TOP 10: MOST POPULAR "BONSAI OF THE DAY" IMAGES

On social media (including Facebook and Twitter) we share a "Bonsai of the Day". The ten most popular trees deserve special attention in this Top 10. Enjoy!

(#1) Juniper Bonsai tree by Luis Vila



By far the most popular image; A Juniper Bonsai tree by Luis Vila. It is placed in a unique Crescent Bowl, which enhances the dramatic effect of the cascade composition. This is a personal favorite, stunning composition! Photo by: Salvador De Los Reyes. Check our Bonsai gallery for more images.


(#2) Bougainvillea by Lorna Toledo


Abundant flowers on this massive Bougainvillea Bonsai, by Lorna Toledo.



(#3) Bougainvillea Bonsai by Eko Bonsai




Purple flowers on a Bougainvillea Bonsai tree, in Moyogi style, by Eko Bonsai. He also works on Ficus Bonsai trees.



(#4) Juniper by Peter Ebensperger




Spectacular and very unique display. Slanting Juniper composition, forest style. Picture by Peter Ebensperger.



(#5) Adenium Bonsai by Siam adenium




Adenium Bonsai tree with bright pink flowers, by Siam adenium. Find more flowering bonsai in our Top 10 on flowering bonsai.



(#6) Deshojo by Michael




Multitrunk Deshojo Bonsai (Acer/Maple) with warm autumn colors, by Michael.




(#7) Maple Bonsai by Michael




Another Maple Bonsai, in fall, added by Michael. John Naka added: “The object is not to make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make the bonsai look like a tree.” Check more priceless bonsai; the most expensive Bonsai tree.




(#8) Juniper Bonsai by Jose Luis Blasco Paz




Very elegant Juniper Bonsai, in Literati style, breathtaking! By: Jose Luis Blasco Paz.




(#9) Shohin by Katsumi Komiya




Berries on a Crabapple Bonsai tree, very small size (called Shohin). By: Katsumi Komiya.




(#10) Black pine by Michael Bonsai




It took 30 years to grow the 6,5 foot (2 meter) branch of this Black pine bonsai, at Kyoto Garden Ryokan Yachiyo. Photo by: Michael Bonsai.

Thirty exhibitors and vendors brought some of their finest bonsai to share with others so they too could enjoy nature in miniature. Vendors brought a wide variety of plant material from young seedlings to well developed masterpiece bonsai in addition to stone and ceramic containers and supplies for the creation of bonsai. Just over 100 bonsai were displayed including two shohin bonsai compositions.

Bonsai World 2013

The bonsai world 2013 was on this weekend - so took a little drive out on Sunday to go and have a look around. I was really keen to get there as there were going to be some nice things to see in the sales area - and for once I'm not broke and can afford to shop modestly.


The scene as you entered the main hall.








Some shots of the displays. In my excitement to get in I hadn’t adjust my camera so I ended up with a lot of blurry pictures. There were a lot of trees on display and the standard was very good.














And then the sales area. This was very well represented with many of my favourite vendors and artists. All consumables , tools and sundries were available in abundance. There was a decent selection of material available to cater for all tastes.




























I picked up a lovely little beech from Kaizen. I’ve spent a bit of time making it a sunny spot on my benches. Now I will spend a few weeks getting to know it first as its a complex tree.









Bumped into some old people and met some new ones.

BAG END BONSAI TRAYSCAPE

"A large hill (The Hill) lay to the north, and under its southern slopes Bilbo's father Bungo built the luxurious smial Bag End above the lane of Bagshot Row. This is the home of Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, where both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings begin and end."

The described scenery was more than enough inspiration for Chris to recreate it in miniature, with a stunning Bonsai plant as result. This article describes how this landscape was created.




This is the result of Chris' work. Read about how this was created below.




Bag End (Lord of the Rings) in summer.




Cloesup shot of the door and fence.




Another image, with the landscape cleaned up and the lawn freshly trimmed!

Extensive publicity in the region drew over 300 visitors on Saturday to see the inaugural event, which I hope will develop into an annual affair. Both the public and experienced hobbyists attended on a cold day. The Bonsai Society of the Carolinas in the Charlotte area brought bonsai as did members from the Triangle Bonsai Society in Raleigh, a South Carolina study group, some from Virginia and the North Carolina Arboretum. Everyone came together to share the beauty of bonsai during the winter season.

