Orlando Bonsai » Trees https://www.orlandobonsai.com The purpose of this site is to share and enjoy the art, history and horticulture of bonsai and to provide current bonsai news and information. Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:47:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.41 Is Bonsai inside YOU? https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2318 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2318#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2015 01:41:25 +0000 http://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2318 Have you ever heard anyone say they have been bitten by the Bonsai bug? It’s funny how you hear a common expression and don’t think twice about it until one day you stop and wonder how it started. Of course, the idiom really means someone who is enthusiastic (or possibly even about to become obsessive) about something (like a hobby). But it makes me think of someone swatting a bug as if it’s something they must kill or stop. And I don’t want to stop creating bonsai, I want to learn more every day. Hobbies have come and gone but bonsai has continued in my life. I have wondered exactly why that is. Not all questions have been answered but I really appreciate this short film, American Shokunin, which was chosen to be displayed in National Geographic’s Short Film Series with Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai. It makes you really think about bonsai in a different way.

To quote Ryan Neil, “I think once you start practicing bonsai and bonsai gets inside you, you’ll never look at trees the same again.” Another quote in this video from The Artisan’s Cup, “A master is somebody who every single day tries to pursue perfection at their chosen endeavor.”

Here is a direct link to the video above: https://vimeo.com/119134995

Congratulations to all the artists that were accepted to participate in The Artisan’s Cup. Especially I want to congratulate Paul Pikel and other Florida artists: Louise Leister, Mike Lebanik, and Michael Feduccia who will be displaying their beautiful bonsai in Portland. (If I left anyone out, please forgive). The full list can be found on The Artisan’s Cup web site, as well as, a lot more information about the event. By the way, Joshua Roth is one of the sponsors of the Artisan’s Cup.

Some of you may recognize Paul’s name from his bonsai teaching videos on this web site. People often tell me they are really thankful that the videos are here. That tells me people want to learn more about bonsai. Although Paul no longer owns or runs OrlandoBonsai.com, you will always find any new videos he creates here as well as on OrlandoBonsaiTV which is his youtube site. Paul and I joined the Central Florida Bonsai Club around the same time and remain in close contact so your comments do get communicated.

So whether you have been bitten by the bonsai bug, are an avid enthusiast, a newbie, or hoping to become a master, we hope our web site is informative and helpful in your bonsai journey.

Enjoy bonsai and life.

Sandy Racinski, Orlando Bonsai

(As always, if you have a question or are looking for a particular tool, pot, tree or stand, please ask even if you don’t see it on the store. If we don’t have it, we may be able to find it for you).


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=2318 1 BSF Bonsai Convention – May 21-25, 2015 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2305 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2305#comments Wed, 20 May 2015 04:12:52 +0000 http://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2305 Bonsai Societies of Florida will hold “Bonsai by Design”, their 42nd Annual Convention on May 21-25, 2015 at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center at the Florida Mall, 8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando FL 32809. It is Orlando’s largest retail shopping mall and close to Orlando International Airport. Registration begins Thursday evening from 7 until 9 pm.

Bonsai by Design features well known artists David DeGroot & Guy Guidry. It will be an exciting weekend of Demonstrations, Workshops, Vendors, Specimen Exhibit Trees, Raffles, Scholarship Competition, Club Night, Auctions and Camaraderie. For a complete itinerary and more, go to www.bonsai-bsf.com.

Orlando Bonsai will be a vendor there selling tools, pots, accessories, display stands, trees and more. Come meet Sandy, Orlando Bonsai’s owner, in person if you haven’t already. Ask for your special SHOW discount. Former owner, Paul Pikel will also be there teaching a Bonsai Photography workshop. Maybe you can stop by and ask him what the subject of his next Bonsai video will be.

Enjoy Bonsai and Life.

Sandy


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=2305 0 Top Ten Reasons We Love Bonsai https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2215 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2215#comments Mon, 24 Jun 2013 06:29:32 +0000 http://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=2215
  1. Bonsai is global. Friends are world-wide.
  2. Bonsai is beautiful. Beauty is priceless.
  3. Bonsai Trees give off oxygen. People need oxygen to breathe.
  4. Bonsai teaches us. Knowledge is important.
  5. Bonsai is art. Art is enlightening.
  6. Bonsai is living art. It keeps on giving.
  7. Bonsai attracts people. Being social is healthy.
  8. Bonsai is nature. Nature is good.
  9. Bonsai provides an outlet. People need outlets.
  10. Bonsai is creative yet structured. Good for right and left sides of the brain.

If you want to add reasons to the list, go to Orlando Bonsai’s FaceBook page and add more.

 

Enjoy Bonsai!

 


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=2215 0 How Do I Love Trees? Let me count the ways… https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=1977 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=1977#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 02:02:18 +0000 http://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=1977 by Sandy Racinski
(modeled after Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s ‘How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways…”

How do I love trees? Let me count the ways.
I love trees to the depth and breadth and height
Their trunks can reach, when climbing out of sight.
For the ends of Time and ideal Place.
I love trees to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet garden, by sun and moonlight.
I love trees freely, as men strive for Might;
I love trees purely, as they turn toward Sun.
I love trees with the passion put to use
In their old limbs, and with my childhood vigor.
I love trees with a love I seemed to lose
With their old leaves, —I love trees with the bark,
knots, jin, shari, of all my cuts! —and, if Master choose,
I shall but love trees better after Winter.


]]> https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?feed=rss2&p=1977 0 Spring is just around the corner… https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=1885 https://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=1885#comments Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:24:17 +0000 http://www.orlandobonsai.com/?p=1885 This year’s winter in Florida started very early and was very cold, but it didn’t seem to last that long. My trees started popping out new growth a few weeks ago and now they are well on their way to having full canopies of leaves. However this is no time to sit back and enjoy the trees because there is a lot of work to be done. In this video I talk about controlling the growth o fyour bonsai during the initial growth of the Spring season. You need to stay on top of your trees or you’ll lose a great opportunity to make the most of the fast growing period.


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