The Work of Michael Hagedorn

This week I'd like to feature some posts that were written by Michael Hagedorn, a bonsai (and other) artist with a ton of talent and just as much skill. Not only can he style the trees - having been apprenticed for seven years in Japan under the bonsai master Shinji Suzuki, he had first spent nine years as a potter. (something I tried my hand at and would love to have the time and the talent to really pursue making bonsai pots)

Here's an article by Michael on a very important subject when to remove bonsai wire> If you've ever left wire on too long (and I expect that almost everyone with more than one tree will be caught by this at least once) this is something you should read.
Again on the cultural- practical side comes this very important piece of advice on when NOT to bend a branch

Here's an interesting progression on a rocky mountain juniper restying I'm not sure if I don't get super enthusiastic about this level of styling because to my eye it's crossed a line and no longer looks natural or if I'm simply totally intimidated by anyone with the eye and the talent and the skill to accomplish this. What do you think?

If you're very new to bonsai, or you're researching because you just got a new tree this post (not one of Michael's) on your new bonsai might be of interest and some use.

Have a great week

Lorraine Craymer

The Work of Michael Hagedorn

This week I'd like to feature some posts that were written by Michael Hagedorn, a bonsai (and other) artist with a ton of talent and just as much skill. Not only can he style the trees - having been apprenticed for seven years in Japan under the bonsai master Shinji Suzuki, he had first spent nine years as a potter. (something I tried my hand at and would love to have the time and the talent to really pursue making bonsai pots)

Here's an article by Michael on a very important subject when to remove bonsai wire> If you've ever left wire on too long (and I expect that almost everyone with more than one tree will be caught by this at least once) this is something you should read.
Again on the cultural- practical side comes this very important piece of advice on when NOT to bend a branch

Here's an interesting progression on a rocky mountain juniper restying I'm not sure if I don't get super enthusiastic about this level of styling because to my eye it's crossed a line and no longer looks natural or if I'm simply totally intimidated by anyone with the eye and the talent and the skill to accomplish this. What do you think?

If you're very new to bonsai, or you're researching because you just got a new tree this post (not one of Michael's) on your new bonsai might be of interest and some use.

Have a great week

Lorraine Craymer

Meet the Bonsai Eijit

Yes, the name is funny, but I can assure you from his work that this guy ain't no ordinary eijit!

I personally am something of a newbie when it comes to bonsai and I'm also somewhat intimidated by the stying process so I've decided to use this post - and those in the forseeable future to focus on what I've seen in other blogs and articles - usually featuring the work of bonsai growers/artists/stylists ( hey what are they called anyway) whose work I admire. It also helps if I like their writing too!



author focus - Bonsai Eijit https://plus.google.com/101679388773708503290/posts

One of the problems with looking at bonsai sites from around the world is that I often cannot really relate well when they work with material this will simply never be available to me. Bonsai growers are held captive to a certain degree by their location. So this series on restyling a larch bonsai works for me because it is a tree I can grow too.

Here's a quick post that only has three pictures in it, but I really like these trees because to be they're really well styled but not over styled as you'll see quite frequently. take a look

Here's a great post from Bonsai Eijit where he identifies favorite posts from 2012

I'm not a great stylist, but I'm a pretty good grower and my personal passion is to find the easiest bonsai trees and material so that more people can confidently approach this great hobby, without inevitably killing their first trees Growing beginner Bonsai

That's it for this week.

Bonsai Eijit

Merry Christmas -Outdoor Bonsai trees and Sources of Inspiration

Bonsai Inspiration is everywhere
I personally prefer outdoor trees and probably for the very reason that many people reject them. First, they don't clutter up my house- which might sound strange because I am a passionate gardener and I love plants - but frankly in the house I find them to be a bit of a pain. My outdoor trees as I write in December are all sitting in my vegetable garden- dug into the ground and hopefully hidden from the rabbits. They will eat the bark in the winter if they get a chance and last year they ate my seedling Sargent's crabapples to the ground - which seriously pissed me off.

Take a look at some of these trees and you'll understand why I'm in love with outdoor trees.

Here's a look at a small larch forest I love this blog because he shares my climate.

If you wonder why some people feel that only outdoor trees truly mirror the feeling of bonsai (an opinion I do not share) you can take a look at some of these scenes from Yosemite and see where the inspiration comes from - and why its so powerful

And speaking of inspiration - nothing like attending - or just viewing an online summary from a bonsai show - like this look at the Bonsai Society of Victoria (Australia) 2012 Show

To see more outdoor bonsai for saleclick here



Lorraine Craymer

Still choosing a tree? - Check out the Fig Family

Like I said before, there are so many different trees to choose from, obviously some are easier than others. The indoor trees that seem to be the most popular in North America are usually diffent members of the ficus family.

Here's a brief overview of ficus bonsai - which many of us will better recognize as figs http://www.bonsaimary.com/ficus-bonsai-trees.html

Here's a brief look at a ficus bonsai getting it's first styling and here's a video on another ficus

Trees that belong to the ficus family include a favorite houseplant The Rubber Tree- although its a member of the ficus family - ficus elastica if my memory serves me, the rubber tree isn't a good bonsai candidate because of its leaf size for one thing. But here are a few ficus that are good candidates in this postficus bonsai

Click here to see more about ficus for sale


Lorraine Craymer

Starting off in Bonsai

Todays online video show the initial styling of a bonsai tree

Here are some interesting articles to look over as you learn concerning Bonsai. Today's video will certainly provide you some concept of just how the specialists deal with bonsai.

Many individuals wish to know exactly what they need to do for a first bonsai plant and there are whole lots of selections, however every person seems to have a various opinion on the subject.

http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/bonsaibe.htm This is a really good post that discusses why you ought to begin your very first bonsai with a one gallon plant from a nursery. Do you know what I'm speaking pertaining to? If not, this might not be the most effective course for you and in North The united state, where indoor plants appear to be the most prominent, once more this could not totally job.

 Below's a various strategy from a commercial web site so it stands to reason that a purchased tree is recommended. However just what makes this method distinct is the selection of plant as well as the purpose behind why it's a wonderful area to start. Your first bonsai;

Lorraine Craymer