Moments in time; snapshots; fleeting impressions - these had a great influence on me when I was a beginning bonsai student. I find it productive to walk around bonsai shows and appreciate the unexpected; the delights. Which trees are the most interesting; which are the most evocative of the season; which spark your imagination or remind you of a moment in your life you had forgotten? It’s these details and these moments that make bonsai really magical to behold.

Bonsai rock plantings imitate the awe-inspiring state of trees in harsh natural environments struggling to find nutrients and maintain health. I had never created batches of Juniper rock plantings before. I had previously put together a larger Juniper on a slab, and a small Juniper on a stone, but not using the same process; these never had a base, and the roots were growing in a small pocket of the stone, not down into a pot. I liked the idea of creating some compositions that were pushing the boundaries of what might be considered natural, into the "fantasy" realm. So in...

One of the most common questions that people ask about bonsai is "How old is this tree?" Properly cared for bonsai trees can live much longer than an average person. Keep a bonsai healthy and happy and it can be a lifelong companion. 

Three ways you can tell if your bonsai is healthy. We all know when we’re feeling sick, whether it’s a headache, a common cold or the flu - the symptoms are familiar to everyone. Determining if friends or family members are sick may be harder to spot; and when it comes to spotting the health of a plant, it’s a whole new ballgame. As you gain experience caring for your plant, it will get easier for you to determine its health in one glance. Follow these three guidelines to learn what to look for to tell the current health of your plant....