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
How To Let Your Trees Tell You What To Do With Them
A bonsai is a tree, shrub or woody vine potted in a shallow container and trained so that it looks like a mature tree in nature. Getting from tree, shrub or woody vine to that ideal composition, however, requires a significant array of decisions and manipulations. ...
I’m Happy With This Chinese Elm, But Really Perplexed
As you know, I love to push the envelope in bonsai. I've always been a curious sort, and I ended up being a scientist for the first part of my work career, so my doing bon-science now should hardly come as a surprise. I like to try stuff, what can I say? Part of the...
The Crabapple Devil’s In The Details – Things You Need To Know
A couple of weeks ago I did an initial styling on a terrific Crabapple (Malus sp.) specimen. I've been patiently waiting for it to put on some new growth, and it's now reached a stage where I can show you some things you need to know as you work on your trees. These...
Don’t Feel Bad When You Get The Front Wrong
Oaks make great bonsai. They grow quickly, meaning you can get fast development. And they're fairly easy to collect. This Water oak, Quercus nigra, is a good example. I collected it this past January. The trunk has good character and taper, and it proceeded to...
What To Do When Your Tree Puts Its Branches In The Wrong Place
Lately I've been having a great time with Cedar elms, Ulmus crassifolia. They're just such fun to work with and make great bonsai. Hardy, agreeable, suitable for any style. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, you should have at least one. This is one of...
Shohin Bonsai-To-Be: Three Cheers For The Little Guys
Just because a there's not much to a bonsai, doesn't mean there's not a lot to that bonsai. Take the case of the shohin specimen - a bonsai that is less than 12" from the soil surface to the tip of the apex. In terms of mass, there's just not a lot to a shohin...
How To Make Great Designs A Little At A Time
I've shown you this Bald cypress forest, Taxodium distichum, in previous posts. It was bequeathed to me by Allen Gautreau, and old bonsai friend I'd known for 25 years. Allen did a really good job of designing this forest, including a nice selection of trees...
The Start Of A Superb Crabapple Bonsai-To-Be
A bonsai friend in Pennsylvania sent me some Crabapples, Malus species, earlier this year. I've been having a great time with them. The first round of specimens included this one, which I had planned to keep for myself. This tree has a great trunk -...
How I See This Wonderful Bonsai Journey. How About You?
Don't be alarmed. I promise not to wax lousy with philosophical babble about bonsai. But I do want to try and convey is how I see the art and pastime, and hopefully I'll hear from you so we can compare notes. As most of you know, I got passionately into bonsai...