One of my favorite activities relating to bonsai display is pot selection. I’ll be showing a young black pine at tomorrow’s Bay Island Bonsai exhibit and the pot used for the past year isn’t exactly show quality. 13 year-old black pine in colander Here are 11 options for the tree. Some look great to me, others […]
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Dropping in on a Bonsai Intensive
I had the opportunity to visit Boon’s workshop last week during a Bonsai Intensive. For those unfamiliar with the program, the Bonsai Intensive is a series of three day workshops that combine bonsai theory and practice. Boon started the program in 2001. Since then, many have graduated the 10-course program that culminates with a course […]
Final stroll through the Taikan-ten sales area
Many businesses in Japan announce closing time by playing a song called Hotaru no Hikari – The Light of the Firefly. It’s based on the tune of Auld Lang Syne. When the tune begins, you know it’s time to wrap up whatever is going on. It’s hard to leave a good bonsai show at the […]
Shimpaku at the Taikan-ten sales area
I’ve noted on a number occasions that juniper bonsai are primarily prized for two characteristics – the movement of the trunk and the quality of the deadwood. That’s a good starting point when evaluating junipers on display or in the sales area. At last year’s Taikan-ten in Kyoto I didn’t see many junipers that lacked […]
Shohin black pine extravaganza
No ado needed – here are some of the shohin black pines available at the 2015 Taikan-ten sales area. Black pine #1 Black pine #2 Black pine #3 Black pine #4 Black pine #5 Black pine #6 Black pine #7 Black pine #8 Black pine #9 Black pine #10 Black pine #11 Black pine #12 […]