Bay Island Bonsai » Bonsai News

New Bonsai Training Video

chuhin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:42:14 +0000

The new bonsai video dedicated to the training of scale junipers was just released a few days ago.

Here is the link to the new DVD and other training videos: http://bonsaiboon.com/pages/shopping.html

Bay Island Bonsai 2012 Bonsai Exhibit

chuhin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:11:24 +0000

January 14-15, 2012

Bay Island Bonsai: Annual Bonsai Exhibit. Oakland Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. (New Location, Again!) Auction on Saturday, with preview at Noon and auction at 1 PM. Guided tours of the exhibit
both Saturday and Sunday. Benefit Drawing (need not be present to win).
Vendor sales, Club sales, Educational bonsai material for sale. Hours: 10AM – 4PM Saturday and Sunday. Entry to exhibit is free, donations accepted.

For more information: (510) 919-5042

Journey of a California Juniper Bonsai

chuhin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:27 +0000

The Journey continues for James’ bonsai. In 2009 he did the first primary work as seen in this picture (from an older post on this site)

Now after a years of growth and a bit more work on the jins, it looks happy and healthy – and it has a bit more shape. It is also easier to see where the style of this bonsai is moving.

James is doing the right thing here. He is letting the young branches run. He knows he is making the structure that the final vision will rest upon. It is only after the 3rd or 4th styling and cutback that he will in the end start pinching this juniper — for refinement and final look.

Boon’s New Bonsai Work Shop

chuhin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 02:01:25 +0000

You are looking at the very first work shop taking place in Boon’s new place. The lighting is great. The space is larger. It is still a bit new looking, but great bonsai and teaching will be taking place here. That is a given.

Intensive students who, in a week, will be winging their way across North America have something to look forward to. This is definitely a “step up”.

You will only miss one thing. Jai no longer lies right in front of the entrance. He tends to stay closer to Boon. But you’ll get used to it.

John Graduates from Bonsai Intensive Program

chuhin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:34:04 +0000

John is now the 12th student to graduate from across North America. He has been working to make a Western Juniper into a bonsai. The material below had no work except that it had been repotted once.

So, next came the bending.

All this actually happened last time John came out to California. So this time the styling started.

Below is John and his completed project. Well, not completed, but the first complete styling is finished. Now the filling out and the refinement can start. But when you look at the first picture – and the last picture - you can see that John can do bonsai.

Bonsai Winner Is Being Repotted

chuhin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:06:42 +0000

Here is Peter T. with is his prize winning tree (Midori Bonsai Club Show two posts down). It was hight time for repotting, because a tree well taken care of puts out lots of roots.

The picture below shows a good job of placing branches. When you go to bonsai shows, you can learn a lot about the skill of the artist by looking that the branch placements from below.

“Best in Show” at Midori Bonsai Club

chuhin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:48:04 +0000

This last weekend at the Midori Bonsai Show (California), Peter Tea took “Best in Show” with this California Juniper.

Here is the same bonsai in 2004 – using the other side: http://bonsaiboon.com/bib/bib2004/content/Img2004_01_11_115109_large.html

The tree has definitely matured as a bonsai.

Akio Kondo at BIB Club Meeting

chuhin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:51:23 +0000

B.I.B. members are spoiled! Since Boon belongs to a very famous bonsai clan in Japan, we now have Koku Fu winners as part of our club program every year. Here you see Akio on his knees checking out one of Jim G. juniper bonsai.

Whenever we have a program like this, Boon asks club members to bring trees in for critique, a bit of cutback, and styling. Club members don’t mind having Koku Fu winners “tweaking” their bonsai for free.

Grafted a Bonsai 13 Years Ago

chuhin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:43:24 +0000

Akio Kondo has arrived from Japan – and Boon took him on the road with him. Their first stop was at Tom K. The fun part of this stop is that the tree below was originally grafted by Akio 13 years ago. Today it has shimpaku foliage. But 13 years ago it was completely California Juniper. It was one of those weepy califiornias that never would “tighten” up it’s foliage – so it was a fitting candidate.

Potentilla Bonsai

chuhin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:02 +0000

Bonsai before lunch:

Below, same bonsai after lunch. What do you like better, all the flowers or a bonsai on its way to refinement?