What’s all the fuss about selecting the right pot for bonsai? A pot that’s too big can make a powerful tree look small. A pot that’s too bright can be distracting. Pots can accentuate foliage or flowers, and they can clash with or complement other pots with which they are displayed. Maybe we’ve searched for […]
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Recent Posts
Getting the balance right – a follow-up
One of the more common challenges with refining pines is balance. Last summer I wrote about a red pine forest with uneven growth (see “Getting the balance right“). To improve the balance between trees, I decandled the weak trees early and the strong trees later. Here’s how the pine looked last spring before decandling. April […]
Online Store now open
As promised, I’ve recently launched an online store selling bonsai tools, supplies and soil. For the time being, I’m focusing on the basics – the essential items used by enthusiasts on a regular basis. The tools are made in Japan by Kaneshin, Silky, and ARS, among others. Over time I plan to expand the selection so if […]
Needle juniper foliage
On my last visit to Aichi-en, Juan Andrade and I took some time to compare the different foliage on some of the needle junipers in the garden. Needle juniper Needle juniper foliage It turns out there can be quite a difference in leaf size between specimens. If you’re working with a small tree, smaller foliage […]
Twists and movement
On a visit to Aichi-en last fall, I saw a juniper that was a little too much. Twisty shimpaku The other side Aichi-en apprentice Juan Andrade wasn’t very convinced by this tree with artificial twists. Junichiro Tanaka, on the other hand, suggested that the tree might take on more character as it ages and prove to […]