Shohin bonsai are often displayed vertically to make use of limited exhibit space and to bring small trees closer to eye level. This can lead to interesting arrangements of trees that are often far more complex than the arrangement of larger bonsai on display. The shohin displays below were featured at the recent Bay Area […]
Shohin
Highlights from the Bay Area Suiseki and Shohin Show
I’ve always enjoyed visiting bonsai exhibits as they’re both fun and educational. I study the trees I like to see what makes them work. Later, when I’m back in the garden, I try to make use of what I’ve learned. Here are some of the characteristics I liked about a selection of trees on display […]
Partial defoliation on shohin Japanese maple
Last year I defoliated a shohin Japanese maple in an effort to stimulate back buds (see “Defoliating a Japanese maple“). The approach worked (see the “Follow-up“). This year I want the shoots that developed from these back buds to grow strong. To encourage this, I removed the leaves from the established branches and left the […]
Bonsai Development Series #14: Sacrifice branches – the last mile
Not all sacrifice branches need to be big. Small sacrifice branches are a good way to thicken the trunk and close wounds on trees even when most of the branch work is complete. Here’s an example. Shohin black pine – 7″ (16″ with sacrifice branch) The tree above is fifteen years old from seed. I’d […]
Bonsai from the Gafu-ten sales area
One of the highlights of the Gafu-ten exhibit is the sales area. Like the sales areas at other top bonsai exhibits, the Gafu-ten sales area featured bonsai at all stages of development from seedlings to show quality specimen bonsai. Some of my favorites are pictured below. Japanese black pine Japanese white pine Dwarf jasmine Japanese maple […]