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Life and works of Dan Robinson

Posted by Paul Masterson
/ March 10, 2011 / 2 Comments

Two months ago I was asked to review a book ’Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees’ about the life and works of a great American Bonsai pioneer, ‘Dan Robinson’. Normally I can write copy fairly quickly, but this book stumped me (excuse the pun). Dan Robinson is not just a Bonsai master, he is...
Beauties of Spring

Posted by Geoff Bryant
/ February 22, 2011 / 1 Comment

Spring is a time when there are so many plants bursting into growth and flower that sometimes it’s hard to see the wood for the trees, or in our case the plants for the flowers. So this month I thought it might be appropriate to consider some of the smaller...
Keisho Ohno & Samurai Spirit

Posted by Paul Masterson
/ February 15, 2011 / 2 Comments

As part of their European Tour, Keisho Ohno and Samurai Spirit make their first Irish debut at the magnificent Royal Hibernian Academy. The Ireland Japan Association are delighted to invite its members and friends to come and experience an evening of traditional Japanese music with a unique contemporary twist! Keisho...
Bonsai Inspiration

Posted by Paul Masterson
/ January 31, 2011 / 2 Comments

When it comes to bonsai books I am a great fan of practicalities and inspiring ideas. Their is nothing as bad as buying a book that you don’t feel like lifting up, one that gathers dust and ends up in the collection of possible recyclables. Yes I have bought those...
Thinking of Spring!

Posted by Paul Masterson
/ January 18, 2011 / 2 Comments

When it comes time to plan a spring garden, there are many designs from which to choose. One of the serenest and most enjoyable garden designs is a Japanese garden design. A Japanese garden is a simple garden design that creates a space that fosters calm and is perfect for...
Inspiring Winter Bonsai

Posted by Paul Masterson
/ December 25, 2010 / 3 Comments

Bonsai artists the world over look to nature’s more spectacular trees for inspiration. A tree variety is studied year-round to understand how quickly it grows in height and width as well as what changes occur on a seasonal basis. Especially important is to see the Autumn changes. There are some...

Famous Japanese Gardens

Bonsai, the silent garden by Moni -
Life is hectic and perhaps stressful at times. Everyone needs an outlet to discharge those struggles and anxieties of the day and growing Bonsai can…
Japanese Gardens, Tranquility Personified by Moni -
Japanese Gardens have been a treasured art form in Japan for centuries, and are very much influenced by the ancient and intricate…
New Orleans Japanese Haven by Paul Masterson -
City Park in New Orleans has nestled in its midst the New Orleans Japanese Gardens, known formally as Yakumo Nihon Teien. Yakumo is the assumed…
Thinking of Spring! by Paul Masterson -
When it comes time to plan a spring garden, there are many designs from which to choose. One of the serenest and most enjoyable garden…

Maintaining Your Garden

Fuchsia in New Zealand by Geoff Bryant -
Fuchsia (named after Leonhard Fuchs, a 16th century German botanist) is a genus of over 100 species of shrubs and small trees. Although there are…
Blueberry from Down Under! by Geoff Bryant -
Whether we know it or not, most of us are familiar with the genus Vaccinium as it has among its members several current or potential…
Aronia, A new commercial berry crop for America by Eldon Everhart -
Aronia melanocarpa is a woody, perennial shrub that is native to the northeastern quarter of the Umited States and Southeastern Canada. It grows in full…
Beauties of Spring by Geoff Bryant -
Spring is a time when there are so many plants bursting into growth and flower that sometimes it’s hard to see the wood for…

Growing Bonsai

10 Bonsai Tips for American Moms by admin -
Most of the time, the first bonsai most people buy is chosen at random on an impulse buy, usually the most reasonably priced. Most people…
Bonsai Learner Permit by Paul Masterson -
Someone once told me a long time ago to get a ‘Learner Permit’ for a Bonsai. I wasn’t too sure at that stage of…
Serissa Bonsai by Paul Masterson -
Serissas make excellent bonsai with the right care and shaping. They are an evergreen shrub native to China, Japan, and Indochina (Southeast Asia) where it…
Beginner Bonsai – Juniper by Paul Masterson -
A Juniper bonsai is one type of bonsai trees that is suitable for beginners because it is quite easy to be taken care of.
Their…

Book Reviews

The Art of Creative Pruning
Decorative tree pruning brings innovation and artistry to gardens. It has something for all tastes, including sophisticated sculptural trees, modernist…
Life and works of Dan Robinson
Two months ago I was asked to review a book ’Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees’ about the life and works of…
Bonsai Inspiration
When it comes to bonsai books I am a great fan of practicalities and inspiring ideas. Their is nothing as…
Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees
As you read this book you can feel the emotion of understanding, an understanding that bonds the ‘Author to the…

Building Japanese Gardens

Your own Japanese garden by Piet Patings -
How to go about when you are caught by the beauty of a Japanese garden and you have decided that this is what you want…
Your own Japanese Garden, part two by Piet Patings -
In my previous article I wrote about considerations and decisions to be taken when you are going to build your own Japanese garden. In this…

Zen and the Garden

Zen and three friends of winter by Paul Masterson -
In Japan, rock gardens were created by Zen Buddhist priests to offer a place for quiet reflection near Japanese temples. Several features are essential to these gardens; a typical garden…
Zen Gardens, Imagination in the Making by Moni -
By their very nature Zen gardens encourage you to use your imagination. Using carefully placed rocks and stones and open spaces filled with sand or gravel these gardens tend to…