One of the highlights of this year’s Taikan-ten was a special display featuring specimens from the Keiji Tanaka collection. Three bonsai and two suiseki were exhibited in a display designed by Seiji Morimae. The trees were fantastic, as was the work by Shinji Suzuki. Trident maple A placard for the display provided the following text: […]
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Korean hornbeam display
This year’s Taikan-ten featured a special display area devoted to an impressive collection of Korean hornbeams. Hornbeams are a favorite variety of mine as they can show great character in the trunk and develop very twiggy branches. Cascade Korean hornbeam – unglazed hexagonal pot It’s rare to see so many old specimens together so it was […]
Prize-winning black pine at 35th Taikan-ten
What kind of trees win prizes at prestigious Japanese exhibits like Taikan-ten? Trees like the black pine below. Black pine This tree took top honors at this year’s Taikan-ten. The work is by Masahiko Kimura. What makes the tree special? Great health, great trunk and bark, great branch development and great balance in terms of […]
Needle juniper at 35th Taikan-ten
A few weeks ago I made a last minute decision to head to Japan to visit the 35th Taikan-ten held in Kyoto. I’m glad I did. Visiting exhibits in Japan provides a great opportunity to catch up with friends from around the world and to do a little bonsai-related shopping for tools, pots and accessories. […]
New growth on redwood bonsai
Five weeks ago I cut back and wired a coast redwood. Even though it’s mid-November, the tree is filling in quickly and some of the wires are already beginning to cut in. Coast redwood – 5 weeks after wiring and cutback The main goals of cutback and wiring are to ensure that light gets into the […]