What We Learned About Bonsai Since John Naka

[Andrew Legg]

I will give an example... @andrew
Seeing that you are very interested in passing a long stories, and showing what is happening in bonsai.

Perhaps, you might get together with @carp, seeing that he is currently helping to restore and tend to some of the greatest bonsai here in Florida by one of the all time bonsai master's Jim Smith. Who sadly is probably not going to be with us much longer. It might be interesting to hear some of what Carp's experience has been like and what he has begun to learn along the way... much more interesting then hearing about Viagra.

What would be really cool is if we could get these experienced guys who have contributed a lot to put pen to paper and record their bonsai memoirs. We lose a little slice of the hobby's history every time one of them leaves. There was a first shot at a history of South African bonsai in a book here recently, and whilst if has errors it's a start. Has something like that been done in the US?

 

[whfarro]

In my admittedly limited view of life in general, some people are just better at marketing their personal "brand". As the saying goes (falsely in my opinion) "image is everything". This "image" or "brand" is further propagated by loyal and sometimes over zealous students and/or followers.

Unfortunately substance and results don't always carry the same weight as image.

 

[Anthony]

Go guys,

you are all missing one physical property ------------------ trees continue to grow, long after the owners are dead and forgotten.
See the work of -------- Wu Yee Sun ---------- sold and under new names in China.

If you want recognition - then go to writing, poetry, music, sculpture, oil painting ....................
With Bonsai, it is just very temporary.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[carp]

Why, yes!
Carp does seem to be a good 'upstanding' young man.

When it comes to this board, I've only been here to flame and troll it because that is exactly how I was treated upon registering here. There is absolutely no moderation by the admin, so its too easy to have a Hay Day everyday.

 

[Dav4]

When it comes to this board, I've only been here to flame and troll it because that is exactly how I was treated upon registering here. There is absolutely no moderation by the admin, so its too easy to have a Hay Day everyday.

So, that's the only reason you post here??? Grow the hell up!

 

[carp]

So, that's the only reason you post here??? Grow the hell up!

Ever notice that I only post in the Off-Topic boards or seldomly I'll post in the tropical section? I can't begin to explain how many times I've been "corrected" by indoor tropical tree growers. Anything goes in the Off-Topic boards, I don't troll any other board.

 

[carp]

So, that's the only reason you post here??? Grow the hell up!

Oh, and didn't you find it funny that Hadgerdorn contrasted bonsai to geraniums? The horticulture is actually pretty similar. I would know

 

[M. Frary]

Oh, and didn't you find it funny that Hadgerdorn contrasted bonsai to geraniums? The horticulture is actually pretty similar. I would know

Maybe you and Hagedorn should stick to geraniums.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I'll post in the tropical section

Do you still do your blog?
You have a lot of talent and a dream job and climate for Tropicals.
I would like to see more of your efforts.
All I can grow here are indoor Tropicals.
I could be one of your best clients- you could sell many trees my direction.
You never know who is paying attention.

 

[Vance Wood]

How many of you on this forum, under the age of 55, know of Yuji Yoshimura? What do you know of him?

 

[ColinFraser]

some people are just better at marketing their personal "brand"

. . . and some are much much worse.

 

[Anthony]

Mr. Yoshimura had a Bonsai nursery in Japan and helped with the Brooklyn Botannical collection ?
He also held classes - correct Vance ?
Good Day
Anthony

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I do not but a quick internet search tells me that it was December 24 when he passed away.

''To create bonsai, you must have two things: horticultural knowledge and artistic ability,'' Mr. Yoshimura told an interviewer in 1990. ''Maybe I should say talent: that is the word. How to grow something, I can teach that. But I cannot teach how to create beauty; that is inside.''
Lovely quote

Author: The Art of Bonsai
Creation, care, enjoyment

Just purchased thanks for the heads up

 

[Vance Wood]

Mr. Yoshimura wrote the most significant book on bonsai in the English Language that probably influenced bonsai more than any one in the beginning. He taught class all over the country and was influential in the Brooklyn botanical garden. His love of bonsai cost him his marriage. There is a lot of talk about John Naka, probably because he was more of a presence in California, outside the Left Coast Yoshimura was more recognizable. My point is not to open a debate about whose' sensei is better but to point out how insignificant we all are. There are some first rate American Masters that have kind of faded into the background shadow of some of the more active players in the art recently returned from Japan. Some of these returning "masters" have come along and shared some techniques a lot had not seen before.

 

[carp]

Mr. Yoshimura was the first to teach bonsai to the public. His father was a prevalent bonsai nursery owner in Japan, Yuji helped his father in Japan into his adulthood and decided he wanted to do bonsai his own way. He started by teaching the US Army wives stationed in Japan and eventually made his way to the States. He was the guy that first made "the rules", and described the standard styles. Why? Because he was an educator, not because they are law. He was also Bill Valavanis' teacher, and of course we know that Bill V. is currently the foremost driving force behind bonsai education in the US.

 

[Vance Wood]

Mr. Yoshimura was the first to teach bonsai to the public. His father was a prevalent bonsai nursery owner in Japan, Yuji helped his father in Japan into his adulthood and decided he wanted to do bonsai his own way. He started by teaching the US Army wives stationed in Japan and eventually made his way to the States. He was the guy that first made "the rules", and described the standard styles. Why? Because he was an educator, not because they are law. He was also Bill Valavanis' teacher, and of course we know that Bill V. is currently the foremost driving force behind bonsai education in the US.

I would expect you to know this but how many others your age and younger know, and more importantly and sadly,---care?

 

[PaulH]

I'm far past 55 but Yoshimura's little paperback book was what got me hooked on bonsai.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

When it comes to this board, I've only been here to flame and troll it because that is exactly how I was treated upon registering here. There is absolutely no moderation by the admin, so its too easy to have a Hay Day everyday.

Perhaps if you feel the need to have another adult watch your actions because you can't control yourself or be a reasonable member of a community, you should find a different hang-out.

Really? My only job on this planet is supposed to be to moderate a bonsai forum full-time? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It takes two to flame and troll. If you don't like what someone has to say... put them on ignore and you never have to deal with them again. Nothing worse than people complaining about flaming... by flaming.

That said, you have plenty of value to offer this group. Why focus on the negative? Life is too short...

[EDIT] FYI if people don't know how to put someone on 'ignore', just click on their name, and you will see it as the 4th option... Two clicks is all it takes to ignore someone and not see their posts. You can always turn the option off later, if you desire.[/EDIT]

 

[aml1014]

I think a lot of people forget: This stuff just didn't jump fully formed from someone's mind. Naka most certainly had a learning curve. He may have had a skill/knowledge level far above us mere mortals but, he did not know everything, else why would he have changed some things that he did? How did he learn what he learned and from whom? Or;----did he learn as I have had to; by the lessons the material teaches you and the circumstances and the time spent doing this stuff. I understand at one point he went to Japan but I don't know what that entailed or if it actually happened. I have the two books, they're OK but not masterpieces. probably the most significant book IMHO was Yoshimuras book.

How many of you on this forum, under the age of 55, know of Yuji Yoshimura? What do you know of him?

My teacher john egert speaks of yuji very often, and he believes that yoshimuras book is the book everyone needs when they start, I'll agree with him.

 

[Vance Wood]

If there was one book on bonsai where you were given the choice in order to suirvive and grow, without any other outside influence, it would be Yoshimura book. Published in 1957, the year I started trying to do bonsai. You will find more basic questions addressed in this book than any other. It ain't fancy but it gets the job done.