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Pine
Pinus sylvestris
In the wild, a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) matures naturally into the same style as a bonsai literati with branches spreading horizontally below its flattened apex.
A corky type
The challenge is to create bonsai 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 to take a piece of material through to completion. This time we work with cuttings of the Nishikimatsu,…...
Wearing my signature
The bonsai passion of Jörg Derlien Styling and care for the tree should fit together like a hand in a glove, according to Jörg Derlien I bought a few seeds and pots, but this went horribly wrong What was your training? I am a Media Designer and Product Photographer in
The new big
Koji Hiramatsu works on a black pine Shohin and the slightly larger Kifu-sized bonsai have become ever more popular. This because they are much easier to enjoy and appreciate compared with the larger trees and you can still enjoy the same aged character, or get the feel of a larger-sized…...
Kengai
How to make a cascade-style bonsai A kengai or cascade is inspired by trees found in harsh mountainous conditions, growing on rocky cliffs. It is this which makes it one of the most dramatic and exciting styles. We will explain how to create a convincing cascade using coniferous and deciduous…...
The showstopper
The bonsai passion of Nik Rozman Nik Rozman has won big prizes at shows with his bonsai, but one of his major achievements so far is winning Best of Show at the recent edition of the Saulieu show with his mugo pine. His aim is to create the ultimate showstopper…....
Gnarly Legacy
Elandan, a world of rock, wood, and bonsai by Dan Robinson ‘A beautifully groomed tree in the prime of its life doesn’t tell me much of a story. I want my trees to look profoundly old, but still hanging in there,’ says Dan Robinson, who, at a youthful 80 years…...
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 drop. The daily chore of watering our bonsai collections has almost finished; however, it is…...
Lost and Found
Making the most of a bad pine Masayuki Fujikawa brings out the hidden character of a white pine (Pinus parviflora) Looking at the four photos below, there is nothing of note that one feels makes this a tree worth working on. The position of the apex goes both ways and…...
Pinus parviflora
This is one of the most popular of the Asian pines for bonsai work and garden use. The two species of the white pine commonly seen as imported bonsai in the west are: Pinus Parviflora var. ‘Negishi’, with its very blue leaves and P. Parviflora var. ‘Zuisho’, which has very
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 not change dramatically from tree to tree, so we will look at the basic techniques…...
A solid regime…
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 it requires from its leaves. Harry Harrington explains how to fertilise your bonsai by taking a no-nonsense attitude, during the growing…...
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 Mountains explains. A simple and clear vision is what he stands for. Kenichi Abe lives…...
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 bunch of tangled branches. Teamwork on a Pinus sylvestris El Tim Alberto tends to serve…...
A large Scots
One of the amazing bonsai from the collection of Mauro Stemberger, the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). A massive tree with such refined branch setting and small needles. Maybe soon on one of the Big Events on display, in the meantime you can have a close look in this video with
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…...
Boring bonsai
BECAUSE BONSAI ARE RELATIVELY SMALL THEY GET VISUALLY BORING VERY QUICKLY Bjorn: ‘This means that you have to have an eye for detail to avoid this happening. A slight adjustment can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of the tree. Follow the dramatic change of this mugo pine which I…...