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.
Juniper Design and Styling: Part Two – Arranging Branches and Foliage
Welcome back to our series on Juniper design and styling! In the first episode, I focused on the intricate and essential task of working on the deadwood. Now, in part two, we will build upon that foundation by arranging…
Juniper bonsai, design and deadwood
Dear Bonsai Enthusiasts. Now the latest video from our Members series, focusing on the intricate art of creating deadwood in Juniper bonsai is ready to watch. This two-part series delves into both the aesthetic and…
Handling Pines
Before I went to Japan I studied with Boon Manakitivipart . He taught how to maneuver your hands in pines to avoid breaking the needles, a lesson that has paid many dividends over the years in not mangling the pines I…
Shopping for pre-bonsai
The process of looking for pre-bonsai can differ from person to person depending on one’s interest in growing bonsai. You can select trees that give you an opportunity to work on skills you want to improve, or buy a…
The Live Q&A content
Quick recap from Yesterdays Live Q&A giving you and idea about the content and what we discuss and learn The meeting from the Live Q&A Thursday November 28 covered various topics related to tree care, including…
Directional Pruning: A Case Study
We tend to think of large cuts as being structural, and small ones as being maintenance. This is an example where small cuts are structural. Though the example here is a dwarf flowering quince ‘Chojubai’, how to sculpt…
Setting Up a Bonsai in Your Tokonoma or Living Room
Embracing Winter Elegance: Setting Up a Bonsai in Your Tokonoma or Living Room Winter is a season of quiet beauty, and what better way to celebrate it than by incorporating a bonsai into your home decor? Whether you…
Viewing bonsai in the right light
One of the benefits of viewing bonsai in natural light is that the light changes throughout the day. When the light is direct, you might catch dramatic shadows that highlight select details. When the light is filtered…
Atumn 2024 Japan Bonsai Tour-Part 4 Nippon Bonsai Taikan Exhibition (Part 2- Companion Plantings)
When creating a formal, traditional bonsai composition it is important to suggest seasonality. This can be easily suggested in several ways; the bonsai, scroll or accessory (companion planting, art or figurine.) These…
Autumn 2024 Japan Bonsai Tour-Part 3 Nippon Bonsai Taikan Exhibition (Part 1)
The 44 th Nippon Bonsai Taikan Exhibition is now being held on November 22-25, 2024 at the Miyako Messe Exhibition Hall in Kyoto, Japan. This is the second most important bonsai exhibition in Japan and visitors from…
Autumn 2024 Japan Bonsai Tour-Part 2 Masahiko Kimura Visit
Today we visited the studio of Masahiko Kimura who is often referred to as “The Magical Technician of Contemporary Bonsai” because of his unique talents and creative expressions of bonsai art. He was among the first to…
How Moss And Lichen Can Indicate Good Watering
We talk a lot about how conifers prefer less frequent watering and deciduous more frequent. And that is a good guide for day-to-day watering. But is there a clue we’ve been doing well over the long term? There is, but…
Autumn 2024 Japan Bonsai Tour-Part 1
Our semi-annual bonsai tour to the Japanese bonsai world began a couple a few days ago. Kora Dalager and I have been introducing friends from around the globe to the Japanese bonsai world for over 25 years. This autumn…
The Importance of Winter Dormancy for Trees
The bonsai are slowly going into dormancy. Low temperatures the next days here will help them on their way. As the vibrant colors of autumn fade and the chill of winter sets in, trees undergo a remarkable…
Outstanding deciduous bonsai at the PBE
The deciduous bonsai on display at this year’s expo included some fantastic trees. When considered together, they offer a great opportunity for discovering what you like best about this group of trees. As you look at…
Ryusen Weeping Japanese Maple
I love unusual plants for their distinctive sizes, structures, foliage, fruit and growth characteristics. About ten years ago Darlene Hutt from Ohio posted her Ryusen weeping Japanese maple garden tree on the Bonsai Nut…
When Do We Turn Trees?
The common admonition “Turn Your Trees!” is a good one. It’s even better when framed by a few qualifications. Turn trees every week or two when trees are: Dense Next to walls, such as close to a house In the growing…
Autumn 2024 Beauty at The International Bonsai Arboretum
The autumn 2024 colors have come and gone (almost as there are about 10 Dwarf maple bonsai masterpieces which have not completely changed color.) We were able to capture some individual bonsai in peak color, and I felt…
Japanese maples autumn care and planning
New video is live and ready to stream As we transition into the colder months, our beloved deciduous bonsai trees are entering their dormancy period. This is a crucial time for bonsai care, offering a perfect…
New From Bonsai Empire: Shinji Suzuki and Luis Vallejo
It is not easy for me to impartial about this course, which, being partly about my teacher Shinji Suzuki, I naturally think must be good. But it is good. The new course covers bonsai display. Suzuki and Vallejo are…
PBE Board Announces “Directors’ Choice Award”
In the hours just before the judging period for the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo, we received a request to change the category of one of the entries, a coast redwood. Due to a clerical error on our part (on my part!)…
The Beauty of Autumn Berries on Shohin Bonsai
As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin to change, there’s a special charm that graces our bonsai collections. Among the most captivating sights are the vibrant autumn berries that adorn small shohin…
Pacific Bonsai Expo ‘24 Highlights
How quickly can a bonsai show become a classic? I’ll let you decide. Here is an informal tour of the exhibition, photos courtesy of Vince Smith. (You will need a good connection, there are a lot of them.) Best in Show,…
2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo–An Exhibition Of Extraordinary Bonsai– Part 3
Additionally, new this year, were super demonstrations, mini-lectures and a panel discussion with two of the top bonsai containers potters from Tokoname, Japan. There was also a bonsai potter from New Zealand selling…