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The mystery of Japanese maples shifting leaf colours in summer
In the Kisetsu-en bonsai collection, there are several pieces of the beloved Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. They all have slightly different habits of leaf development in spring and some colours up differently in autumn. Two of the small Shohin stand out in their different behaviour…
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18 years of a Japanese maple shohin bonsai
One of the most asked questions I get when presenting a mature Shohin bonsai is: “Is that always grown in a small pot”? The answer is yes. Because all small shohin bonsai need to stay in a narrow space to develop roots that do not…
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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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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…
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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…
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A life with trees. The essence of bonsai.
Living a life with trees. As far back as my childhood, I was fascinated by trees. One of the clearest memories of that time is playing with the other kids in the local forest just five minutes away at short skinny legs. The inspiration from…
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Bonsai green season
It is the bonsai green season. The colour change on the Mountain maples (acer palmatum) is clear from day to day. It’s the growing season taking over. Gallery at the bottom of this post. Delayed very much this season, yes. But finally, some of the…
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Repotting a Trident maple
Repotting bonsai is sometimes a bit of a running experience. Try to keep up the speed and manage everything. Besides repotting deciduous trees at the moment, I also am producing new episodes for the online subscribers, trying to keep up the garden, repairing the Tsukubai,…
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Bonsai questions from Japan, Canada and the UK
Q&A from Japan, Canada, and the UK are featured in the new episode launched today at Kisetsu-en Bonsai Online. Dealing with various questions about brown needles at coniferous bonsai, roots, and soil problems at Japanese maples, + timing wiring for deciduous bonsai. The watering and…
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Color shifts
Color shifts of the autumn keeps amazing me. Year after year I am flabbergasted by the beauty the leaves produces. Especially puzzling is when the same species changing colors weeks apart. Where some Japanese maples, Acer palmatum, are in yellow, red and orange clothings, others…
