What bonsai books would you 'all recommend

Pattik

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I have three or four bonsai books, but would love it if someone could recommend a "basic" bonsai book that covered just about everything, pruning, potting, wiring, care/fertilizer, etc. It seems like all the ones I have are just photos of great bonsai, no real instruction. Anyhow, your recommendations would be sincerely appreciated.
 

october

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John Nakas Bonsai techniques 1 and 2. Are considered some of the best books. They cover practically all aspects of bonsai. They might be a little expensive, buit definitely worth it. These are books you can use for a life time in bonsai. The sections on bonsai soils may differ from one person to the next due to different regions and times.

Rob
 

KennedyMarx

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Harry Harrington's Bonsai Inspirations 1 and 2 are great. He actually shows progressions for trees rather than just showing a different tree for every discussed technique. They're available in paper form or ebook.
 
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cmeg1

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Deborah Koreshoff's 'Bonsai it's Art Science History and Philosophy'.
 

elliott

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The Naka books have some good basic info, but some of it, like creating an apex by reapeating first branch, second branch, etc, is a little out dated. I agree, the Harry Harrington books at bonsaiforme.com are awesome. Also, you can go to stonelantern.com and they have many, many books available.
I would subscribe to Bonsai focus magazine to round out you education and keep up with who's who and new techniques. bonsaifocus.com
 

Tieball

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Not a book and a book...

Bonsai4me.com is not a book, however, Harry Harrington has assembled a wealth of information on this website that you read through...and print out articles if desired. I have his books and particularly like them because he covers a subject from start to finish and with photos (I seem to be more visually oriented) and I sometimes enjoy thumbing through a book and bookmarking pages of interest. Very old-school but works for me. The books cover a lot of what is actually on the website.

A Book.
I have used this book a lot. The title is simply "Bonsai". The author is Werner M. Busch. The subtitle is Grow your own bonsai from cuttings, seeds, and saplings. From native trees and shrubs. I like and use this book a lot because it covers details...lots of details...on what I'd call common trees commonly seen around me. Here's an Amazon link for reference:
http://www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Grow-C...0695572&sr=8-3&keywords=bonsai+werner+m+busch

This book is the same book I believe, just an earlier publishing. The page count, size and photos shown on Amazon match with the book I have. So, there's even one for 6 cents plus the shipping...a $4.05 investment. I buy used books a lot...seems the first thing I'm going to do is use the book anyway...so my books have a head start on use.
http://www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Native...0695572&sr=8-5&keywords=bonsai+werner+m+busch
 

dick benbow

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I can honestly say that there is Probably NOT a bonsai book in english that I don't have. I also have dozens of books in chinese, japanese and korean.No I can't read em put prefer to look at the pictures. Some i have paid to have an article translated.

Bottom line, the book I continue to go back to for quick referrence

Basic bonsai design, David de Groot.

David is the director of the weyerhauser bonsai exhibit in federal way washington. a sought after teacher, he is working on a new book of greater detail
currently for ABS.
 
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