Recent content by William N. Valavanis

Personally, I generally use unglazed (brown, gray, tan or red) containers for evergreens (both narrow-lead and broadleaf) because the image combination of the tree and container presents a quiet or dignity atmosphere. Evergreens do not change color seasonally, yea I'm familiar of slight changes...

I like your tree! And it “speaks” to me. What species is it?

Autumn in my gatden

The new 8th US National Bonsai Exhibition Commemorative Album is still in the works. I hit a major delay because many of the exhibitors did NOT fill in their data information. So, I have been hunting them down so i can finish up correctly. Thanks to all for your support and patience. Bill

As our web site indicates shipping season ends in march or April, depending how the weather. Bill

Our forecast is 20F !!!!

Sorry for the delay. My wife Diane got ill at the Winter Silhouette Expo in NC and spent a week in a NC hospital. Then about a week later spent another week in our hospital. She is working on the orders now. Thanks for patiently waiting. Bill

Ugly large scars can often be eliminated on Trident Maples if cleaned up and recut in early autumn. They, and so many other deciduous species grow so fast in spring the wounds build up a lot of callus tissue. Simply remove it. Good luck!

Not Acer palmatum, leaves are too wide and have too many points. Looks like a Full moon maple, Acer japonicum.

First of all that lady that got her tree eliminated, came with her husband, who had a lovely tree and was displayed, so she had to make the 12 hour journey anyway . As is my policy, the final acceptance is when the artist brings the tree to the exhibition. Everyone's tree was checked over as it...

Beautiful, well designed!

Styrax japonicus

Congratulations! You have a happy plant. Sounds like mycorrhizae, a beneficial fungus which is prized for bonsai. You must have healthy plants! We also remove the "white mold" to inoculate other plants. It grose in association with roots and develops a symbiotic relationship. Today we are...

TRIANGLES- Somoko Kinyo Shu, published in Japan in 1829, was the first illustrative instructional bonsai book which established Classical Bonsai Art. This illustration was an “idealized” classic pine shape tree which explained that if these guidelines, ( followed by several pages depicting...