Category: Articles

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

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,...

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...

Free by RoyMay 10, 201900:00

FREE membership

Free by FarrandMay 3, 201917:26

Kanuma crazy

Janine Droste revisits the Mecca of satsuki bonsai If you say Kanuma you at once think of satsuki. Satsuki, or Rhododendron indium, is one of the most popular bonsai varieties cultivated in Japan. Needless to […]

Masterclass by FarrandMay 3, 201911:00

Nature guide

Inspired by nature, Kenichi Abe shows us how to work on a pine. Styling a pine into a bonsai is a balance between pruning and wiring, as Kenichi Abe, Master of pines from the Azuma...

Styling by FarrandApr 26, 201909:00

Is this a satsuki?

Satsuki specialist Tadao Tabata saw bonsai potential in the many trunks In a field at the base of Mount Akagi more than a thousand satsuki were planted and then grown wild. Two years ago this...

Free by FarrandApr 25, 201912:50

The big Sabina

Maybe the largest potted juniper in the world, a sabina juniper standing at studio botanico of Salvatore Liporace. It is waiting to be styled by the grand master....

Free by FarrandApr 20, 201909:00

The ‘wire’ tree

Jan Culek sketches options for a juniper Although it seemed completely wired and styled, this juniper still looks like a wild bush. What it needs is a totally different approach to get it just right. […]

Masterclass by FarrandApr 19, 201909:00

The knot of El Tim

Like smooth machinery, El Tim (The Team, consisting of Leo, Alberto and Luis) work on amazing material and produce stunning bonsai. Initially, the Scots pine specially donated by Michael Tran’s Minoru bonsai, looks like a...

Free by FarrandApr 17, 201909:00

Ice-age suiseki

The stone hunter of Britain Here Alan Harriman reveals the various aspects of suiseki in a way that will encourage you to regard it as a hobby. Hunting for stones yourself will provide you with...

Free by FarrandApr 12, 201911:02

Keep ideas flowing…

Everything beautiful inspires Walter Venne For Walter Venne every bonsai exhibition is like a gallery where an artist can exhibit their work. Through such exhibitions Walter’s pots have found their way into the hands of […]

Step by Step by FarrandApr 5, 201921:30

Just imagine…

Improve your styling skills: learn how to make a bunjin How does one get the branches right? Using the bunjin-gi, or literati style, as a guide, we give an insight into how the branch placement...

Free by FarrandApr 3, 201915:12

Part-time ‘deshi’

Paolo Nastasi travelled to the land of the rising sun to deepen his knowledge Years ago there was no tradition of going to Japan to improve one’s knowledge. However, times have changed… Taisho-en, run by...

Ficus by FarrandMar 29, 201921:50

A ‘root over statue’

Angkor Wat inspired Jerome Kellerhals to create a ‘root over statue’. Jerome guides you through the techniques of wiring, defoliating, pruning, repotting and maintenance to achieve denser foliage and smaller leaves on a Ficus. This...

Seed by FarrandMar 22, 201920:31

Apple of my eye

Grow ’em yourself right from the start. 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...

Styling by FarrandMar 15, 201920:46

RAW…and too many branches

Solving the problems on a satsuki azalea Osamu Fukudate’s (Shunkaen Bonsai Museum) first entry into the Sakkafu-ten received the Satsuki award. He also won recognition from the judges at the 43rd Nippon Bonsai Sakkafu-ten. As...

Styling by FarrandMar 8, 201916:59

Another vision

Chiharu Imai looks back on some of his remarkable works Chiharu Imai is a well-known bonsai Master in the west, famed for his sensitivity and excellence of technique. Here he looks back on some of...