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Gardening Forum   BONSAI FORUMS  Bonsai Learning Forum & Library

Recommended bonsai books for reading.




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Recommended bonsai books for reading.

Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:30 am

Hi,
i just thought i<d introduce myself seeing as i 'm new this forum.
I've recently developed an interest in bonsai , and i was wondering if there is any recomended reading on bonsai ?.
actually i live in japan , so I'm pretty fortunate in the fact I'm surouded by bonsai , but my japanese isn't up to reading standards yet , so i was just curious to see if anybody has any recomended reading for the boansai novice.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks .. the newbie.
bushida
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Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:38 pm

Bushida,

Sure, Good questions 8),

[Actually I need to check something first...I am trying to save myself some work here...lol]

Gnome please check your pms

ynot

Sorry I was still typing it
Last edited by ynot on Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ynot
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Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:39 pm

Bushida,

Hi, welcome to the forum. You certainly are lucky in that you are in Japan. What are you doing talking to us? Go out and learn something first hand. :wink:

As to your question, 'Bonsai Masterclass' by Peter Chan has been helpful. I own several volumes by Herb Gustafson. If you are interested in Pines then the book 'Pines-Growing and styling Pine bonsai' from Stone Lantern Publishing is a good choice. Indoors I suggest 'Bonsai in your home' by Paul Lesniewicz it covers most of the popular species, if a bit briefly. I wonder how available western books are going to be for you though.

Perhaps, if you are so inclined, you can post some pictures in the gallery.

Norm


EDIT: Ynot, I don't seem to have anything at the moment.
Last edited by Gnome on Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Gnome
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Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:02 pm

hey bushida, I always recommend "101 bonsai basics". It's a small book with loads of newbi answers. Also "the living art of bonsai" by Amy Liang is great. Lots of color photos of sweet bonsai.

And I agree with Gnome...Go get some first hand training! :wink:
admiring bonsai requires no language. :) peace!
Bonsaimatt
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Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:38 pm

I really enjoy this book:

Growing Bonsai: A Practical Encyclopedia : The essential practical guide to a classic art with techniques, step-by-step projects and over 600 photogra


http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Bonsai-En ... F8&s=books
Sharp
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Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:44 am

Hi Folks , it's me again.
Just a quick word thanking everyone for their suggestions on recomended reading for bonsai,,
thanks again.
bushida..
ps don't i'll be asking asking my japanese friends for tips to..
bushida
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Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:53 am

Bonsaimatt wrote:Also "the living art of bonsai" by Amy Liang is great. Lots of color photos of sweet bonsai.


This is an excellent Book IMO {With a strong Chinese perspective}, Lots of good info wrt to root work and branching as well as the pics.
More than pictures here.
The ISBN# is 1402719019 For that one btw.

Here are a few more:

Even better IMO 'Bonsai: It's Art, Science, History, and Philosophy' - By Deborah Koreshoff ISBN 0881923893.

Bonsai techniques Vol I & Vol II by John Yoshio Naka
ISBN 0930422317 & ISBN 093042233
These two books are often referred to [in America] as the 'Bonsai Bibles'.

A few more books and authors you may want to consider checking out:

Be aware of their initial publishing date as often they are reprinted [but not updated] Opinions on {IE} soil components [As well as their availability]
have changed considerably over the past decade and a half or so.

Bonsai in your Home by Paul Lesniewicz - ISBN 0806907819

Grow your own Bonsai by Colin Lewis & Neil Sutherland - ISBN 1402713584

Complete book of Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson - ISBN 1558591184

Bonsai 101 essential tips by Harry Tomlinson - ISBN 0789410753

Pocket Bonsai by David Prescott - ISBN 1843305860

Bonsai a Care Manual by Colin Lewis - ISBN 157145988X

The Art of Bonsai by Colin Lewis - ISBN 1402700709

Bonsai survival manual by Collin Lewis - ISBN 0882668536

Bonsai Ortho Books - ISBN 0897214986

Beautiful Bonsai by Bruno Delmer - ISBN 1402714335

Bonsai by Susan Lang - ISBN 0376030461

Creating Bonsai Landscapes by Su Chin Ee - ISBN 1580174841

Mountains in the sea by Phan Van Lit - ISBN 0881925152

Bonsai Landscapes by Peter Adams - ISBN 0706377672

Totally Bonsai by Craig Coussins - ISBN 0804834202

Bonsai School by Craig Coussins - ISBN1402703686


Learn about the profound difference between the Chinese, Penjing, approach to bonsai, and that of the Japanese.
These two books are by a curator of the Shanghai Botanical Garden:

CHINESE PENJING, Miniature Trees and Landscapes
Hu Yunhua, Text translator: Karin Albert-Shue
1987, Timber Press, Portland, Or; $39.95
Intermediate [No ISBN sorry]

Penjing, The Chinese Art of Miniature Gardens
Hu Yunhua ISBN 0917304705
1982, Timber Press / Am Horticultural Soc.
Beginner

Your library or a quick search on Amazon or Alibris will find more I am sure.

Please Pm me if you want a link to reviews on bonsai books.

Thanks to Hinoki for assembling the bulk of this list.

ynot
Last edited by ynot on Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:56 am

Bushida,

I hope you have taken the time to go to Omiya!

Image Image

ynot
ynot
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Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:09 am

Ynot,

Thanks for taking the time to assemble that extensive reading list. there is certainly a lot of reading there. Some of those books I have never heard of and I've got 18 volumes, not including Bonsai Today magazines.

Norm
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Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:31 am

Gnome,

Thank you but I did not do all the work to accumulate a list like this. It is condensed down from a list compiled by Hinoki elsewhere
and posted with his permission.

Anyone: Please Pm me if you want the entire work as it a contains brief synopsis of quite a few of these books.

I do not own all of these, I have maybe 12 or 15 books [Only have three unpacked since I moved actually.]

Koreshoff & Liang are my faves... I don't even actually own the Nakas' yet.

[I have no good excuse for that really...lol]

Obviously there is a lot of repetition wrt to content but sometimes there is a nugget of info that makes the entire book worthwhile...IMO

ynot
Last edited by ynot on Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ynot
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Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:05 pm

ynot wrote:Gnome,

Obviously there is a lot of repetition wrt to content but sometimes there is a nugget of info that makes the entire book worthwhile...IMO



Yes, I've noticed that myself.
Bonsaimatt
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Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:11 pm

i find colin lewis's books good and books by peter chan
try ebay they do really cheap boooks in good conditon
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tarian
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Please Share. Thank you!

 
 
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