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Bonsai Biker
The bonsai passion of Stefan Gmur. What was your professional education? I was educated as a toolmaker in the watch industry and afterwards completed my studies at the Fachhochschule as a graduate engineer and business engineer. Today, I work as a divisional manager for one of the world’s largest manufacturers…...
Pot-bound
How to repot small trees in spring Yukio Hirose (Yamato-en) guides you through the principle techniques of repotting deciduous bonsai. According to Yukio, ‘In spring you have the chance to give the tree fresh new soil, clip the roots and keep the tree healthy. The ideal time for repotting is…...
Acer deshojo
Simple adjustments can make a big difference Kenichi Suzuki (Onari-en) is very much into shohin-size bonsai. With simple material he demonstrates how you can change the design by adjusting the planting angle, or the pot. Deshojo maple on rock A tree planted on a rock that Kenichi Suzuki acquired last…...
My mistakes are torched
The bonsai tables of Doug Mudd ‘The table should reflect the age of the bonsai,’ says perfectionist Doug who works on wood with the knowhow to create the best results. How did it all start? When I first became interested in bonsai, I was fortunate enough to be close to…...
On the tatami
Bonsai exhibited in traditional Japanese rooms surrounded by mountains and forests puts bonsai in the right perspective. The 10th Genkoukai exhibition is a small-scale show that renders one humble and serene. The Genkoukai is a group of both bonsai and suisekienthusiasts who have a strong desire to study and appreciate…...
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 two pieces of material: The initial material is a group planting of Japanese mountain maple…....
Samurai & Bonsai
On the 150th anniversary of the restoration of Imperial rule, bonsai is displayed at the former capital. An outdoor exhibition is quite rare, even when it’s at a scenic site like the Nijo-jo castle, where once the Samurai ruled. Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto, is characterized by low yet imposing grand structures,…...
Northwest Rendezvous
The Bonsai Society of Portland and Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association presented the 2018 Northwest Bonsai Rendezvous this month in Milwaukie, Oregon. The event was a big success! Three days of workshops, critiques, and demonstrations made the time fly by. Just steps away, a high quality exhibition featured some of the region’s best…...
Bonsai ‘built’ on a frame
How to create a bulky maple As I have said previously, this technique implies wrapping a number of young plants, seedlings, around a man-made structure, called a ‘frame’. Its shape will be the one the finished maple will take on eventually. The structure can be made of metal or wood…....
Easy-going forest planting with maples
Takao Katsumata creates a deciduous forest. There is a certain type of enjoyment that is special and unique to a forest style bonsai, regardless of the species or origin of the material. As a part of the creative side of bonsai, care must be taken when putting it together. The…...