Author: Farrand

Styles by FarrandSep 13, 201913:33

A perfect fit for kengai

Giacomo Pappalardo shows the many variations of the cascade style One of the most dramatic styles in bonsai is the kengai, or cascade. It has many variations and its style options are almost endless. Trees...

Styling by FarrandSep 6, 201920:53

Can this become a bonsai?

Bruno Wijman styles a Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) Garden material can be most interesting for bonsai. It can also be very challenging because it was not really grown for bonsai purposes. Bruno checks out a...

Pruning by FarrandAug 30, 201912:23

The birth of new buds

In autumn you can improve the branch setting of your maple When the leaves start to drop it is time to prune maples. The bare branch structure is revealed and good and bad things are...

Free by FarrandAug 28, 201911:37

Native species are cool

AABC Convention 2019: Australian native species break through The AABC 2019 convention, the very first major event of its kind, focused entirely on Australian native species. The trees on display did not disappoint. Native trees […]

Pruning by FarrandAug 23, 201921:52

Pulling the final needle

Learn the basic technique of candle cutting by Master Nobuichi Urushibata Nobuichi Urushibata of Taisho-en, Japan, guides you through the work of candle pinching and needle pulling pines. The basic technique of candle cutting does...

Free by FarrandAug 19, 201921:39

Forced to find solutions

The bonsai passion of Manuel Germade The only regret Manuel Germade has is the fact that he did not go to Japan much earlier. A couple of years ago he officially graduated as a bonsai […]

Column by FarrandAug 19, 201915:26

Bonsai addicts because therapy did not work

This was the slogan I saw on the back of a shirt when I was in South Africa. It turns out the ‘Bonsai Addicts’ are a group of enthusiasts, but it was the sentiment ‘because...

Grow by FarrandAug 16, 201917:58

Purple rain

The challenge is to create a finished tree starting from scratch In this series we look at creating bonsai from cuttings, grafting and other methods using interesting and unusual species. With the help of illustrations,...

Masterclass by FarrandAug 10, 201915:32

On the edge

Creative genius, Ryan Neil, turns bonsai upside down You can give Ryan Neil almost any kind of material to work on and he will create something special from it. Here Ryan is confronted by an...

Pots by FarrandAug 5, 201911:55

Carved mud

Ceramist Jonathan Cross creates pots in the desert Jonathan Cross creates ancient looking sculptures and pots, which may even sometimes look like architecture. All seem to come from a kind of post-apocalyptic aesthetic imagery. His...

Harry Harrington by FarrandJul 28, 201922:02

A solid regime…

Harry Harrington’s practical guide to fertilising Bonsai need water, air and sunlight in order to photosynthesis and grow. The combination of these three elements is enough for a tree to manufacture the sugars and starches...

Shohin by FarrandJul 19, 201921:44

5 becomes 2

A boring forest is divided up and receives a fresh remake Harumi Ishii (Ueharu-En) shows us how to transform an uninteresting mountain maple forest into two stunning new creations We are separating the trunks into...

Carpinus orientalis by FarrandJul 14, 201916:02

Quite unlike a fairy tale

Hornbeam is an exciting tree for bonsai. Marija Hajdic: ‘About ten years ago, oriental hornbeam was an unknown species of bonsai. Here, I present the development of one of the best of its kind, a...

Step by Step by FarrandJul 5, 201922:27

Too dominant at the top

The charm of the Japanese beech The Japanese beech is always an exhibition eye catcher. Its smooth grey-white bark and muscled trunk give the tree a most majestic appearance. Easy to work on, as seen...

Pruning by FarrandJun 28, 201914:07

easy elm

Japanese elm is ideal for bonsai and easy to grow Being a rapid and very vigorous grower makes it possible to have quick results with Zelkova. The downside is that the elm can overgrow very...

Styling by FarrandJun 22, 201915:24

The masterplan

An impossible pine is just perfect for a cascade, but it takes a little time Giacomo Pappalardo likes the dramatic moves of the cascading pines you encounter in the mountains. An unsightly pine with a...

Free by FarrandJun 19, 201910:16

University of Bonsai

The 13th edition of ‘Bonsai van het Westen’ was held again in the Botanical Garden of Delft University of Technology. With a record number of visitors and perfect weather we were given two days to […]

Pots by FarrandJun 14, 201915:02

Tempted to give up

Making pots came along a bumpy road for Me and Raimondi Me and Raimondi: Matjaž Raimondi and Nastja Legvart have just jumped into the big adventure of making pots for bonsai. They had no clue...

Free by FarrandJun 7, 201920:58

Yew can do it

A simple yew can be made into a stunning small bonsai in just a few steps. Michael Tran of Minoru bonsai guides you step by step in how to create a bonsai from a yew. […]

Harry Harrington by FarrandJun 5, 201911:18

The many virtues of larch bonsai

Harry Harrington explores the many virtues of larch bonsai Larix is a genus of around 10 species of deciduous coniferous trees from forested areas of the Northern hemisphere. They have attractive young foliage and normally...

Free by FarrandMay 28, 201911:02

A consistent club

The ‘Midden Nederland‘ Bonsai Association annual show in Leersum NL. They are one of the most active societies in Holland, the show is always a guarantee for high quality bonsai. Fine displays with shohin and […]

Seed by FarrandMay 24, 201923:29

Thuja

Styling by FarrandMay 17, 201913:49

Rocking the pine

Todd Schlafer works on a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) With a background as a rock musician Todd’s career as a bonsai artist is a big hit. We met Todd during Michael Tran’s Generation Bonsai event...

Free by FarrandMay 12, 201913:28

A myriad of flowers

In May and June you can enjoy the fibrant colours of Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum) blossoming. There is a massive amount of cultivars and therefore a big choice in various colors and pattern of flowers....

Juniperus itoigawa by FarrandMay 10, 201921:50

The little gem

Reworking a small juniper Alexandre Escudero is crazy about shohin bonsai. At the nursery of his teacher Hiroyuki Tanibata, he found a little gem of a juniper. Let’s together find the beauty lost on this...