TOP 10: GREATEST BONSAI TREES

Though growing Bonsai trees is a hobby practiced by many people around the world, its Asian origin is still obvious. Not surprisingly, the most impressive trees are to be found in collections of famous Japanese masters. We have put together a list of ten stunning trees that are unique in their beauty, balance and realism. These trees will help you appreciate this ancient and fascinating art!
The ten trees are not ordered in any way.

(#1) An 800 year-old Bonsai tree at Shunkaen, by Kunio Kobayashi

A remarkable tree which is well known for its extremely high age; the tree is reported to be over 800 years old, one of the most expensive bonsai trees! Its owner, master Kobayashi, is one of the most well known Bonsai artists in the world and has won the prestigious Prime Minister award in Japan 4 times. His nursery, ShunkaEn, is located in Tokyo and is open to visitors. For more information, read the Shunka-en Bonsai page, or check the Bonsai artist profile of Kunio Kobayashi.

(#2) Goshin "protector of the spirits", by John Naka

Goshin ("protector of the spirit") is a bonsai created by John Y. Naka. It is a forest planting of eleven Foemina Junipers, the earliest of which Naka began training into bonsai in 1948. Naka donated it to the National Bonsai Foundation in 1984, to be displayed at the United States National Arboretum; it has been there ever since. The tree is posted on our Bonsai homepage, but you can also read more about John Naka in his Bonsai artist profile.


(#3) Small Bonsai; a Shohin tree by Morten Albek

A gorgeous Rockspray Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horisontalis). This is a picture taken in spring; the tree flowers in summer and has small red berries in wintertime. The tree is only 9,5 cm (4 inches) high and is planted on a miniature rock. The pot is made by John Pitt, a famous potter. The tree is about 20 years old on the picture and has been in training for about a decade.


(#4) Pinus Silvestris, by Stefano Frisoni

This tree is remarkably realistic, a character highly valued for Bonsai trees. As you can see, the foliage pads are very dense, as if it were clouds in the sky. Read the article on how this tree was cultivated and trained here!


(#5) Chinese styled trees; a Penjing landscape by Yee-sun Wu

This wonderful Chinese landscape belongs to the Man Lung collection in Hong Kong. The trees are Chinese Bird Plums (Sageretia Theezans) and together make up a very realistic scenery. In the collection Ficus Bonsai are also popular. In this landscape, the trees, rock and miniature figurines are placed on a shallow rectangular pot (made of marble), which in turn is displayed on an antique table.




(#6) Flowering Bonsai, by Wolfgang Putz

This tree is an Azalea species of only 14 cm (5 inches) high. The picture is taken in late spring / early summer, the moment when Azalea trees bloom (shortly, but very vividly!). The tree is planted in a Japanese pot. We also have a Flowering Bonsai Top 10 article. Also, you can learn more about Wolfgang Putz in his Bonsai artist profile.

(#7) Brazilian rain tree, by Budi Sulistyo

This tree is grown from a small cutting and the result above is a picture taken 12 years later. A native of Central- and South America the Brazilian Rain tree is considered one of the tropical world's most beautiful and also one of the most popular bonsai subjects. Read the article on how this tree was cultivated and trained here!


(#8) Mame Bonsai display, by Morten Albek

A Bonsai display (or in this case, a Mame display) normally consist of a central tree, a scroll and an accent plant. Together these objects create a powerful image, often a celebration of the current season. Check more Shohin bonsai tree images.



(#9) Famous Bonsai; a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), by Walter Pall

One of the most famous Bonsai trees that belongs to the collection of an European Bonsai artist (Walter Pall), this tree is incredibly fine and realistic. The maple is big (almost a meter high, which is the maximum to be called a Bonsai tree) and over a hundred years old. A masterpiece without doubt, styled by an inspiring artist! The tree is posted in our Bonsai gallery.


(#10) Bonsai master Kimura

Last but not least, Bonsai sensei Masahiko Kimura. His varied collection of Bonsai trees is world famous. Started at age 15, Kimura was an apprentice to master Hamano in Omiya Bonsai village. For more of his fascinating and sometimes unconventional work, click here! Or read hisBonsai artist profile; Masahiko Kimura.