What’s your favorite basic and intermediate bonsai books?

Hbhaska

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I have thoroughly enjoyed this basic book by Colin Lewis. I’m a scientist by training and profession. In my opinion, this is the level of detail I desire in a bonsai beginner’s book. Written with such clarity and enough level of detail as to the ‘why’ of bonsai, it is now my favorite beginner’s book (and I have read several). What is your favorite beginner’s and intermediate book? Thank you

Merry Christmas everyone!


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Clicio

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Let's see if it helps.
Beginning with the three classics:
John Naka and Jerome Meyer
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Then, Harry Harrington:Screen Shot 2018-08-01 at 13.33.26_copy_1024x1333.jpg

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Clicio

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Thank you! I certainly want to read Bonsai Heresy at some point.
Definitely, but it is NOT a beginner book; quite the opposite. But very well written, humorous and funny and full of insightful ideas, apart from the fact that the wonderful cover and inside illustrations are by Sergio @MACH5 .
Unmissable book.
 

63pmp

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Minibonsai by Gunn. Got no idea what the text says, but drawings are very good and if you study them long enough the meaning becomes sort of clear. IMG_20201226_075448_resize_30.jpgIMG_20201226_075540_resize_24.jpg
 

Wires_Guy_wires

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Not bonsai specific, but still one of the most complete works of how any organism works from start to finish.
If you want to get your basics right, or if you want to go to the next level and beyond, this is a must-read.

It's one of the most expensive books I own. But I know for a fact that there are some pdf files in the torrent, peer to peer and filesharing sphere.
 

Hbhaska

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Minibonsai by Gunn. Got no idea what the text says, but drawings are very good and if you study them long enough the meaning becomes sort of clear. View attachment 346204View attachment 346205
Haha. Love it! This is incentive to learn written Japanese script. Although I feel like learning to speak Japanese might be easier.
 
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This is a good thread for me. I recently purchased, 1609006563199.png, (https://stonelantern.com/products/n...11iGa77PZCTj5cwMbcKVfolJDw-hMP1BoCnG4QAvD_BwE, big sale on books over there) really cool illustrations and info.
My only complaint is they make it seem so easy, like all you have to do is take a masterfully developed piece of prebonsai, clip a few branches and add some wire.
From what I've gathered in my months of lurking is that these trees need to be developed before going into a pot, but all beginner books seem to begin with how to pot a tree, then all the info following is how to care for a tree in a pot. I'm pretty sure most of my plants in nursery soil and pots probably don't want to be watered one or two times a day.
I actually emailed Jonas Dupuich about his, Little Book of Bonsai, he replied really quickly to tell me his book was probably not what I was looking for. Really nice and patient person. Interesting that a lot of techniques that I'm attempting to use were taken from his blog, so I will definitely buy something from him eventually.
I definitely want to check out Harry Harrington's books. @Clicio may be able to confirm, I believe in inspirations he shows progressions of nursery stock that he develops over several years. I think Inspirations II covers carving techniques.
I specifically am looking for reading material pertaining to developing shohin trees.
Thanks for starting this thread @Hbhaska!
 

Clicio

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I believe in inspirations he shows progressions of nursery stock that he develops over several years. I think Inspirations II covers carving techniques.
Yes, but much more than this. From garden stock to collecting material, from how to photograph bonsai to applying lime sulfur.
And beautiful trees.
Worth buying both.
 
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