About a year ago I received a small olive with an unusual feature – the lower part of the trunk didn’t seem to be alive. The tree continued to grow, but slowly. An even bigger problem was that the trunk swelled a couple of inches above the roots making the tree a poor candidate for […]
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How to judge a bonsai show – highlights from the Minnesota State Fair
Last weekend I had the opportunity to judge the Minnesota Bonsai Society’s annual show held at the state fair. An amazing crowd of 225,000 people attended the fair that day, and many of them lined up to see the bonsai on display, a club tradition dating back to 1975. For those who are curious about […]
Developing shohin olives
In the last few years I’ve started working more with olive bonsai. Although they do best where the weather gets hot, they can grow well in mild climates too. As time goes by, I have less patience for species that don’t thrive where I live which makes olives a refreshing addition to the garden. Many […]
Top 5 updates about the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo
The biggest bonsai event on the West Coast is only 10 weeks away! Here are the top 5 things you need to know about it. 1. Advance tickets are on sale now – enjoy reduced rates before prices go up closer to the event 2. Volunteer sign-ups are available online – help us provide a […]
Summer cutback on a large cork oak
After a number of years working with cork oak bonsai, it’s become really clear that for the lower branches to thicken, the top needs regular trimming. This photo from earlier this week makes it clear where the tree wants to produce new growth. Cork oak with new growth on the upper branches Fortunately, if the […]