Sierra junipers have become a favorite variety of mine in recent years. They grow vigorously and often feature deadwood with undulating movement and exciting jin. The Members’ Choice award for large conifer at Bay Island Bonsai’s 19th annual exhibit went to a Sierra juniper. It’s a fantastic tree. Members’ Choice Award – Sierra juniper Great […]
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Setting a display with a Western juniper and Japanese maple
I’ll be showing a medium sized Western juniper and Japanese maple at this weekend’s Bay Island Bonsai exhibit – that much is clear. What I’m still working on is how they’ll be arranged and which stands work best. Here are the two trees – the maple on a hexagonal stand, and the juniper is on […]
How to use a bonsai jack
“Bonsai Jacks” are tools designed to bend heavy branches and trunks. They allow us to make these bends incrementally – and safely – by twisting a threaded rod. The best way to describe their use is with an example, so let’s start there. Here’s a pine styled by Daisaku Nomoto with help from Boon Manakitivipart, […]
Reducing the trunk to improve a cork oak bonsai
One of the first cork oaks I started working on has developed quickly. I let a couple of sacrifice branches grow freely and they have now adequately thickened the branch that will become the new leader. It’s time to make a big cut. Field grown cork oak The decision to cut has also been influenced […]
Initial work on a cork oak bonsai
I recently picked up a field grown cork oak with some nice movement in the trunk. There are, however, few usable branches at this point. Field grown cork oak As I’d like to encourage new branches to grow from the trunk, I cut back the existing branches to small side shoots. After cutback Most of […]