It will be no surprise to anyone that nature is a big source of inspiration for those interested in Bonsai. After all, the ultimate goal of growing a Bonsai is to create a miniature version of nature.
In this article we have combined trees and Bonsai trees that look alike; you might be surprised at how incredibly similar some Bonsai trees are to their full-grown counterparts. Enjoy!
The forest style (in Japanese "Yose-ue") is one of the most popular styles of Bonsai. Instead of creating and displaying a single tree, with a forest we create a complete landscape. Enjoy viewing seven stunning examples of Bonsai forests!
A well designed Bonsai garden makes your trees stand out more than anything else. But designing one is incredibly difficult, especially because you need to find a way to display your trees at eye-level, while keeping in mind the individual requirements of each of your trees. This article can help you to find inspiration and offers a few guidelines to get started; good luck!
Garden Bonsai are potted trees that are very similar to, yet slightly different from Bonsai. The dramatically shaped trees stand out in any garden and are increasingly popular in both Japanese and Western garden designs. In this article we discuss Garden Bonsai trees and their similarities and differences with Bonsai.
This post shows the remarkable creation of a small Bonsai landscape, by Joe Selworthy. It consists of a single tree (a maple) and a hedge (cotoneaster trees). Together with added moss the resulting miniature looks stunning!
A Bonsai growing on or in a rock (called "Seki-joju" and "Ishisuki" in Japanese) is a highly dramatic depiction of nature. We can all imagine steep cliffs, where only the strongest and most robust trees can survive. This is exactly the kind of emotion a good rock Bonsai should show. We have selected eight stunning examples to serve as source of inspiration, enjoy!
This year's Noelanders Trophy was held at a new location; bigger, more spacious and simply better. The trees on display were of outstanding quality and at least 5 trees reached the level of almost-perfection. Selecting the winner must have been difficult for this year's demonstrators; Ryan Neil, Salvatore Liporace and Seok Ju Kim (follow us on Facebook as we will upload their demonstrations soon).
This year's Noelanders Trophy was a great event and the three demonstrations were of outstanding quality. The demonstrators were Ryan Neil, Seok Ju Kim and Salvatore Liporace. We filmed the demonstrations and in this article you will find the three finished movies.
A Tokonoma is a dedicated space in a Japanese style reception room, in which items are on display for artistic appreciation. Often this includes a Bonsai tree, a Suiseki (viewing stone), a scroll and an accent plant.
Jérôme Hay invited readers to follow his shaping of an azalea, starting with a classic 2-to-3-year-old seedling. After preparatory work last April, these Japanese azalea plants are ready to begin being shaped into future bonsai.
Bonsai are living works of art, some famous trees are hundreds of years old. These trees are priceless and when for sale, very expensive. But at the same time, we can also purchase Bonsai at a local garden center, for just a few bucks.
So how do you put a price tag on a Bonsai? What are they worth, what price makes sense for an individual tree? In this article we investigate the variables that are important and we look at a few examples of bonsai for sale.
Bonsai trees can grow very old, and it takes years (even decades) to create a full grown tree. Paul Finch did something amazing, he created an Artificial Bonsai that looks so incredibly real that I still can't believe it's fake!
Have a look for yourself, fake or not?
(In Japanese: 啓応桜, or: Sakura)
In Japan's Nara period (710–794) a tradition began of watching and appreciating the cherry blossom. The short period in which the cherries bloom has become a national obsession and is a period of great importance to the Japanese. Needless to say, many cherry blossom Bonsai trees are kept in Japan.
The Generation Bonsai 2015 event was held at Minoru Bonsai in Germany. Two famous Bonsai experts, Taiga Urushibata and Bjorn Bjorholm, gave demonstrations on styling Bonsai trees and several shops set up a sales booth. With an interesting lecture on displaying Bonsai in Tokonoma, great food and wonderful people, the event was a success!
Masashi Hirao (aka Bonsai warrior) travels around the world as a Japanese cultural envoy. Last weekend he gave a interesting Bonsai demonstration at Deshima Bonsai, styling a Spruce. Enjoy the movie!
On our Facebook page we regularly share interesting progressions (before and after shots of Bonsai trees being styled). I find these shots very interesting as it shows how much a skilled artist can do to design a Bonsai tree, often in just hours work. In this post I share 18 great examples.
Enjoy!
"Help! My Bonsai tree is dying!"
Unfortunately, we get these cries for help quite often on our forums. So it was time a guide on reviving a dying Bonsai was written. I take you through the steps needed to rescue your Bonsai.
Deciduous trees make great material for Bonsai. The most loved feature is their changing character throughout the year. Spring is the season of new growth, while fall is the season of changing colors, signalling the upcoming winter. This tree is absolutely stunning in all seasons.
Bonsai are known for their small size. But Mame Bonsai (up to 4'' / 10cm) take the quest for miniaturization one step further.
Mame and pottery artist Haruyosi (Japan) shares with us several of his miniature works of wonder.
Bonsai is something that fascinates people, and this fascination has led to several jokes and hoaxes on the internet. The Bonsai kitten (little kitten held for years in small glass jars) is probably the #1 story in this category, it was even investigated by the FBI, and luckily turned out to be fake!
Another story we heard before is about Marijuana Bonsai plants. Hoax or not?