Spotted in the Wild
Historical Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and RSS posts previously curated by the club (2017–present). Not authored by the club — preserved here since the original source feeds no longer carry this history.
Using Birds In Bonsai Display: Part II
After the post about birds in bonsai display I received a note from a friend. She reminded me that there’s more to display than location and season, and that birds (and animals) have personalities and presences that…
Highlights from the 9th US National Bonsai Exhibition
Attending regional events like the US National Bonsai Exhibition is a good way to gain an understanding of the work happening within a given community. At the National, the community showing trees represents a big swath…
How To Tweak Fall Color
We tend to think of fall color in deciduous trees in clear terms. The fall leaves of Gingko are yellow. Those of Red Maple are red. Except, sometimes the Red Maple has yellow leaves. Which asks a few questions. Why are…
The Quiet Fall – Bonsai and the Japanese Embrace of Autumn’s Melancholy
As the days shorten and the air turns crisp, a quiet transformation begins. At the moment, colours are slowly shifting here in the Kisetsu-en bonsai garden. In Japan, autumn is not merely a season—it is a deeply poetic…
How To Balance Long-needled Pine Shoots
The long-needled pines like Ponderosa and Austrian Pine tend to grow large end shoots with many needles. Selectively trimming needles off can help balance shoots, weakening strong ones and strengthening the smaller…
Award winners from the 9th US National Bonsai Exhibition
Last month, William N. Valavanis hosted the 9th US National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, New York. The event brought bonsai enthusiasts together from across the US and around the world to enjoy an awesome exhibition,…
A visit to the Bonsai Zentrum Heidelberg
The Bonsai Zentrum Heidelberg is a large bonsai nursery and event center owned and operated by Edis Ziegler. A previous incarnation of the business had closed in 2006 prompting Edis to acquire the property, renovate,…
What Do We Do With Bonsai In October?
In fall, bonsai are starting the slow slide into slumber. The following photo essay shares a few ideas of how to read the results of our summer work, and what to do in the bonsai garden in fall. This Satsuki Azalea is…
Tropical Bonsai Symposium– Part 2
Tonight was the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the two day exhibition. Tall tables were distributed throughout the exhibition area where about 50 members and visitors gathered and enjoyed a wide delicious…
Barberry – Mission Impossible
This week’s bonsai tutorial takes us into the wild territory of the unexpected. An old, neglected Barberry—forgotten and not well-grown—becomes the centre of attention. At first glance, it might seem like a mission…
Tropical Bonsai Symposium– Featuring 3 Point Bonsai Displays
The Tropical Bonsai Symposium & Exhibition is being held on October 3-4, 2025. Sponsored by the Bonsai Shohin Society in San Juan, Puerto Rico the event is being held at Jardin Selecto, owned by the Morales family.…
Amazing pines at Michael Tran’s garden
One of several side trips on my recent visit to Germany took us to Heidelberg to see Minoru Bonsai, the garden of Michael Tran. Michael Tran Michael, who studied with Udo Fischer, among others, founded the garden in…
The Autumn Light and the Dance of Deciduous Bonsai
As summer fades and autumn arrives, the light begins to soften. The sun sits lower in the sky, casting longer shadows and bathing the bonsai garden in a golden hue. This shift in light is not just a visual delight—it…
East Bay Bonsai Society and Lake Merritt
This past weekend was the East Bay Bonsai Society’s annual show in Oakland, CA, where I gave a talk about conceptual bonsai and ran a couple workshops. And I critiqued the show. The following photos are from the EBBS…
2025 9th US National Bonsai Exhibition A Great Success!!
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The Effect of Gravity on Tree Growth
While a branch’s origin on the trunk doesn’t change—one thing I remember answering correctly on my biology SAT test 400 years back—the branch itself may bend and reorient. Trunks and branches are subject to many forces…
Using Birds In Bonsai Display
Birds are often used in traditional bonsai display to give a suggestion of where the tree is. Is the bonsai in a field? In a swamp? By the ocean? On a mountain? Usually we use an accent to fulfill this need. An aster to…
Walter Pall bonsai master class
About a year and a half ago, I mentioned that I’d like to visit Walter Pall’s garden. The message got through to Walter (thanks, Jennifer!), and last week I was able to make the trip a reality. Each summer Walter…
Caring for Your Bonsai in Early Autumn: A Gentle Transition
As the first hints of autumn settle, the bonsai garden begins its quiet transformation. The light softens, the air soon cools – although right now we have warm, pleasant summer temperatures, and the trees respond with…
Portland Japanese Garden: Part II
Delivering bonsai to the Portland Japanese Garden has one hairy bit. After grinding up a steep hill you come to the roof panels on the spectacular Kengo Kuma buildings, which are conveniently lower than the top of a 26’…
Highlights from the 2025 REBS bonsai show
The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society held their annual exhibit last month at the Rohnert Park Community Center in Rohnert Park, California. This year’s event featured a demonstration from Mike Pistello, member tree sales,…
Final Preparations for US National Bonsai Exhibition
We are in the final days of preparation for the US National Bonsai Exhibition. A big thank you to all who have registered to attend, exhibitors, vendors and the valued volunteers who set up, host and take down the…
Portland Japanese Garden: Part I
In early 2018 I got a call from the then-curator of the Portland Japanese Garden, Sadafumi Uchiyama, who asked for help sourcing bonsai. I coughed up some phlegm—getting over bronchitis following my tiny house build—and…
The bonsai collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden
While I was in town for the recent Mid-America Bonsai Exhibit, I had the opportunity to visit and learn about the bonsai collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Curator Chris Baker and Seasonal Bonsai Assistant…