Favorite Books

[GGB]

P.S ... before I catch some shrapnel... Nick lenz book was totally cool it just didn't apply to me. A great book if you plan on collecting natives in the northeast. I personally dont

 

[KillerButts]

The books here look great. Much appreciated. For me so far these have been a great resource to come back to again and again. Dirr and Heuser were difficult to comprehend. It was very alien to me at first, getting a few others like applied tree biology, soil science simplified and chemistry for dummies made it comprehendible.

I have trouble remembering so much new information without actually applying it. They (Dirr&Heuser) have been helpful but to complex to remember, at least for my dumb butt.

 

[Sansui]

Hello PABonsai,
It would helpful to know what specific areas and tree types you want to build your experience with.
Thanks!

 

[PABonsai]

Sorry to hijack the thread but this: Though I do use Amazon a lot, I have been noticing a lot of craziness on pricing there lately. Like 2 bags of Optisorb on Amazon for $100 and it retails in stores like Fastenall for $10 a bag. There is a plant grow bukb I like that is $45 on Amazon and I just got them for about $12 each on eBay but I bought 12 of them. Lately it seems I am finding a lot of Amazon things seriously overpriced.

I think that stems from the fact that Amazon has now become a marketplace of mostly individual sellers. Basically eBay without bids.

 

[PABonsai]

Hello PABonsai,
It would helpful to know what specific areas and tree types you want to build your experience with.
Thanks!

Honestly, I don't know. I don't want to say "everything" because honestly I can't absorb that all. But as it stands right now, if I had to list what I want to learn (in no particular order):
-the aesthetic goals, i.e. Do this, not that, etc.....the art part
-using native trees for bonsai
-species specific care (think the large @Vance Wood mugo care post here)

The problem with the last one is that many books do cover some species specific aspects, but not in depth care; and it never seems to be the species I am looking for. I want to develop an understanding of how different trees react to specific actions. And how an action sparks different reactions in different trees.

 

[ElyDave]

I have maybe half a dozen specific bonsai books in addition to a few books on trees. I always seem to come back to three books in the main BT1 and BT2 (I'm lucky enough to have signed copies) and Deborah Koreshoff's book. I've acessed a bunch of other online resources as well, such as Colin Lewis, you can do so much now online

 

[Ohmy222]

I have tons but off the top of my head here are the ones I go back to most frequently:

• Bonsai: Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy by Deborah Koreshoff - This and Peter Chan's Bonsai Masterclass were my first books and started me on my bonsai journey. Unlike most, I got the books from my Aunt who does a bunch of yard sales. Loved the books and began bonsai. Most start and then get the books. Either way, I still reference it quite a bit so don't let my sentimental story stop you from getting it. I was lucky to have this as a first book
• Bonsai Techniques 1 & 2 - this is the strandard answer. I used my so much early on that they are pretty fragile and I am scared to use them much. There is a lot of process. There is almost no organization though, very sporadiac. I would love a hard cover version.
• Bonsai Maples by Andrei Meriggioli - last year the maples book by Peter Adams would have been on this list but this new book is pretty incredible. There are some non-bonsai parts I didn't agree with being a maple freak but the techniques, the photos, and information is fantastic.
• Flowering bonsai by Peter Adams - love the specific nature of the book so one I reference quite a bit for information on crabapples, firethorn, cotoneaster, mume, hollies, etc. A lot of species that flower or fruit in there.
• Pines series from Stone Lantern - I am a huge deciduous guy but this is my go to for a pine refresher. It is a compilation of Bonsai Today articles and inspiration for the 6-year pine thread on the forum
• Satsuki Azaleas by Robert Callahan - English gold standard book on Satsuki azaleas. Believe it is out of print but an amazing amount of information on techniques and descriptions of cultivars
• Forest, Rock Planting & Ezo Spruce Bonsai by Saburo Kato - a great primer on forest plantings and layouts.
• Penjing: The Chinese Art of Bonsai: A Pictorial Exploration of Its History, Aesthetics, Styles and Preservation by Zhao Qingquan - Amazing landscapes and penjing here. A good break from Japanese styles.
• Literati Style Penjing: Chinese Bonsai Masterworks by Zhao Qingquan - Same author as above and the only book I know of on literati
• Japanese Maples - Peter Gregory and J.D. Vertrees - As stated I am a maple freak and this book is the bible.

 

[Rob_phillips]

Get all of harry Harringtons books there really good I work with harry on my trees and he is an amazing artist with such knowledge and he knows how to write a very educational book to