Bonsai Today 88

FredL

Just got through rereading the current issue of "Bonsai Today". Gosh, this is a wonderful publication. I had some real concerns when ownership of this magnificent publication changed hands recently, but the new owners are doing a wonderful job with it.

There are two main themes that struck me in the current issue: repotting and matching pots to trees. Both were handled very well. I learned something about each.

No doubt, this will get a laugh, but I have to admit to mixed feelings about one of the best things about the new era with BT: the clarity of the articles. Back in the old days, the (apparently) English translations of the articles, which I believe were originally written in Japanese was absolutely laughable in its convoluted and, often, completely impossible to understand English. I simply couldn't understand WHAT was being said half the time! Many will laugh, but I actually found that to contribute some of the charm of this publication back a few years. The solumn tone, the obvious good intentions and good will and the completely indecipherable articles all made for a totally unique experience, interpenetrated by a sort of mystery, greatly contributed to by the style of writing.

Well, those days are apparently gone forever with the new BT and its crystal clear and understandable articles on every aspect of, well, Bonsai today! I love this magazine, even in its modern and understandable form!

Best regards, Fred

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Adam_MA

Speaking of Bonsai Today, I put in a subscription for 04 - 05 about 2 months ago.. Does anyone know when I will be receiving my first issue?


Adam

TreeBay

Bonsai Today is only published six times a year. #87 (Sept Oct) was reported late on the forum, with some receiving it around November 12, 2003.

If #88 (Nov Dec) came out in the past couple weeks, you may be looking at four to six weeks until #89 if it is "on time" and a bit longer if it is late. Feast or famine!

Regards,

Matt

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bonsaial1

Bonsai Today seems to come out around the middle of each Bi-monthly cycle, so expect them on or around the end of...
Jan.
March
May
July
Sep.
Nov.

Fred, I too enjoyed BT 88. I look forward to the promise of more American articles, as well as photo essays of important American Trees. The only negative I had with issue no. 88 was the high quality Maple on the cover in the very formal dark glazed ugly pot.I can think of so many very beautiful alternatives. That pot just does nothing for that awesome tree. Well on second thought that trunk has some pretty large bulges in the middle, and the tree needs some special attention to thinking of chopping it back to get rid of so much trunk of the same caliper running nearlt to the top of the tree.

This would be a prime example of a tree that needs to be cut down in size to bring the whole composition together. Place your hand over the whole foliage mass after the major first branch on the left. Block out the whole top of the tree. See how much better the trunk looks without all the same size trunk running for nearly half the height of the tree. It is obvious that the first chop was done right above the first branch on the right. After that the tree was allowed to grow. After that the next chop was done after the next trunk growth had grown about three times the height of the first chop. Why?

There is a back branch coming out of the trunk right between the first branch and the second branch. Maybe the front of the tree could have been reversed, make this the new leader and thread graft on the new branching. Get massive taper and have a balanced tree.
Otherwise it is still a great tree.


Al K

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bonsaial1

To see the image of this tree as it was, buy bonsai today issue no. 88. To see what the tree could look like with the middle third of the tree removed and in an appropriate pot look below...

Is this what we should do?

Should we as artists always try to make something better then what it is?

Do we, dare I say, have the right?

Is it better, or is it?

Virtual by Al Keppler
Original, but not posted photo by bonsai today

Attached Images

bt88tree.jpg (66.7 KB, 187 views)

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Lesley

Al,

You definately improved the tree with your vision. I think we should always strive for something better -after all this art involves living, growing trees that are not stagnate!

FredL,

I cannot improve on your positive statements about Bonsai Today! This is my second year of subscription and I too have noticed what you have said in your post. They seem easier to read and contain more useful info. I too hope they will deliver the new features that they promise. Thanks for putting it into words! I'm definately hooked on Bonsai, BonsaiTalk, Bonsai Today and BTO and Midori! What can I say! I'm having too much fun and I love learning!

Respectfully,
Lesley

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Ladybug

TreeBay

You can see a poor photo fo it on this eBay auction, too:

http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/18/6c/0f_1.JPG

Regards,

Matt

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FredL

Al, you have got a great eye for bonsai! I did not notice anything that you pointed out so aptly about the cover tree. You are 100% correct in what you point out. At least for me.

Seeing that this tree has a serious flaw makes me feel a whole lot better about my bonsai efforts. If this tree can make the cover of BT - and I still feel like (I almost corrected myself and wrote "and I still think", but then realized I really preferred the very flawed use of "feel like") it is, after all, a VERY GOOD tree - then maybe there is hope that I can find something in my own trees to feel good about!

Ironic, the mismatched pot with the very excellent article inside on matching pots to trees.

Fred

Carl_Bergstrom

No need to go sneaking around to "those" sort of sites. Here's the officicial preview, complete with cover picture:

http://www.bonsaitodayonline.com/btpreview.htm

Cheers,
Carl

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