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Post #500 – Kokufu-ten
A little over five years ago I started this blog – and today marks my 500th post. I’ve come a long way since my first post, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all for joining in the fun...
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The Kokufu-ten tour continues
The Kokufu-ten is known for both the quality of its trees and the quantity. The annual exhibit typically features around 250 bonsai displays. While the large displays contain one tree each, the medium...
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Shohin bonsai at Kokufu 88
Shohin bonsai, at Kokufu-ten, are saved for the last room. Each half of this year’s exhibit featured five displays with five or six trees each, followed by a handful of kifu-sized bonsai. Although many...
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A final pass through Kokufu 88
The first time I visited the Kokufu-ten was in 1999. I remember thinking, “wow, that’s a lot of trees.” Over the course of a week I saw the exhibit twice and felt like I was only just starting to gain...
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Adachi’s little trees
My final stop in Kyushu brought me to Mr. Adachi’s garden. As soon as we arrived, I noticed a small patio out front with some nice deciduous shohin bonsai. Shohin ‘Chojubai’ They were very interesting....
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More from Miyazaki
In addition to growing deciduous trees by the hundreds, Mr. Adachi had taken to developing small shimpaku as well. He starts with cuttings, wires them after a few years, and encourages escape branches...
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Tête-à-tête
A seated figure, or figures, arranged face to face. Such a suggestion came to this stone’s owner and the idea stuck, earning it the name, “Chat.” Chat was recently on display along with scores of other...
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Japan Suiseki Exhibition
On February 9th, 2014, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum opened its doors to an historic event – the Japan Suiseki Exhibition. Produced by the Nippon Suiseki Association, the event featured some of...
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International contributions to the Japan Suiseki Exhibition
One of the remarkable aspects of the Japan Suiseki Exhibition is that all of the stones on display were from Japan. This included a number of stones of Japanese origin that returned to Japan for the...
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Kentaro Shiino’s pines
On my last day in Japan this past February, I had the opportunity to visit two bonsai nurseries in Kanagawa prefecture. The first stop was Kentaro Shiino’s. I’d met Shiino, a graduate of Daiju-en,...
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More conifers and deciduous trees in Shiino’s garden
In addition to many black and white pines, Kentaro Shiino’s Kanagawa garden featured great examples of a number of varieties, including some beautiful junipers. Chinese juniper Chinese juniper Chinese...
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Where good bonsai come from
One of the benefits of visiting bonsai nurseries in Japan – apart from seeing so many great trees – is getting a better sense of the person who maintains the nursery. Do they like conifers or deciduous...
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Pines in Imai’s garden
Chiharu Imai’s garden featured some great pines. Some of these were far more developed than others. Seeing less developed trees next to more mature specimens made it clear how bonsai can develop and...
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A final walk through Imai’s garden
Imai’s deciduous bonsai are as interesting as his conifers and include a large number of varieties. Most common among these are small chojubai – the current utility bonsai, or so it seems, among small...
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Deadwood and movement
The most compelling aspects of bonsai are often out of our control. This is true for both deadwood and movement – a tree either has them or it doesn’t. While hand-carved deadwood and manufactured...
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Junipers on the edge
The Sierra juniper, Juniperus occidentalis, is found in pockets throughout the Sierra Nevada. When exposed to particularly harsh conditions like those found at tree line – the elevation above which no...
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Spectacular Sierra junipers
Among my favorite trees in nature is this Sierra juniper. Spectacular Sierra juniper The tree sits on a throne facing East where it enjoys limited protection from the wind. It gives evidence to a...
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The twistiest of junipers
This is the first juniper I fell for on my previous visit to Meiss Meadow. Twisty Sierra juniper It’s one of the twistiest specimens I know of. The deadwood is great. Deadwood detail From some angles...
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Matt Reel bonsai program at Bay Island Bonsai
After an incredible 8 years studying with Shinji Suzuki in Obuse, Japan, Matt Reel has returned to the US as a bonsai professional. Matt with recently styled Western juniper I first met Matt in 2009 –...
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Spring cutback
When deciduous varieties get shaggy in Spring, it’s often a good indicator that it’s time for cutback. To keep these trees strong, I generally cutback to 3 or 4 buds and only remove growth in strong...
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