Covers all aspects of bonsai design

Learn the ins and outs of proper bonsai design and care with this comprehensive Japanese gardening book. Japanese bonsai have long been admired throughout the world while their care and preservation have seemed shrouded in mystery. The Art of Bonsai is, however, a comparatively simple art to learn. Anyone with a love a plants, a little patience and this eminently practical book can create bonsai and keep a finished plant healthy and vigorous for generations. Included in this definitive volume are: Detailed, illustrated instructions on propagation and training Hints for those growing bonsai in a hurry and apartment dwellers Daily and seasonal bonsai care practices Dealing with pests and bonsai troubleshooting How to judge, select and exhibit bonsai Detailed appendices on tools, equipment, soil analyses Data on more than 300 species of plants used in making bonsai This classic work remains an eminently practical book and is the classic guide to bonsai care. It contains the essentials of an art that is one of Japan's most treasured traditions--sculpting beauty in living wood.

Dave Joyce devoted his life to growing, researching, and photographing natural bonsai-trees that bear no trace of man-made manipulation. His unequalled wisdom and artistry are showcased in this full-color volume packed with advice and breathtaking images of trees as they matured. Illustrated case histories displaying exquisite natural bonsai offer details on the preferences and requirements of various species. Every task and technique is explained, with tips on bonsai photography and bonsai garden ideas.

Bonsai, the art of growing a tree in miniature, has fascinated and captured the imaginations of people worldwide for hundreds of years. This book will show you how to establish a collection, from first tree acquisitions to quickly creating your own bonsai from ordinary garden material. Step-by-step demonstrations, real examples and helpful advice then ensure you can develop and refine your trees in line with your aspirations. Key coverage includes: both indoor and outdoor bonsai; the best equipment and materials to use; the established bonsai styles and the different approaches required for various tree species; detailed advice on how to keep your tree strong and healthy; guidance on watering, positioning, feeding, pests and problems and an analysis of roots and the process of repotting. There are separate detailed chapters on trunks, branches and twigs with guidance on design considerations; practical styling techniques; bonsai aesthetics, including sources of inspiration, tree styling and pot choice, and finally, detailed case studies, spanning many years, documenting the development of a range of trees.

Growing bonsai is a beautiful art that inspires tranquility and peace, yet requires precision and patience. Comprehensive profiles on each major species used in bonsai design include information on natural habitat and plant description, soil preferences, watering instructions, transplanting tips, containers, feeding, pests and diseases, and what to expect each year in terms of structure and form. Each section is completed with a summary chart of the species' individual development, month-by-month, year-by-year. Specific styles are studied in a "case history" manner from stage one -- development of mass -- to stage two -- structure and form -- through stage three -- refinement of image.

This guide, which is part of a series, gives practical information on bonsai propagation, maintenance, planting styles, growing techniques, tools and equipment, shaping and trimming, and pests and diseases. The history and tradition of the bonsai are explained and the book includes a photographic record of over 100 species.