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Good morning
There are several ways to start and grow bonsai. The fast path is to collect from the wild. If you know where and how to collect you can have well developed bonsai in just a few years. Another fast path is to grow your trees in the ground for a few years or even decades. A big head start for sure

But what about growing them from day one (or shortly thereafter) in pots? It's the slow path for sure, but the upside is more control. You can scroll down to today's post for more on this important topic. Our source is Michael Hagedorn, so you won't be disappointed
Here's part of what Michael Hagedorn wrote
about this pot grown old Styrax in Part 4 of his series on Developing Deciduous Bonsai 
"In this photo, look at the branch halfway up that comes
right at the viewer. In that upper trunk area of bonsai
throw out the idea of ‘eye poker’ branches, 
as without them we get a naked frontal view."
The Photo is from Japan
Here's a Styrax (Japanese snowbell - Styrax japonicus)
that Michael and students are developing
at Micheal's Bonsai garden in Portland Oregon
It's from Part 3 of the series
A star magnolia before fall pruning
from the 2nd post of Michael's Deciduous series
And Here's a Japanese maple from Part 1 of the series
Quoting from Michae on this tree...

"A different feeling, a thick-trunked Japanese Maple with a quirky appearance. And brandishing a snout. If a tree seems odd to you, don’t necessarily give up on it, try growing it into the next larger size. Though this tree is about 14″, it may be twice that big before we’re finished, and the big scars, the bumps, the weird movements will likely all recede. They might even become beautiful. Scaling up the tree in trunk diameter and overall size changes many things. (Potters know this one too, that your ugliest pot off the wheel is often the most beautiful of all when it’s fired.)"
And just for the fun of it, some more bonsai wisdom from Michael Hagedorn

Even Athletes Need a Break…
Posted by Crataegus on February 22, 2020

"If we constantly nibble at our bonsai with scissors or pruners throughout the year, we usually don’t get anywhere good. Bonsai that don’t get a break from
our delight at cutting back become exhausted.

In weightlifting and other extreme sports you can’t lift every day of the week. Some days a bicyclist training for a race will ride 100 miles. Other days they don’t ride a single mile, they take a breather and let the body rebuild. Go out strongly, rest.

For the bonsai this is much the same. If we nibble with scissors every day the plant will give up, because the elongation of shoots gives it energy; it’s like running around the track. Yes, it takes energy to do so, but like a lot of things,
it also gives energy back."
Just in case you missed it...
Here's a tree from our last newsletter and post
photo from Han Xuenian, Master Album
All the trees in our last post are Penjing
Penjing:The Chinese Art of Bonsai
by Zhao Qingquan

Zhao Qingquan is the world's most renowned Penjing master and when you see this beautiful book you'll know why

Everything you want to know about this Chinese bonsai art, including design, care, categories, techniques and much more

List Price 26.95
SPECIAL ONLY 19.95
 
The Chinese Art of Bonsai & Potted Landscapes

John Naka wrote the following in the forward to this classic... "This unique book should be on the reading list of all bonsai connoisseurs..." Dr. Wu Yee Sun, famous philanthropist and avid bonsai and penjing supporter said that it "is a masterpiece of great importance in the art of bonsai and will... without a doubt... be valued for generations to come."

List Price 65.00
NOW ONLY 19.95
Literati Style Penjing
also by Zhao Qingquan
Literati is an ancient Penjing style that emphasizes simplicity, naturalness and even struggle for survival
In my opinion, this book is Zhao's crowning achievement...
...well. this and his own Literati creations 

List Price 28.95
SPECIAL ONLY 22.95
Meanwhile, Some More Great Books
We Think You'll Like
and just in case you think you've seen them all 
we change some each time
Speaking of Jonas Dupuich
Here's his wonderful new Bonsai Book
Written primarily for beginners, but it's so well done
and beautiful that it's really for all of us bonsai lovers
Available at Stone Lantern
Only 14.99
Miniature Bonsai
Complete Guide to Super-Mini Bonsai

Miniature & Super Mini Bonsai are fun
and you don't have to break the bank.
This is one of the most well done bonsai books
in its price range that we've seen. Written for both
beginners and experienced bonsai hands
who want to gear down or just try something new.
ONLY 16.95
NEW HEALTHY SUPER SPECIAL
as an incentive to protect your health & other's
by staying home and reading

Our Masters Series Juniper Bonsai Book
Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai

this Super Special will last until the coast is clear
List Price 34.95
SPECIAL ONLY 19.95
 
Miniature Japanese Gardens - Bonsai Landscapes
This is a good one if you love gardens, bonsai or simply plants and beauty. And you don't have to break the bank
to practice this combination of indoor gardening and bonsai
ONLY 19.95
 
John Naka's Bonsai Sketchbook

For fifty years, Mr Naka travelled the world teaching the art of bonsai. Each sketch in this unique book was drawn for just one person as a guide for the future development of their bonsai. Now you can appreciate their artistic and educational value.
The nearly 100 bonsai drawings showcase Master Naka's artistic talent and matchless sense of design and proportion. They also provide simple examples of a technique you can use to improve your own bonsai

Original Pirce 35.00
NOW ONLY 24.95
Due in Early May!
Bonsai Heresy
by Michael Hagedorn
list price 24.95
Pre-Order Now and Pay Only 19.95

If you combine your Bonsai Heresy order
with other items and reach the 50.00 limit,
you'll get FREE Shipping on the other items you order,
which we'll ship now, and on Bonsai Heresy when it arrives (Free shipping is for Continental U.S. orders only)
Principles of Bonsai Design
by David De Groot,
former curator at the Pacific Bonsai Museum

Principles of Bonsai design is the most complete
how-to bonsai design book we've seen in over 25 years
Two Brand New Specials
Bonsai Pots* & Professiona Mix Bonsai Soil
Marked Down30%
Bonsai Pots* Marked Down 30% 
Includes Mica Pots
and High Impact Plastic Pots (pictured above)

*Tie Pots are Marked  Down 25%
Professional Mix Bonsai Soil
Marked Down 30%
The primary components of our Professional Mix are
1/3rd hard Akadama - 1/3rd Pumice - and 1/3rd Black Lava
Here's what Michael Hagedorn wrote about this old Styrax...
"A natural, flowing styrax from Japan with gorgeous multiple trunks and branching. This is a pot-grown tree." And... "with this naturally styled tree, notice that there’s little distinction between a trunk and a branch. The flow from a trunk into a branch is invisible."
Including Our Famous Roshi Tools 
High Quality, Precise, Durable, Beautiful
and the prices are right!
Masters Stainless Bonsai Shears in Bamboo Box
designed by Robert Steven
one of the few items we can't discount, but it's worth every penny
We love our Tie Pots and So Do You Judging by Sales 
It's the product those of us who grow our own bonsai
have been waiting for
SPECIAL 5 Tie Pots for Only 69.95
 
Tie Pots Enhance Root Development
and good root development is a must for good ramification
and for stronger, faster growing trees
But that's not all... transplanting is a breeze
(you use the knobs to wire them in)
And of course, there's guy wiring (the knobs again)

GROW YOUR BONSAI WITH TIE POTS
NOW MARKED DOWN

LOWER SHIPPING RATES EVERYWHERE
CONTINENTAL U.S. HAWAII, ALASKA, PUERTO RICO ETC
CANADA, MEXICO, EUROPE & THE REST OF THE WORLD!

FREE Shipping
for orders 50.00+
(Continental U.S. Only)
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