Sunset Bonsai Book - 1976

[Kodama]

Anyone else remember this book? Copyright 1976. Lane Publishing. Menlo Park, CA.

I had this back in the 90's before the internet. Yeah no one to tell you about microclimate and wonder why my projects died following advice from California. Ha. I was young and dumb back then too so hey.

Seriously though, besides the old soil mix, it was a good book to get started.

Years later I gave the book to someone else and just recently picked it up again from some free books the local club was giving away. Had to have it for nostalgic reasons.

 

[TimIAm]

Not sure where I picked mine up, but I always see many copies on eBay. So, I'm guessing it must have had a large enough print run or was popular at the time.

 

[ZombieNick]

I got this for 50 cents from the used book section of my local library!

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Got a copy I bought back then along with a couple of updated versions. It was just about the only resource I could find back then.

 

[Shibui]

This was also my first bonsai guide. As you said, before internet and with no clubs or anyone else I knew doing bonsai it was also my sole guide to bonsai. Fortunately the climate here matches so that was one problem I did not have.
The quick deaths were not particularly painful because I could usually start over in the same year.
Reading the techniques, interpreting the techniques then putting them into practice only to realise - a year or so later - that I had misread or misinterpreted and having to start over was more frustrating.
Needless to say, the first 10 years of bonsai was very slow going for me.

I still have my original copy - quite dogeared now and with soil and water stains on many pages but still treasured. I should go back and reread to find out whether any of the info given is accurate.

 

[penumbra]

I remember this book. I bought it back in the 70s. I bought it at Hechingers, an early home improvement store that predates Home Depot and Lowes. I have no idea where it is today. I have to purge my books of all kinds from time to time or I have no space for anything else.

 

[Raa-Man]

Me too Penumbra. I still have my 1978 copy bought at a local hardware store!

 

[rockm]

I remember this book. I bought it back in the 70s. I bought it at Hechingers, an early home improvement store that predates Home Depot and Lowes. I have no idea where it is today. I have to purge my books of all kinds from time to time or I have no space for anything else.

I remember heckingers. Used to be next to Woodward & Lothrop dept store.

I had this edition and several more. Accumulated them over the years. Interesting to look at to see how things have changed

 

[ShadyStump]

I have a copy I picked up online along with another bonsai book for less than $15 including shipping a couple years ago. Compared to the other book it's not that great, but it was intended for early beginners, and has become a sort of classic I guess.

 

[misfit11]

My coworker just gave me this Sunset Bonsai book (copyright 1975) recently. It's so bad, it's awesome!

 

[ZombieNick]

I feel pretty lucky to have both an in person teacher and a wealth of information online at my disposal. I couldn't imagine learning bonsai using a book like this as my primary source of information.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I just dug out my copies of both the Sunset books. The earlier version is from 1974 and the later one from 1976. I also have one put together by the Japan Bonsai Association from 1976 as well. Interesting reads to say the least.

 

[bonsaiwood]

Picked these up at a local thrift shop a few years back.. I believe they were $1 each..
Book on the right is the 3rd edition published in 1994.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

That was my first bonsai book. Still love that blue atlas cedar in it. Maybe one day.

 

[Paradox]

Lol I think I have that book somewhere. Was given to me by someone that saw it and knew I was into bonsai.

Wasn't my first bonsai book though.
I bought these when I was 14 at the bookstore in the mall near my town. It was the only information I could find on bonsai at the time.

 

[NMbonsai]

This was my first bonsai book. I was around 14-15 at the time I purchased it for $1. I was fascinated by pictures of bonsai, but knew absolutely nothing about them. I found this book in the gift shop at Shaws garden in St. Louis.
After reading the book from cover to cover, I was hooked on the idea, but didn't really start working on trees for several years later, with zero success. Even though this book has a section for beginners, I found it hard to comprehend, especially the scant information on soil components.

 

[NMbonsai]

Here are two more older books that I have collected over the years. The Art of Bonsai was first published in 1957, probably as a response to the growing interest in the subject in America. It is incredibly detailed on all aspects of creating and growing bonsai.
The Beginner's Guide to American Bonsai was first published in 1978 and was apparently the first bonsai book to focus on native species as well as the traditional ones used in Japan. There is also an extensive section on region variations in bonsai care and may well be the first book to address these differences.

 

[thesven]

I got this for 50 cents from the used book section of my local library!

View attachment 580723

Also came across a copy of this more recently in a used book store for ~$1