Style Book or how to

remist17

Shohin
Messages
369
Reaction score
3
Location
South Central PA
USDA Zone
6B
Is there a good book to learn different styles or what to look for in a plant. I guess I am having difficulty seeing what the plant needs to become.

I have a crape mertel that I would like to do something with by I am nervous about cutting it wrong. Is there any guidelines or things to look for>?
 

Bill S

Masterpiece
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
28
Location
Western Massachusetts
USDA Zone
5a
Yes there are bunches of them out there, don't have time now to even think of names but the best form is to use your vision, think of all the trees you have seen, take a ride and look specifically. also visit the photo galleries of the different sites, and any bonsai mags you can get your hands on. You want to see what good bonsai look like that can help.

Look up Walter Palls site and check thru his galleries, make sure you have some time, you will want to be there for a while, lots of great pics
 

Mike423

Shohin
Messages
357
Reaction score
11
Location
Chicago
USDA Zone
5
Your local library should have a good source of Bonsai books, Bonsai Today Magazine is also one of the best discussion specific sources as well, there is a seller on eBay selling about 20 issues at a more than reasonable price (around 30 some dollars).
 

Brian Van Fleet

Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Messages
13,961
Reaction score
45,897
Location
B’ham, AL
USDA Zone
8A
I love perusing through Kokufu books; an impressive annual show in Japan. Ebay has some listed.

Also, Classic Bonsai of Japan is a good photo book.

Bill Valavanis has publications on his website as well: internationalbonsai.com. Kobayashi's book is incredible.

All are good picture books. Don't forget to look at trees outside...:D
 

mat

Chumono
Messages
728
Reaction score
72
Location
Central Florida
You've asked a good question, and not an easy one to answer. Experience in general, I think, is what helps you make important design decisions.

I have a bunch of them (books). Many are quite similar (redundant) in their information. Lots of pretty pictures will of course help with inspiration. Naka's books are really good, and like nothing else that I've seen. Very little fluff and lots of useful, how-to tips and instructions. part II is better than I (in my opinion). It's a big book, full of instruction and wonderfully illustrated.

I found web-sites to be even better resources for my first few years in bonsai. Some of my favorites (other than here):

http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/articles.htm

http://www.bonsaibasho.com/micromarket/#/library

http://walter-pall.de/00gallery/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/GrahamWPotter#p/a

http://bonsaistudygroup.com/index.php
 
Messages
954
Reaction score
2
Location
HELL
remist17, since you found your way here, you obviously have a computer... the internet is probally one of the best, besides you are already paying for it. Just do a image search on myrtle bonsai...
 

BUBBAFRGA

Mame
Messages
203
Reaction score
5
Location
Darien, GA
If you can find it

Basic Bonsai Design by David DeGroot.


Very helpful for someone who is new and needs help with design.
 

jk_lewis

Masterpiece
Messages
3,817
Reaction score
1,160
Location
Western NC
USDA Zone
7-8
You need two books:

DeGroot's "Basic Bonsai Design," published by the American Bonsai Society but for some inexplicable reason allowed to go out of print, and Charles Ceronio's "Bonsai Styles of the World" which is available from Stone Lantern Publishing.
 
Top Bottom