• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

Pines in Imai’s garden

May 27, 2014 by Jonas Dupuich

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 improve over time. The juxtaposition also made it clear that Imai can do great work at both ends of this spectrum.

White pine

White pine with interesting deadwood

White pine

Large white pine

White pine

Another nice white pine

As is typical during the winter months, the outdoor pines had turned yellow while the pines kept indoors retained their green hue.

White pine

White pine

White pine

Multi-trunk white pine

White pine

A small white pine

A number of the younger specimens had recently been wired. And although they look good now, they’ll look even better when the branch pads fill in.

White pine

White pine

White pine

Twisted trunk white pine

White pine

Semi-cascade white pine

The black pine below has a fun trunk and a good start on the branches. For those thinking about styling pines, do you think the tree points left or right?

Black pine

Black pine

Some heavy bends have produced a nice silhouette in this young white pine.

White pine

White pine

Great bark and interesting movement will make for a fun tree when the branches fill in.

Black pine

Black pine

And as for the white pine below, I’m very curious about the tree’s future. Any guesses?

White pine

White pine

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Filed Under: Excursions Tagged With: Imai, Japan

Previous Post: « Where good bonsai come from
Next Post: A final walk through Imai’s garden »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. zack Clayton says

    May 27, 2014 at 5:03 am

    That pine is ambiguous. The top leans left and it could point that way with some developement. But, the trunk and that first branch is so strong and heavy feeling it points the way to an exhibit on the right side of the tree. In that view, the top is almost superfluous.

  2. Jeremy Norbury says

    May 27, 2014 at 6:49 am

    It points right…

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2025 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT