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
“Capturing” The Hibernating Tree
A comment was just posted yesterday which posed the simple question, "The tree will grow on from that few roots?" The question was prompted by this photo: Well, there's not much left of this riverflat hawthorn, right? Just what the bonsai artist needs, of course,...
Hurray For Hawthorns!
Today was a nice, chilly winter day. It wasn't too cold, nor was it rainy, so you're basically talking about perfect collecting weather. I gather most of my deciduous material in January and February each year, and that includes hawthorns. Most of my collecting...
A Terrific Willow Oak To Develop
I've shown you this willow oak, Quercus phellos, a couple of times before. It sprouted as a volunteer seedling in an old garden area well over 10 years ago, and has been growing there ever since. I didn't start cutting it back until I moved my garden and pulled up...
An Easier Lift With This Chinese Privet
I happened across this Chinese privet, Ligustrum sinense, while walking my property today. The base looked really good, and I thought the two trunks went well together. Better still, it came out the ground in under five minutes. Here's the tree with its rootball. ...
Almost Biting Off More Chinese Privet Than I Can Chew
As you know, Chinese privet, Ligustrum sinense, is one of my favorite species to create bonsai out of. They grow fast, the leaves are naturally small, and they bloom readily in a pot. Because they're naturalized where I live, I have ready access to material - even...
Making A Yaupon Bonsai
I've commented before that our native yaupon, Ilex vomitoria, makes an excellent bonsai subject. The only problem I've encountered through the years is that very, very few specimens in the wild grow with any natural taper. This obviously limits the material that can...
Loblolly Pine Initial Styling
This loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, started out as a much taller specimen featuring a secondary leader that was an obvious choice to cut to. Since the tree wasn't going anywhere as it stood, I chopped the main trunk down to the secondary leader this past summer. If you...
Winter Pre-Bonsai Development Work
Winter is supposed to be a time where all sorts of bonsai activities more or less come to a halt, but the fact is there are a number of chores we can and should do in order to move our trees along. One reason to get these chores out of the way is to keep from having...
American Beech Anyone?
Back in 2010 I collected some specimens of American beech, Fagus grandifolia. I've always loved the way beech bonsai look, especially in their winter garb. The prominent buds and light gray to almost white bark make a beautiful statement. Unfortunately, American...