• 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…

  • New Tokonoma in the studio

    For a few years now a garden Tokonoma has been established in the Kisetsu-en bonsai garden. I always dreamed about having an indoor Tokonoma as well to display bonsai all year around. Our house isn’t that big though so it was first when my wife…

  • LIVE Juniper Saturday at 11 AM CET

    Junipers are flexible in winter and therefore the timing is perfect for any wiring and rearranging of branches. We look into both adjustments on a shohin Juniperus Itoigawa and the natural styling of a medium-sized Juniperus chinensis. In bonsai, there are some work time windows…

  • LIVE Black Pine styling + Q&A

    LIVE Black Pine styling + Q&A: Thursday, January 26 at 8 PM (CET) +1 / 20:00 Live styling of a Japanese Black Pine, where we look into aesthetics and balancing a tree prepared over the past two seasons. During the live demo, you can use…

  • Shohin Deshojo maple

    The Deshojo maple with its wonderful purple-red leaves is a pure joy to watch. Now naked the tree stands as every other maple, and shows no difference noticeable. The Deshojo is for spring and autumn exhibitions when the colors are full. Often we speak about…

  • Summer Tokonoma display

    After a good rain all night and morning the sky cleared and the sun is back. Time well spent setting up a summer display at the Tokonoma. A summer display presenting a European Birch, Betula pendulla. Although still needing a bit of development a display…

  • Leaves changes within the minute

    The tender new spring growth is to be enjoyed instantly. because especially Japanese maple leaves change rapidly. Almost within the minute. Or at least from one day to the next. One of the things I enjoy about bonsai is the timeless feeling they express when…

  • Kisetsu-en bonsai news for 2022

    A new year approaches after we have celebrated Christmas time and/or enjoyed some well deserved holidays. A special thanks to nurses and doctors who work hard to get us safely through the Covid pandemic. Also, the Covid have changed our online habits and we are…