zach’s personal collection
read all about it
progressions
Click on one of the green buttons to see complete progression documentation.
Read About the Bonsai in Zach’s Collection
bald cypress
The Beech Code?
the beech code?Sneak PeekBeech make wonderful bonsai. American beech, however, is nowhere near as amenable to development as its European or Japanese counterparts. But that might not be the end of the story ....The Beech Code?I collected this American beech, Fagus...
Rebuilding A Live Oak Bonsai
rebuilding a live oak bonsaiSneak PeekSometimes you have to start over with a bonsai. That has been the case with this old Live oak I was left by a bonsai friend who passed.Rebuilding a Live Oak BonsaiI've shown you this Live oak bonsai before. I received it as a...
Flat-top Bald Cypress Bonsai – Starting A New Specimen
flat-top bald cypress - how to get startedSneak PeekThe flat-top Bald cypress bonsai is the fastest to create from scratch. That's because you get to take advantage of the tree's apical dominance.Flat-top Bald Cypress - How to Get StartedI'm convinced that there are...
Read About the Bonsai in Zach’s Collection
huckleberry
Rulebreaking 101 – Red Mulberry
rulebreaking 101 - red mulberrySneak PeakRules are made to be broken, right? Yes and no. When you break a rule of art, what you end up with had better be a lot better than if you'd stuck with the rule. In bonsai it's not any different ....Rulebreaking 101 - Red...
BC Forest – Would You?
bc forest - would you?Sneak PeakIt's common to have to redesign bonsai over time. A branch dies; you find a better front; and in the case of established forest plantings you lose trees, which have to be replaced. Here's one of those cases, and what I'm thinking of...
Huckleberry #5 Progression
Zach's Personal Collection huckleberry #5Zach's Personal Collection Progression Carousel Huckleberry #5 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...
Read About the Bonsai in Zach’s Collection
riverflat hawthorn
Riverflat Hawthorn Progression
Zach's Personal Collection riverflat hawthornProgression Carousel Riverflat Hawthorn 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...
Picture Day – Hawthorn, Oak, Crape Myrtle
picture day: hawthorn, oak, crape myrtleSneak PeakWe're wonderfully in the depths of spring, with warms days, cool nights and a nice breeze each day. Most everything is responding very well, so I thought it a good time to update photos of three trees in our...
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...
Read About the Bonsai in Zach’s Collection
willow oak
Trunk Building Oaks
trunk building oaksSneak PeekMost of the time we can get a good trunk line with our collected trees. Sometimes, however, you have to rebuild almost from the ground up.Trunk Building OaksI collected this Water oak, Quercus nigra, from my iris swamp two years ago where...
A Quick Take On Two Oaks
a quick take on two oaksSneak PeakOne of these trees you've seen before, the other you haven't. The Water oak was featured in a previous blog, the Live oak is just now getting strong enough to begin its bonsai journey. Here's where they are as of now.A Quick Take on...
Bonsai Odds & Ends – Oak, Privet, Crape Myrtle
bonsai odds & ends - oak, privet, crape myrtleSneak PeakThis is the time of year to be doing rapid development of many of our trees, due to their robust growth. Here are a Water oak, a Chinese privet and a Crape myrtle that moved closer to "bonsai-ness" with a...
we love your input
Hi Zach,
When is the next availability of Bald Cypress. I live in Michigan.
I would like to get one booked.
I am retired from the bonsai business, Aby. Sorry.
Is bald cypress Cypressbonsai20 available for sale?
so this is the 1st time in a while I’ve been to the site just showing it off and im super impressed.
Thank you, Josh!
Zach, I see you train bonsai BC in flat top style but am not sure what to picture. Is it supposed to mimic a tree that lost its conical top from wind damage or lightning? Does it look like a bald head with hair/branches growing out from the sides only? Do you have finished ones like this to show as an example?
Thanks, Danny
Danny, the so-called flat-top Bald cypress is simply an older tree that has lost most of its lower branches as it’s grown taller and older, and having reached its genetically limited height the growth in the crown spreads laterally. Check out this post to get an idea of one in training.