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
BC Collecting Trip #5 For 2020
Yesterday we wrapped up Bald cypress collecting season. The winter collecting season (this far south) is driven largely by the weather. Ours has seen some warm spells, and despite a few mornings near freezing it's just not been enough to keep these trees from...
BC Collecting Trip #4 For 2020
Today was BC collecting trip #4 for 2020. As usual, we had great luck. This may be my favorite specimen from today's group. Some BC's just have that flat-top look, and this is one of them. The base is 4" and it's chopped at 30", which will make a tall and...
BC Collecting Trip #3 For 2020
Today was our third Bald cypress collecting trip for 2020. The goal was to bring home somewhat smaller material, mostly in the 3" +/- trunk size. We were definitely successful. This is a good example of our haul. The base is terrific, and you can't argue with...
BC Collecting Trip #2 For 2020
Our second BC collected trip for 2020 happened yesterday. As often happens, the weather did not cooperate. On the plus side, the rain was not Noah-worthy so we plowed through and got the job done. If you're into big classically styled Bald cypress bonsai, this...
Huckleberry #5 Potted
Here's where we left off with Huckleberry #5. With the fall trimming and carving done, I set it back on the bench and got busy with other chores. Flower buds on my Huckleberries are swelling, and a few are already opening. With the mild winter, I expect these...
How To Make Good Material A Lot Better
Here's a Bald cypress I collected in February of 2018. It's a good piece of material, but not a great piece of material. It is nice and big, with a trunk that measures 6.5" across about 6" above the soil. Taper is very good, as you can see. But the trunk, while...
BC Trees With Knees Are The Bee’s Knees
Well, there's nothing like Bald cypress collecting season, and there's certainly nothing like a collected Bald cypress featuring a naturally occurring knee. This is a very substantial specimen, as I'm sure you can tell (the tub is 24" long). Something ran over...
Tale Of A Hawthorn Cutting
I enjoy making new bonsai material by taking cuttings from the trees I work with. I also enjoy working with the species Riverflat hawthorn, Crataegus opaca. Unfortunately, those two pleasures seldom happen together. I have found Riverflat hawthorn cuttings to...
Bald Cypress Progression
Zach's Personal Collection bald cypress Progression Carousel Bald Cypress INSTRUCTIONS: The image has an arrow on both the right and left side. Click the arrow on the right ( > ) to go forward and see the next image(s) in the progression. Click the arrow on...