Recent content by Eric Schrader

TBT - I stopped growing macrocarpa's because they are naturally confined to the coast by a canker that will kill even old trees. I've lost at least a couple of my older batch to it after keeping them in the east bay. I think the best one is about to lose a key branch to it. There is no known...

I have it on good authority that we'll be pushing the 2026 expo to the last weekend of January of 2027. We'll see as it's also dependent on the venue's schedule (e.g. venue TBD as of now, even if it's Kaiser again we have to sign a contract) I was the one that initially pushed for a fall date...

Hi All, We put together a Google form to compile feedback of particular types from visitors. (There are forms for vendors, exhibitors and volunteers that are separate and will be sent to those participants via email.). Below please find a link to the Attendee form. If you attended, or even if...

Nao - thanks for the statistical analysis. Jonas has been doing a little on the side also. He tested narrowing the judging field to just the 7 professionals that had entries. With that significant change in judges the top-tier results ended up being nearly identical to the overall results. I...

Hey all, We received a request from a couple people to provide more details about how to replicate the backdrops that were used in the 2022 and 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo. I went ahead and did a blog post with some photos and linked to a Google album of additional photos. If you have technical...

Re: 3D Scans - Aaron had permission from us as organizers (and knowing he would be charging). In addition the scan's are a compilation of a few hundred photos processed by software; they are covered under the exhibitor contracts we use with folks who show trees. Owners could opt out but nobody...

A few more updates. 1. Podcast with Mike Pistello - he is exhibiting for the second time this year. 2. Podcast with Cesar Ordonez about olives - he will be vending this year - mostly shohin-size collected olive trunks. 3. Event Area Map is live on Google Maps here...

In case you don't get Jonas' blog emails/updates. Here is the recent one: https://bonsaitonight.com/2024/08/18/top-5-updates-about-the-2024-pacific-bonsai-expo/ 1. Advance tickets are on sale now – enjoy reduced rates before prices go up closer to the event 2. Volunteer sign-ups are available...

Two new bonsai wire podcasts are up - each profiling exhibitors that will be at the show this year. Admittedly I didn't travel far to do these interviews. https://www.bonsaiwirepodcast.com/1276571 FYI - Saturday parking is almost sold out. 22 additional vendor tables added. Volunteer signup...

I knew I had a photo of it somewhere...took me forever to find it.

Unless it changed substantially I don't think that's it. Check out this page on the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20090819024606/http://artofbonsai.org/feature_articles/thoughts.php Here's a photo I pulled down (Credit to Walter Pall I believe) attached.

Yep, thanks for sharing. That's what I'm seeing on the elms. You get a lot of light to the interior, no branch dieback and rather than just a new shoot at each tip you get 2-5 shoots coming from the entire length of the branches. I'd also second Maros' suggestion - as those buds swelling have...

I've been filming a long-term video for YT over the passed 18 months. It shows this technique on chinese elm primarily. I have tried it on Zelkova with some success also (nothing like a chinese elm, lol.) I've also tried it on various other trees as a test. It differs from full defoliation in...

To be clear - I've not tried this on birch before - but I've been doing it on some other species, and getting more twigging as a result. Rather than just the last bud running some of the trees will open the lower buds simultaneously. It's an 80% defoliation basically.

"Run to 7-9 leaves, then trim to 2-3" ....try removing the interior 1 or 2 leaves of the ones you're leaving - essentially leaving the leaf that's at the tip (after the cut) and removing the others. Then report back.