanese Black Pine was donated by Saichi Suzuki. It has been in training since 1895.

Continued from above…
Quarantined. Due to FDA rules, all the bonsai in this collection spent a year in quarantine before they could be displayed.

The original photo of the Imperial red pine.

You don't see bonsai like this every day. For me, there's a temptation to grab my thinning shears. But first, it's a good idea to take it in as is. And there's a lot to take in. Especially the sheer weight of the remarkably lush foliage. And, if you can pull your eyes down to the trunk, the play of the living veins and deadwood is striking. Unfortunately the tree is not identified (nor attributed), but it looks a lot a like a Shimpaku juniper

Normally we shy away from unattributed and unidentified bonsai. But in this case the trees are so unusual that I couldn’t resist.

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Root-over-rock pine. This one is similar to the tree above. At least when it comes to dense foliage. If you take a close look at the base, you can distinguish the trunk from the rock

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Before and after Juniper by Bonsai Mike made quick and easy (or at least quick). Here's part what Mike wrote about this tree and the event where the transformation took place...  "I’d like to thank the Puget Sound Bonsai Association for bringing me up to Seattle... Here’s a before and after of my demo tree. Deadwood still needs to be finished."

Yesterday we featured a before and after by Bonsai Mike. Today, we’ve got another of Mike’s B&As. Both are junipers and both are impressive in their own right. After that, most similarities end. Yesterday’s was a monster yamadori where the process spanned five years. Today’s spanned hours
Continued below…

Before. Good stock, but plenty to do to get from here to after

Continued from above…
Transforming a tree in a few hours requires vision, quick decisions and technical competence. Experienced bonsai artists usually pull it off with flying colors, but there are no guarantees (the material they start with has a lot to do with the end result). In this case, the result speaks for itself

After. Not bad, especially considering it only took a few hours