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Noren curtain and Japanese maples
The traditional Japanese Noren curtain is now hanging at the entrance to the bonsai workshop in the garden. The classic Japanese Noren curtain The classic Noren curtain has been used in Japan to keep curious eyes from looking in, but more important to keep the…
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Japanese black pines heat and growth
The Shohin bonsai summer has been hot, then wet, and then looking to be warm again. It’s the middle of summer and the second growing period pushes new growth. The Japanese Black Pine is ready for adjustments and decandling where Japanese maples now have set…
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Satsuki Azalea flower on display
It´s flower time for Satsuki Azalea. This season two of them are showing changing colors. Usually, all flowers are white but some branches are more or less stepping back to a stronger genetic. Pots are Japanese, and accent pots are by the hands of Elsebeth…
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Cascade and semi-cascade bonsai and Azalea flower mutation
Cascade and semi-cascade bonsai are excellent styles for Shohin bonsai displays. cascade and semi-cascade add the possibility to elevate trees within the display area adding tension and balance. Both coniferous, deciduous, and even flowering species are all suitable for these styles but also have to…
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Summer drought in Mame bonsai depth
At the moment the sun is shining unstoppably from a clear sky and the heat is on. No rain in sight making it one of the driest periods in many seasons. The national weather office measures this in the top layer of the soil here…
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Bonsai soil – avoid drainage layers
There is a well-settled myth in bonsai that is one of the hardest to kill. The use of so-called “drainage layers”. Drainage layer is a no go because it has the opposite effect as it is supposed to. The idea may seem logical and clear,…
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New shohin bonsai potters – Martine Geoffroy and Nick Hopes
New pots show up now and then. There are many talented potters around, and one new to me I spotted at the recent Trophy event in Genk, Belgium. Her name is Martine Geoffroy and comes from France. Another one I have followed on Instagram for…
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Deciduous multi-trunk cascade
How do we style traditional bonsai without being traditional? Sometimes moving ahead and exploring new forms of bonsai art isn’t groundbreaking but just subtle changes that make a difference. This week’s live stream will explore a new idea I came up with some weeks ago.…
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Trophy 2023 photo gallery
Returned from one the best quality Trophy exhibitions to date. The quality was overall higher this year, and the visitor numbers must have been a record. Saturday was extremely crowded, and therefore I didn’t manage to take photos of everything. I also had a big…
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Mark Akins shohin testimonial
“On behalf of Beechfield Bonsai, I would like to congratulate Morten Albek on the 20th anniversary of Kisetsu-en and for promoting the art of shohin bonsai. Through the online learning and tuition platform you have inspired many enthusiasts with your passion for shohin bonsai, and…
