Little princess

Orihime and Maihime are two maple varieties with very tiny leaves With the discovery of a very small-leafed variety comes a new chapter for the maple bonsai. Mr Katsumi Komiya (Shofu-en) guides you through the...

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Shohin by FarrandJan 15, 202116:52

Think ahead

Get the most from your trees by making corrections for the future. Harumi Ishii (Ueharu-en) specialises in shohin of which refinement is a key element, so ugly cuts or disordered branch settings need to be...

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Masterclass by FarrandJan 8, 202122:25

Is it a gamble?

Masahiko Kimura is challenged by a huge yew. In a corner of Masahiko Kimura’s bonsai nursery is a yew planted in the ground. The trunk is slender and of a feminine appearance. The top section...

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Shohin by FarrandJan 7, 202117:35

You can’t own it

The Gafu-ten exhibition brings together those who love these tiny bonsai Every year in January it is time for the major shohin exhibition in Japan, the Gafu-ten. Shohin lovers from all over the country and...

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Tree guide by FarrandJan 7, 202115:23

Bark like paper

Western Australia, a diverse landscape with unique bonsai flora For many years the iconic trees native to Australia were not considered suitable for bonsai, but over time with increased knowledge, understanding, research and a bit […]

Profile by FarrandJan 7, 202111:00

The big adventure

The bonsai passion of Olivier Barreau It was in a garden centre and it was love at first sight. Soon after Olivier saw his first bonsai he was collecting trees himself. Following an apprenticeship at […]

Profile by FarrandDec 25, 202011:17

Fan of naked trees

The bonsai passion of Sergio Cuan A huge fan of deciduous trees, Sergio Cuan, at first thought that bonsai might be just too difficult to grow. Sergio Cuan Born in: Havana, Cuba Married to: Laura […]

Workshop by FarrandDec 24, 202022:18

Stewartia

The challenge is to create a finished tree starting from scratch How to create bonsai from cuttings, grafting and other methods using interesting and unusual species. With the help of illustrations we will see how...

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Report by FarrandDec 23, 202017:36

Hand held

Andrew Sellman travels to Japan to see the shohin at the Gafu-ten Shohin has always fascinated me, there is something magical about being able to hold such an exquisite piece of living art in the […]

Masterclass by FarrandDec 18, 202016:40

The survivor

Rebirth of a juniper that survived the Tohoku earthquake The Sanriku Coast is a dramatic, rocky shoreline with countless bays, cliffs and coves that stretches for over 300 kilometres along the Pacific Coast from just...

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Step by Step by FarrandDec 17, 202016:30

Short cut

Why are black pine needles so short? With the guidance of shohin expert, Hiroki Miura (Miura Baijyu-en, Osaka) the Japanese popstar, Ayaka Yamamoto, learns how to shorten needles on pines. In comparison to larger trees,...

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Tree guide by FarrandDec 11, 202012:19

The jade tree

Styling and caring for Portulacaria afra Jerome Kellerhals’ bonsai garden is in sunny Florida, where he mainly works on semi-tropicals. Here he is going to talk of styling and caring for Portulacaria afra, known as […]

Masterclass by FarrandDec 11, 202010:35

Too thick to bend?

Manuel Germade deals with a tough case — a Buxus with unbendable branches. Working on a tree that’s long, slender, with a fantastic curling trunk seems like perfect material. But there is just one downside,...

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Case History by FarrandDec 4, 202012:28

Tale of the stump

How a stump became an elegant chokkan-style bonsai Martin Nielsen tells the story of how he managed to convert the stump he dug from the forest into one of most appreciated native trees exhibited at...

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Technique by FarrandNov 30, 202021:54

Mind the gap!

The problem of poor roots on a pine can be solved Can you improve the root base of a pine, just as you can with deciduous trees? A good question, so it seems a good...

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Winter by FarrandNov 20, 202016:51

The busiest time

Harry Harrington’s tasks for native bonsai during late autumn With the growing season left long behind, November sees the last of the leaves fall from our deciduous bonsai, as average day temperatures and light levels...

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Propagating by FarrandNov 6, 202015:19

The firethorn

The challenge is to create a finished tree starting from scratch How to create bonsai from cuttings, grafting and other methods with interesting and unusual species. With the help of illustrations we will see how...

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Pots by FarrandNov 6, 202009:43

The spaceship

Thor Holvila tells us how his ideas come to life As a professional potter, commissions are a big part of my daily work, but as an artist I also have ideas about pots that I...

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Tree guide by FarrandNov 1, 202012:00

Desert rose

Styling and caring for Adenium Jerome Kellerhals’ bonsai garden is in sunny Florida, where he mainly works on semi-tropicals. The Ademium, or desert rose, is one of his favourites and, surprisingly, has much to offer...

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Spring by FarrandOct 30, 202009:44

Little to do

During the growing season there is always something to do, even if the bonsai are of a small size. With the guidance of shohin expert, Hiroki Miura (Miura Baijyu-en, Osaka), the Japanese popstar, Ayaka Yamamoto,...

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Technique by FarrandOct 29, 202020:38

Bad reputation?

François Jeker has created many outstanding Buxus bonsai by pioneering with this variety Boxwood, also known as box, has a reputation for growing very slowly. However, if we know the right techniques, its branches can...

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Styling by FarrandOct 23, 202016:32

What can you do with it?

Thierry Claude works on an impossible pine Despite the many doubts of his friends, Thierry Claude persisted with his plan to create a real show stopper from a seemingly worthless pine. Ultimately, all his effort...

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Styling by FarrandOct 23, 202009:59

Anti-clockwise

Harry Harrington reworks a Japanese yew with superb fluting. An elegant 88 cm Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) was bought to my garden by its owner in June 2020, explains Harry. My task was to style...

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Video by FarrandOct 16, 202012:37

Two Masters, one pine

Marco Invernizzi reworks a very old mugo pine, which has a story to tell. Marco Invernizzi fell in love with the remarkable shapes of this Italian mugo pine (Pinus mugo). Although already touched by another...

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Technique by FarrandOct 13, 202016:50

A distinctive taste

Making the best out of defective material Hiroki Miura (Miura Baikyu-en, Osaka) shows how to improve material that is defective. Two trees are thoroughly analysed and new possibilities are discovered. Hiroki then applies the correct...

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