The Bonsai Files
Your free access to general and how-to articles, The Bonsai Files. Detailed and filled with bonsai pictures, Zach shows you step-by-step how he designs bonsai and provides before, during, and after images.
The Bonsai Files
Big BC Update
I posted a progression on this tree at the end of last year. With spring now in full force, this specimen has exploded with growth. I repotted the tree last year, and was in hopes of big growth for 2019; but I had to wait. But that's fine. To make a good design...
Chinese Elm Initial Styling
Here's the Chinese elm you saw this past weekend. It's a pretty "hunky" specimen, with a good curve in the trunk that I can use to start a nice design. As I mentioned the other day, when left to grow without intervention Chinese elms don't put on much if any...
Bonsai Odds & Ends – Huckleberry, Chinese Elm, Pocomoke Crape
Here's an update on my big Huckleberry bonsai that I potted this spring. As you can see, it has filled out with foliage. It's normal for Huckleberries to take three years to really get "bushy" with foliage: year one is typically all structure building, making...
Oaks Bud Late – Worth The Wait
This is a Water oak, Quercus nigra, that I lifted last year. It budded a bit high, but I decided to accept the challenge of making a nice bonsai from it. I love working with oaks, and you'll see more of them in the coming weeks including several for sale. This...
Let’s See What Happens With This Swamp Maple
I've blogged about this Swamp maple before, most recently last fall. The plan at the time was in finding the right leader so that I could chop the trunk and start the serious design work. With the explosion of growth now on the tree, it's time to take this next...
A Pocomoke Crape Myrtle Gets Styled
I acquired this Pocomoke crape myrtle from a grower a few years ago. It was overgrown, so my first job was to chop it back so I could start planning a design. This is a photo of the tree from last August. The buds are starting to swell, so it's time to get busy...
Bonsai Odds & Ends – Elm, Maple, Hawthorn
Spring is gathering speed now, and most everything on my benches (beech and most oaks are usually last) is coming into leaf. Water-elms also lag, so I took the opportunity today to pot up a couple of small ones. This is another of the trees that came home last...
Development Work On A Very Large Water-Elm
We collected this very large Water-elm in 2018. The trunk base is 4", and the upper trunk chop is at 29". Last year it grew out strong, and I was able to wire the basic branch design. By the end of the growing season, the tapering transition at the upper trunk...
Forest Bug Continues – Water-Elm Plan Works
I've had the bonsai forest bug for a while now. I've always loved good forests, but only made a limited number. In the past year, I've really ramped up the assembly line. During this past summer's Water-elm collecting season I intentionally set about to harvest...