Editorials
The Seven States of Bonsai – Part Four
Recovery period of time between activities in which the tree is expending energy on healing and sealing wounds, or on regaining strength post damage. Once a tree has been worked over (especially its roots) leave it alone for se...
The Seven States of Bonsai – Part Three
Stress effect of various impacts both intentional and not, on a tree. When stress turns into distress is where you have a problem. Almost everything we do to trees in bonsai horticulture is a form of stress. Knowing how far to ...
Seven States of Bonsai – Part Two
Reproduction development of fruit, seed pods, or cones on a tree. This usually happens during periods of active growth through to fall. Reproduction for a tree early in its development is mostly a negative thing. It is very imp...
Seven States of Bonsai – Part One
following is a series of observations based on real world experience and study under the guidance of our teacher (Daniel Robinson) and others. Consider it, in a fashion, as an Intro to Bonsai Horticulture 101/102. This will not...
Cookie cutter Japanese bonsai
I often hear the term ‘Cookie cutter’ thrown around from time to time when people are talking about Japanese bonsai. For those not familiar with the term, I believe it relates to people suggesting that certain bonsai seem t...
Making A Large Wheel-Thrown Custom Bonsai Pot
I thought I would do a progressive photo article on making a LARGE round pot. A few years ago I received a commission for a round pot that would be the biggest I had thrown on a wheel up to that point. The customer gave me the ...
Deadwood Dick carves deadwood in Deadwood
Actually, he doesn’t. Deadwood Dick I mean. He’s dead, so he hasn’t carved much of anything lately. But he was a real historical Old West personage of Deadwood and he may have, or likely did, carve deadwood in Deadwood ba...
Selling Trees For Fun & Money
I know people like to say that “money doesn’t grow on trees,” but people like to say all sorts of things and you can’t believe most of it. Even so, last time I raked the yard I filled a garbage bag with pine needles, no...
Bonsai as a Western Art
Are we denying our own cultural heritage in our persuance of Japanese style? IT DOESN’T REALLY matter whether our individual fascination with bonsai began via gardening, art or a general interest in things oriental, we al...
Trapped by Bonsai
Bonsai is an ancient art form from East Asia, which many claim to be over 2000 years old. Only royal families, noblemen, and high-ranking people formerly practiced the art in the past. Back then, Bonsai was a precious present f...
