They may not be the tallest trees, or the oldest, but the giant sequoias in California’s Sequoia National Park are the largest known trees on earth by volume. They are, in many respects, the opposite of bonsai, but they can certainly inform our understanding of age, character, beauty – and scale – in nature. I spent a few […]
Excursions
Excursion posts feature visits to bonsai gardens in the U.S. and in Japan, visits to the Kyoto's Most Renown Gardens, and trips into the mountains to see junipers and pines in their natural setting.
Shopping for bonsai at Green Club
There’s a big difference between shopping for bonsai at Green Club and buying bonsai at Green Club. I’m happy shopping – the quality is often outstanding – but it doesn’t stop me from imagining I’m in the market for trees like this. Maybe I’m looking for a large pine with great bark – show ready […]
Shimpaku bonsai on sale at Green Club
Close by the Kokufu bonsai exhibit is the Green Club, home to a massive bonsai vendor area set up to accompany the event. Inside, some spectacular trees are for sale, including the shimpaku below. What makes for good shimpaku bonsai? In addition to age, character, and beauty – general qualities that apply to all bonsai […]
Shinpukuji Temple bonsai museum
The bonsai museum at Shinpukuji Temple near Okazaki has many outstanding trees. Visiting is like attending a mini exhibit, but an exhibit of Kokufu quality. Many of the trees in the garden have appeared in Kokufu, and several have won awards. Here is a selection of the trees that were on display during Boon’s visit […]
Bonsai museum at Shinpukuji Temple
Adjacent to the Shimpukuji Temple in Okazaki, one can visit a very fine bonsai museum. A rotating selection of trees fills both indoor and outdoor displays. When the ume bloom, they fill the indoor display area. I like ume because they capture some very important aspects of bonsai. The bark shows great age. The flowers, […]