Part of the fun of visiting large bonsai exhibits is shopping in the vendor area. Sometimes there are hundreds of shiny, new tools for sale. After taking a good look at each, I usually tell myself – or try to anyway – that I have enough for the time being. And sometimes that works. The […]
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New bonsai tools from Japan
I picked up a few new tools during my visit to Japan last fall. Among others, I purchased a large root scissors, a wire cutter, basic bonsai scissors and a water wand. Can you guess which has become my favorite? Root scissors, wire cutter, scissors Water wand – “ki ra ra – GNS” The root scissors […]
Decandling season arrives
If you have a number of red or black pine bonsai, you may have noticed that there are new candles everywhere – a sign that decandling time is near. Pine candles It’s still a bit early for people who live in warmer areas, but people in cooler climates may have already begun decandling. The time’s just […]
Keeping bonsai from drying out in summer
About two months ago, I removed most of the Spring growth from my root-over-rock trident maple (see “Refining Trident Maple” for details). Trident maple – 4/1/12 Mild weather has produced moderate growth since then. The tree is again full and a few shoots are beginning to elongate beyond the general silhouette. Trident maple – 5/25/12 […]
Starting an olive bonsai from scratch
Last fall a friend dug up an olive tree growing as a weed in his backyard. He figured someone might be interested in it. I figured it would make a fun bonsai project. Black olive The tree was tall and rangy but there was some taper at the base of the trunk. Shoots emerging from […]