If you pitch your tent in the Naturalistic Bonsai camp, then it’s probably too late to suggest you avert your eyes. So… as long as you are looking at this remarkable tree, I’ll just comment on how the static perfectly groomed crown seems to contrast with the swirling movement in the perfectly groomed deadwood. Something like that. The artist is Minoru Akiyama, who is one of the headliners at this year’s Mid Atlantic (scroll down a little for more info).

It’s that time of year. You can tell because every other post these days features a few big bonsai events (listed chronologically here). Anyway, I think we’ve hit upon a solution to a problem that may not even exist (keeping post about events interesting for those of you who don’t care about the events). The solution is… showing trees by bonsai artist that are headliners in the events posted. You’d think I would have thought of this a long time ago…

Logo aside, the Lone Star Bonsai Federation’s Tree Ring Circus (we’ll give the double entendre name a pass) looks like a good one, with Walter, Colin and Erik (Pall, Lewis & Wigert). Many of the workshops will focus on Texas natives such as Cedar elm & Texas persimmon and much of the material was collected for the convention. Visit the website for registration & more information.

Walter Pall does it just right with this unconventional (so to speak) Japanese maple’s craggy scarred old trunk with smooth flowing movement, skinny branches that start out in the wrong places (or maybe this isn’t the front) with the brilliant leaves clustered toward the ends and a skinny pot to go with the skinny branches. Perfect. Walter is one of the headliner at the big LSBF convention (just above) and word has it that he puts on a great show.

The famous Mid Atlantic is on for April 19-21. This year the line up features Minoru Akiyama, Peter Warren and Ryan Neil.

This slightly fuzzy, twisty Shimpaku with its free open feel, is from Peter Warren’s website. Peter is a headliner at the Mid Atlantic.

François Jeker will be at Rosade’s World Bonsai Day. That’s one of several good reasons to visit the friendly people at Rosade Bonsai Studio.

This famous Japanese yew (from the cover of Bonsai Today 103) does a pretty good job of showing off François Jeker‘s carving skills.

June will be soon. Bill Valavanis puts on some of the very best bonsai events, with workshops to get worked up about and great artists; Kora Dalager, David DeGroot, Dennis Makishima, Ryan Neil, Kathy Shaner , Peter Warren and Wm. N. Valavanis (that’s Bill). Check it out and then sign up. Stay posted and soon we’ll feature more on this event and on the artists involved.