In my garden, I grow a small variety of plants as accents for my bonsai or just to stand alone. Accents can be everything with flowers or non-flowering species like grasses. Accents for bonsai or stand-alone The purpose of growing small plants for bonsai is to extend the landscape feeling when watching a display. The …
The Shohin book is printed and on its way out in the world. I am really happy with the layout and overall impression of the book. I hope it will be well received wherever it will land. “Shohin – Through the Seasons” can be ordered at https://www.esprit-bonsai.com/A-18531-shohin-through-the-se… and at the Esprit Bonsai booth at the Trophy …
It’s a great pleasure to announce that I have e new Shohin bonsai book on the desk soon. At the Trophy in Genk last year the publishers of the Esprit Bonsai asked me if we could do a reprint of my first book. Originally published by Stone Lantern in 2008. I was really not in …
Finally a Japanese name is settled for the garden. I have been searching for a good Japanese name for the garden for some time now. Something that expresses the mood of the garden, and has a good sound too. Kisetsu It was so simple as I first found it. Kisetsu means seasons in Japanese. No …
The Kusamono Dwarf Horsetail, Equisetum scirpoides, is a gift from a good bonsai friend. He didn’t remember the name, so I had to research a bit to find the correct name of it. I like the elegant structure with the tiny dark knees dividing each of the stems. Also it`s black, pointy cone is distinctive. Growing together …
On request I here show how the Tokonoma in my bonsai garden was established. It was built during the summer 2016. I did not do a sketch first, so no drawings and precise measures are available. The inner space is a bit larger than a tatami mat, 190 X 80 cm (75 X 31 inch.) …
Maybe it is because of the size of the tree. Maybe the size of the leaves. The wonders of the Japanese maples in Shohin bonsai always amaze me more than bigger amount of colored leafs. The same with the tiny leafs of the Cotoneaster microphylla. I have always admired the simplicity in bonsai. Especially in …
What is it about rules in bonsai? Rules seems to rule, often too much. I really believe in the historical heritage of bonsai have to be taken seriously, and be part of the moderne development of bonsai. Sometimes though, bonsai people have a tendency to cling to something written or told in the past, that …
Autumn, (and I do repeat myself year after year) is one of my favourites. When it gets colder here in Northern Europe, the colours of deciduous trees change. For now it is still warm, but this will slowly change. Deciduous trees change their leaf colors from the darker summer green tones to yellow, brown or …
The garden Tokonoma is used on a daily basis. On rainy days I keep tables and scrolls out, and just set up a basic display. Sometimes just a Suiseki. Other days a proper display with scrolls and tables are included. Like today. The point is to use the Tokonoma the whole year. It gives me …
