The Bonsai Blog of Morten Albek

Spring has so far been wonderful in Denmark. Not only has the winter gone, and spring is here; but also my book, “Shohin Bonsai, Majesty in miniature”, has been released. So far the comments coming in has been very positive, and I am happy that this first book totally dedicated to Shohin and Mame-bonsai has been very well received. It has been hard work (admitted) to write a book like this one, but also very satisfying, because I hope it will help a little to develop the interest in this beautiful part of bonsai.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure to sign some copies, when Nordic Bonsai Center arranged a fine release”party” with free workshops with Shohin, and I truly enjoyed the interest and teaching this sunny day.

Now I look forward to the growing season, already in full speed, with warm weather and sunny days. The British Shohin Association once again proved that they are dedicated to develop Shohin-bonsai, with another great event (late winter) I have been told. Good luck, and keep up the spirit my British friends

Now we just need some bigger events in Europe or/and the US dedicated to Shohin. They really deserve it….

Regards, Morten Albek

My favourite time of the year is close

Spring time. The fresh leaves that opens, buds swelling, new growth and flowers. Can it be better, together with rising temperatures; not the global warming friends, but the normal degrees and the warmth from the sun, the light that makes you feel better together with the joy of a new happy and busy bonsai season?   Remember to enjoy your bonsai. Do not only strive for better quality through dedicated hard work and competitions; but please do lean back, watch and relax with peace in mind, just viewing the beauty of branches, trunks and leaves. The true beauty and joy of bonsai is not only exhibiting, although it is one of the key features in this art form, but it is also to sit and closely study all details of the tree – slowly and with peace in mind. This part is my favourite. I do not need anything else in some moments, than being among my tree-friends, observing and enjoying their company. One of the legends in the world of bonsai, Japanese Saburo Kato (who deceased a short while ago) used his bonsai to remember his father. He found peace in mind and joy when he was sad, just by sitting and looking at his Ezo Matsu, Spruce bonsai, once collected at the Russian coast with his father. The trees made Saburo Kato remember the happy moments, and this is some of the power bonsai possesses, besides being a beautiful art form. And spring brings forward new life and another year of development and peaceful moments in my garden. Please enjoy yours too. Happy growing.

2007 Cotoneaster horisontalis, Mame-bonsai

Winter time shows the beauty of the almost naked branches, with only few leaves and some nice red berries left from fall. It has taken almost ten years from the tree was started from raw nursery material.

Still a few seasons are needed to develop the branch structure more. This is a more complicated task now, because some areas are ready to be maintained as they are, or need slightly to be restored, and others need further development and refinement.

Majesty in Miniature, Shohin Bonsai
Unlocking the Secrets of Small Trees
by Morten Albek
with Wayne Schoech

This is the add shown at publisher Stonelanterns website

Special order now and prepay and save $5.00 at www.stonelantern.com/booksbonsai.html Softcover. 7.5” x 9.5”
198 pages
B1SHOHIN $24.95 - prepaid order $19.95

“Shohin bonsai cost less, take less time to develop, take less space, are easier to move, are less apt to be overwatered, and are a delight to behold. This thorough and beautiful exploration of the art of small bonsai is for experienced bonsai enthusiasts and daring beginners. If you already practice Shohin, it will deepen your understanding. If you don’t now is the time to unlock the secrets of small trees.”

Stone Lantern expect to have the book in February. 

August has been a wet wet month, just like July. The trees are growing slow, so development is not progressing very much at the moment. Well, it gives me more time to work on my house, paint some rooms, and remodelling the kitchen a little. Nothing to do with bonsai, but things that also has to be done. Furthermore my main pc is broken, so my websites suffers a bit. No updates there at the moment. Hopefully the pc will be running again in September. Some articles are stuck there fore Bonsai Focus, so Farrand Bloch has to be a bit patient with this. The Shohin-bonsai book progresses now, and I look so much forward to see it published. I will let you know as soon as I know when it is released. Praying for some warm weather and to see the sun a little in the late part of the growing season.

The Shohin-bonsai book, Less is more (name changed later - see the post from November 2007 and later) is on the way to the public.It has taken a long time but progression is done quickly now, and the book will be printed in July.

Right now the text part is finished with the final editing, and the layouter is preparing the book. A process that will take about a month.I look forward very much to the release of the book, that has been delayed some.

I hope it will meet the requirements of both beginners and more experienced Shohin enthusiasts.

The book will describe different techniques well suited for Shohin and Mame-bonsai. I also focus on some of the different issues about displaying Shohin-bonsai, hopefully succeeding to spread out the knowledge of this special part of the art.

A lot of pictures are included, and I have tried also to include other artists in order to show different kind of works for inspiration.

I will of course keep you updated of further news about the release, how to purchase the book, prize i.e. here and at www.shohin-europe.com

Regards, Morten Albek

I had the pleasure travelling to Ribeirão Preto in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in late May. Kind Mario A. G. Leal hosted the Bonsai 2007 event focusing on Shohin-bonsai. As head demonstrator at this event I had the privilege to work on some very good material. The Shinpaku Juniper presented for me I must admit looked extremely difficult at first, but after a closer examination it proved very talented.

I found the fellow Brazilian demonstrators very enthusiastic, and also very talented. There really are some potential in South America. Furthermore the growing season is very long which makes it possible to shorten the time reaching results by almost the half of what is needed here in Northern Europe. Japanese black pines and the Shinpaku juniper grows very good under this hemisphere, allthough the big differences of climate must be taken into account, Brazil stretching over an enormous area, from cold south to hot north regions.

Four hour of works later, assisted by Charles White, a talented Brazilian bonsai artist, it was possible to present a future good and powerful looking cascade bonsai in Chuhin size (app. 45 cm high), assisted by another work done at the same time, a native Brazilian Cherry, Cerejeira. Also a number of Shohin-bonsai I styled for some participants, giving me good training and the fun of styling some native species I normally do not get my hands on. In the evening good talks, local music jazzed by Mario, his son brother and friends made this week in Brazil a very good one.

Thank you Mario my friend, Bergson, Charles, family, friends and all you enthusiastic and nice people participating in the event, for the pleasant stay.    

May is a busy bonsai month

So many things to take care of in the bonsai garden, and further more local demonstrations, and a travel to Brazil to do demo and workshop with Shohin-bonsai in focus. Makes job and family being a little set aside this month. Sorry family, sorry job. But I love it this month, where everything happens. Pines needs their elongating needle bundles pinched, maple must be leaf thinned, junipers pinched i.e. All at once, but it is enjoyable to take the small trees in the hand and work with them.The picture shows the work on a Berberis that will appear in Bonsai Focus later this year i expect. (Bonsai Focus is the new version of Bonsai Europe and Bonsai Today melted together in one great magazine).

New leaves are opening for the coming season. If you haven’t wired during the winter or earlier spring it is now the time to wire deciduous trees, before the buds open and develop new leafs. When wired, keep an eye on the branches when the leaves develop. Young branches may need the wire removed after a few weeks, because the branches swells when leafs unfolds and the water takes up more water than during the winter.

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