Book Review

By Thomas J.

This month I thought I would do a book review, or maybe I should say a magazine review, instead of something physically pertaining to bonsai. The magazine I chose was something I haven't been acquainted with really. I believe I heard it mentioned every so often on various bonsai forums, but have never really seen a copy up close or thumbed through the pages to see just what all was there.

The magazine I'm referring to is Bonsai Europe, a very high quality magazine that highlights all the best of what Europe has to offer the bonsai enthusiast.

A quick glance at the cover will make you think you are holding a copy of "Bonsai Today", since the cover format is pretty close to that of "bonsai today", and even the inside has somewhat the same appearance as its rival.

Actually the biggest distinguishing factor between the two is the advertising. Unless your from Europe, none of the advertisers will look familiar to you. But to be truthful with you, I enjoyed looking at many of the advertising pieces almost as much as the articles.

The copies that I used for this review were July/ August, or number 75, and Sept./Oct. or number 76 2005. I'll do a quick run down of a few of the articles that might be of interest to you.

Number 75 - July/ Aug.:

  

The article on Gafu-ten shohin exhibition held each year in Kyoto Japan, had some really nice pictures of shohin bonsai. Two pages wasn't enough for me though. I wish there could have been a few more.

But as I strolled down the pages to page 60, there was a very good four page article on a shohin master who will give you a class as you read through the four pages, on his style of pine shohin. Very impressive work.

If your into accent plants, the article in this months copy explains quite a bit about the use of, and display of various accent plants.

Other articles included New Talent Contest, Grafting Techniques, How To Improve A Root Base, and Sites For Collecting Suitable Material. Seems there's something there for everyone in this issue.

Robert Stevens from Indonesia has an article also on his recently published book Vision of My Soul, about his style of bonsai which some people refer to as " Indonesian style". Robert is of course from Indonesia, and in my opinion, some of the best bonsai in the world comes from those parts. Strictly my own opinion of course.

Number 76 - Sept./ Oct.:


 
Again I was thrilled to see so many articles that were very well written and put together for this months issue.

The first one that really interested me was on pg. 18 and had to do with a bonsai pot maker from the U.K.

Just seeing some of the steps a pot goes through from mold to finishing was a learning experience.

Many times on the bonsai forums I hear of people interested in the plant known as Ligustrum. This issue has a very informative article on this much sought after bonsai species.

I think the article that impressed me the most, was the one on a back yard bonsai garden created by a European enthusiast and his wife. For bonsai lovers, it looks to be a little bit of heaven on earth.

There are two stunning pages (wish there were more) of pictures of bonsai in an article called Bonsai Splendour in France.

And what better way to end this months issue, by having sixteen pages devoted to the 2005 World Bonsai Contest held in May of this year.

To sum it all up, again I would have to say that "bonsai Europe" is a first class magazine catering to those who like the look and feel of a high quality reading experience, pertaining to the wonderful world of bonsai.

Note: Dallas Bonsai Gardens is now carrying this fine magazine for those of you who might be interested.