Two shohin Scots pines

Both are collected Scots pines, Pinus sylvestris. Both are about 18 cm only, making them ideal shohin size.

maple colors

It's this time of the year again.
My little fat trident maple and may new Amur maple.

Pacific Northwest Bonsai Convention 2008

I spent the last eight days in Washington. See the Travelogue blog for lots of images from the great convention in Spokane, Washington.

linden doing well

linden, Tilia platiphyllos

mugo wired by Lena

This was a challenge for Lena because she had to use very thick copper wire on branches which are not well accessible.

two boxwood shohin

Korean boxwood, Buxus microphyllum

a couple of shohin

Picea abies
Deutzia gracilis
Pinus sylvestris

spruce finished by Alex

This is a European spruce, Picea abies, that I found 20 years ago. The first image is of summer 1988. Then you see a succession of images until summer this year. Alex had the task to finally let this spruce shine after twenty years. Even Mr. Morimae liked it a lot. Good job 'Alex.

Mr. Morimae and company at a Bavarian bonsai show.

The Japanese delegation was led by myself to the Southeast Bavarian Bonsai convention which coincidentally was held at that weekend. The convention was all about shohin and smaller plus large European species - no purchased Asian species. Mr. Morimae again expressed great surprise about the quality of the treesa and of the overall setting. I could convince him to do a long tree critique. This he did in a spendid manner, with remarks that were really heplful. And he drew a very nice sketch of each of the critiqued trees. At a speech in the end Mr. Morimae said that we are on the right path and he asked us to contine. Japan is NOT the leading bonsai nation to copy. One can learn from Japan, but we should continue to find our own way in bonsai.