Last weekend the Bay Area Bonsai Associates, affectionately known as BABA, held their 40th Anniversary exhibition at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, California. Below are some of the trees on display with brief notes about what made them good choices for the exhibit. Shimpaku juniper The juniper above is a great example of a […]
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Conifers vs. deciduous bonsai: evaluating different species
For this fall’s Pacific Bonsai Expo, we have some judging categories for narrow groups of trees (Best Large Conifer is an example) and other categories (like Best Medium Bonsai Display) that include a broad diversity of species. For these latter categories, it can be difficult to compare species as different as pine and beech. One […]
Cutback and wiring a root over rock black pine
Even though it’s January, I’m just now starting my pine fall work. This entails pruning and thinning extra needles. When time allows, I wire the branches too! Here’s what this looks like with a young root over rock black pine grown by Eric Schrader. Root over rock black pine – 14 years old I’ve had […]
Judging categories at the Pacific Bonsai Expo
The award categories for next year’s Pacific Bonsai Expo are set: Best in Show Best Large Broadleaf Evergreen Bonsai Best Large Conifer Bonsai Best Large Deciduous Bonsai Best Medium Bonsai Display Best Shohin Bonsai Display (You can learn more about sponsoring awards at the Expo here.) Large bonsai are trees that are over 18″ tall […]
Why is my pine yellow? A black pine troubleshooting guide
The following is a guide to help you identify the cause of yellowing in black pine bonsai. First, select a pattern that matches the yellowing you see on your tree. Next, check the candidate causes to see if any sound like a match. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to send […]




