Mid-Michigan Bonsai Message Corner

July 17th, 2025 - BYOT (Bring Your Own Tree) - Foster Community Center Room 109

This is an opportunity to further work on your bonsai, kusamono and accent plants in preparation for the MMBC August Show at Van Attas.  Get advice and recommendations on how to further develop your bonsai.

Developing A Scots Pine Bonsai– part 1

I came across a few of these photos from a “memory” which popped up on my Facebook page, and thought I’d update the development of this Scots pine from a Xmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Of course, I’ll add a lot more information in Part 2, but I’m busy finishing the anticipated 2023 US National Bonsai Exhibition Album.

Understanding Your Bonsai

As the year runs out, here is a possible bonsai promise to yourself for 2025. Learn to observe and understand your bonsai.

The Physics Of Bonsai Transport

I am the last person to write about physics. In high school I recall a particularly excruciating segment on optics, which left me cross-eyed. I have, however, seen a lot of crunched trees in cars and have a suggestion or two on how to get them from point A to point B without damage.

The bonsai year soon ends and then a new beginning

Bonsai have filled a lot this year as it has done for several years. A lot of friends around the world make the world small and comforting in these challenging times in my part of the world. Denmark is still as safe a country as it can be, but we feel the same as we did when I was a kid when the Cold War was around. Luckily bonsai knows nothing about all of this and that is a comfort.

Developing red maple bonsai

I’ve had a lot of fun working with red maples, also known as swamp maples, over the past few years.

Extreme Pruning-

In bonsai, “pruning” is a catch-all word that covers several related plant actions.

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 the branches and foliage to enhance the overall aesthetic and health of our Juniper bonsai.

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 technical aspects of this fascinating technique.

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 was working on. 

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 tree with great potential that requires a significant amount time to develop. In either case, the goal is typically the same: to find the best trunk possible (the tree with the greatest potential) that’s within your budget.