"Bonsai" by Kobayashi and Tajima

[GavinG]

It's been a while since I've bought a bonsai book, but this was one I had to have. Highly recommended.

It has some trees that "obey the rules"

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but a lot of very fine trees that don't.

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From looking through the whole book, a few principles come out very clearly:

The trunk has to be interesting, as the focus of the tree. Movement, texture, power, age.
The trunk is usually obscured somewhere along the way. Its course is not completely obvious, or blatant.
From there, the design appears to be that of balancing masses of foliage in a graceful fashion. Not placing branches in a formulaic or rigid way. A "refined natural" style (Hi Dennis!).

These trees are from a great bonsai master at the height of his powers. So when are we going to get over the idea that if it doesn't follow "the rules" it's not proper bonsai?

And yes, I'm grumpy and old. And it's freezing down here.

Gavin

[bodhidharma]

I agree 100% Gavin and i love love love that second tree

[Roger]

Gavin
You didn't get to Damascus then ...? I am looking forward to our next meeting!

Sorry about the coolth down here, but it will go away.

R