Black pines are one of a number of species that don’t naturally produce balanced growth. These pines are likely to produce strong shoots near the apex or at the ends of lower branches and weaker shoots everywhere else. Of the many ways to balance this growth, the most effective I know of is to decandle […]
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Little Champions – Special Exhibit at the Pacific Bonsai Museum
A “Champion Tree” is a specimen that has been measured to be the largest of its species (see “Champion Tree Registry“). The findings are based on a points system that considers tree height, trunk circumference, and average crown circumference (there’s a manual that spells out the details). Playing on this idea, the Pacific Bonsai Museum […]
Small Talk – A special exhibition at the Pacific Bonsai Museum
I was reminded last week what an awesome resource we have in the Pacific Bonsai Museum. For those who haven’t visited, the museum hosts a collection of outstanding bonsai in Federal Way, Washington. It may be best known, however, for staging some of the most engaging and thought-provoking exhibits and events in the bonsai world. […]
Decandling a field-grown pine
I kicked off this year’s decandling season by working on a pine that had been left to grow freely for a few years. Black pine with long shoots When decandling, we have the option to simply remove the current year’s growth or, if the tree is growing vigorously, to cut back to any spot along […]
Hitting the reset button
If you’re not happy with a tree’s structure, you can always hit the reset button and remove any branches you’re unhappy with. This process looks different for different species but the basic idea is the same: remove any portion of the tree that lacks “good structure.” For deciduous and broadleaf evergreen bonsai, this may mean […]