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.
Growing Flowering Shohin Bonsai
There’s something quietly magical about a flowering shohin bonsai. In just a handful of centimeters, it holds the grace of a full-sized tree and the delicate beauty of seasonal blooms. Among the many species suited for…
Interview with Masahiko Kimura
While filming our latest Masterclass with Masahiko Kimura, we asked him about his legacy, and about what his hopes are for Bonsai in the future. Mr. Kimura is surprisingly open about his journey in the Japanese Bonsai…
Hitting the reset button
If you’re not happy with a tree’s structure, you can always hit the reset button and remove any branches you’re unhappy with. This process looks different for different species but the basic idea is the same: remove any…
Show Highlights From The Australian National Bonsai Convention
Australia’s National Bonsai Convention wrapped up this past weekend. Here’s an overview of the event, a selection of trees from the show, and a few notes from my trip up north to Queensland. The view flying into…
A Kokufu-ten worthy Hinoki by Kimura #shorts #bonsai #japan
In this video we show how mr. Kimura works on a stunning Hinoki, which he plans to display in the Kokufuten. This video is part of his new online course. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider…
Ryan Neil Bonsai Demonstration (Trophy 2025)
Ryan Neil styled this Kishu Juniper at the Trophy 2025 (Saturday). Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums…
2025 52nd Upstate New York Exhibition & Sale
The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York, based in Rochester, is hosting the 52 nd exhibition for only one day this year because of a scheduling conflict. Sunday, May 18, 2025, was the only date available to the group.…
The Next Chapter Begins: Mirai's First Ever Tree Auction
Over the years, we’ve shaped trees that carry meaning—reflections of time, craft, and intention. This Monday, May 19th at 10am PDT, a small number will become available in our first ever Mirai Tree Auction. Not to…
Spring work for deciduous bonsai
Not long after my deciduous bonsai leaf out, I start thinking about when the perfect time would be to prune and partially defoliate them. In general, the more dense the branches, the earlier in the season I do the work.…
Koji Hiramatsu Bonsai Demonstration (Trophy 2025)
Koji Hiramatsu styled this Juniper at the Trophy 2025. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free…
Visit With Jarryd Bailey In Tasmania
Some of you may remember Jarryd Bailey here on the blog, who came to study at Crataegus Bonsai a few years back. He lives in Tasmania, which is about as far south as you can go before you run out of Eucalypts and are…
Mauro Stemberger Bonsai Demonstration (Trophy 2025)
Mauro Stemberger styled this pine at the Trophy 2025. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free…
A visit to the Bonsai Pavilion at Safari Park
Last weekend the San Diego Bonsai Club held their 60th anniversary celebration. The event was held at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park, home to the Bonsai Pavilion, a beautiful garden and bonsai collection built and…
Michigan All-State Bonsai Show
The Michigan All-State Bonsai Show took place on May 10-11, 2025, at Majier Gardens and Sculpture Garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
World Bonsai Convention #japanese #bonsai #art
Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses
Built to Last: Behind the Craft of Our Bonsai Tool Bags
We visited Brandy Lamb, owner of Beckel Canvas in Milwaukie, Oregon, to share the story behind our new custom canvas bonsai tool bags. Known for their rugged tents and long-lasting gear, Beckel brings decades of…
Studio Sessions: Korean Hornbeam Raft
As the 2025 repotting season winds down, we’re reflecting on one of the very first trees we tackled in this year’s monumental repotting cycle. Out of nearly 500 trees, this Korean Hornbeam raft stands out, not just for…
The Outdoor Tokonoma at Kisetsu-en Bonsai Garden
On request I have written a post about the outdoor Tokonoma created a few years ago A Blend of Tradition and Innovation In the serene Kisetsu-en Bonsai Garden, I crafted an outdoor Tokonoma that merges traditional…
Trophy Bonsai Exhibition 2025
The video showcases the stunning Trophy Bonsai Exhibition held at in Belgium, where passionate bonsai enthusiasts gather from all across Europe and beyond. From ancient, gnarled trunks to delicate, perfectly pruned…
Right-sizing a bonsai collection
One consequence of writing a book about bonsai is that I’ve really started to take some of the lessons to heart. For years I’ve known I have more trees than I can adequately care for. When I take on more projects than I…
The Story Of David DeGroot’s Black Pine Raft
In typical David DeGroot humility, he says of his Japanese Black Pine raft, “Like many of my trees, it has gone through occasional work or restyling followed by long periods of neglect, so it is much younger in its…
Kimura creates a massive Pine Bonsai #shorts #bonsai #japan
In this short video we show how mr. Masahiko Kimura creates a massive Pine Bonsai in his garden in Tokyo. It is a lecture from his new online course. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling…