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Portland Japanese Garden
On a recent trip to Oregon I had a chance to visit the Portland Japanese Garden. Set in the hills overlooking Portland – not far from the museum hosting next month’s Artisans Cup – the garden is well...
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Yaupon holly cutback
It can take a long time to get a tree into rough shape, especially when making primary branches from scratch. Refining from takes even longer. Now that my Yaupon holly has the basic silhouette I had in...
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Thoughts on shopping for bonsai
I’m excited – tomorrow I’m heading up to the largest bonsai exhibit and sale in Northern California – the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 32nd Annual Show. Coast redwood as displayed at the REBS 29th...
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Trident maples at REBS 32nd annual show
This past weekend marked the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 32nd annual show. The show is well-known as one of the best – and biggest – exhibits in the area. The show always features a number of...
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Conifers at REBS 32nd annual show
It’s when I see good material that I most think about what lies ahead for a tree. This year’s REBS exhibit featured some pretty fine conifer bonsai. In time these trees will only get better. Recently...
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Drench for root aphids follow-up 1
Back in July I treated a number of black and red pines for suspected root aphids (see “Why are my trees yellow“). I’ve noticed a few changes since then and wanted to share what I’ve seen. Some yellow...
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Good buds, bad buds
Of the two young black pines below, which do you expect to grow more next year – the one on the left, or the one on the right? 2-1/2 year-old black pines My money’s on the tree on the right. Not...
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Summer growth on black pine
Summer is the time when people who decandled their black or red pines water and fertilize and wait until fall when the time comes for wiring and needle-pulling. Looking around my garden, I see summer...
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Cryptomeria foliage
We usually see photos of cryptomeria bonsai during winter when the trees are dormant. Cryptomeria are usually trained in the formal upright style, and it’s through the development of the branch pads...
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Developing formal upright cryptomeria
Four years ago I made a few cryptomeria from air layer (see “How to air layer cryptomeria” and “Cryptomeria from air layer“). I’ve worked little on the trees in the intervening years and only began...
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Highlights from the Green Club – white pine
The Green Club is the sales area that accompanies Kokufu – the world’s premier bonsai exhibit held annually in Tokyo. Some of the trees on offer here are pretty amazing. In lieu of taking a break this...
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Highlights from the Green Club – Japanese beech
Another highlight from the Green Club in 2014 – Japanese beech. Japanese Beech This beech is massive. It’s close to 3′ tall and has amazing ramification. The base of the trunks is unconventional and...
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Highlights from the Green Club – black pine
Another highlight from the Green Club in 2014 – Black pine. Black pine To say this tree has a massive trunk is an understatement. It’s like someone dreamed of a tree with near excessive taper and it...
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Highlights from the Green Club – Japanese maple
A highlight from the Green Club in 2014 – Japanese maple. Japanese maple Several things come to mind when appreciating this maple. I’m not sure of the variety, but there’s a chance it’s a sub-variety....
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Highlights from the Green Club – shohin black pine
Another highlight from the Green Club in 2014 – shohin black pine. Shohin black pine The Green Club typically features lots of shohin black pine ranging in price between $1,000 and $5,000. Using...
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Highlights from the Green Club – shimpaku
A highlight from the Green Club in 2014 – shimpaku. Shimpaku Junipers are prized for movement in the trunk, particularly twists, and deadwood. By this standard this is a good tree. A really good tree....
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Refining a Sierra juniper
Ned Lycett was one of the happy exhibitors at the inaugural Artisans Cup held in Portland, Oregon, last month. The tree he displayed was a Sierra juniper he collected in 2006. Here is the tree as...
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Artisans Cup judging rubric
It’s hard to know where to begin. From the concept, to the outreach, to the staging and execution of the event, Ryan and Chelsea Neil did a great job with the Artisans Cup. For all of your effort,...
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Analysis of Results from the 2015 Artisans Cup
Assigning scores to trees is one thing – selecting a winner based on these scores is another matter altogether. By publishing the judges’ scores from the 2015 Artisans Cup, Ryan and Chelsea Neil shed...
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Judging the Artisans Cup by categories
The Artisans Cup featured several panels throughout the weekend that gave visitors a chance to learn from the team that put the event together, from the Neils, and from the judges. During the judges’...
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