Last weekend the American Bonsai Society held their 2019 Convention in Houston, Texas. Hosted by the Houston Bonsai Society, the event featured an awesome program of workshops, demonstrations, lectures, and artist spotlights. The convention exhibit included bonsai, suiseki, and kusamono displays. Headliners Enrique Castano de la Serna, Boon Manakitivipart, and Ryan Neil selected the prize-winning […]
Search Results for: kusamono
Earthwares – the bonsai pots of Vicki Chamberlain
I met Vicki Chamberlain at last year’s Artisans Cup in Portland. We talked about all things bonsai for some time and then, just before heading off, Vicki mentioned that she made bonsai containers. I was curious. Green oval Over the following year, I started seeing Vicki’s work – Earthwares – online and at a few Northern California bonsai […]
Growing medium for terrestrial orchids
This past spring I planted a number of Habaneria radiata – crane orchids – in different soil mixes to see how well each worked for propagation purposes (see Growing terrestrial orchids for details). The first flowers appeared this week so I thought it would be a good time to share the results. A few things surprised me. […]
Growing terrestrial orchids
Years ago, Boon Manakitivipart introduced me to orchid varieties used as accent plants. One in particular stuck with me. Boon gave me a few bulbs and I grew them successfully for many years. After a while, however, the numbers started dwindling as I often gave them to friends. A few years ago, the last few […]
More than an accent
Referring to the companion pieces at fine exhibits as “accents” doesn’t always do them justice. Using the Japanese “kusamono” isn’t much better as the term translates directly to “grass-” or “weed-thing.” Accents can provide color, add interest to displays and indicate the season. They can also be compelling artistic creations on their own. Here are a […]