BONSAI: The Complete Guide to Art & Technique
by Paul Lesniewicz
published by Blandford Press
BONSAI - Art & Technique
by Basilius Verlag, 1987
Bill Valavanis writes this about the book:
This is a large format book, full of color photos and each page is translated in four languages. I do not know the price, as the book was a gift in 1987. I have not seen it anywhere for sale.Printed in Switzerland
Indoor Bonsai
by Paul Lesniewicz
published by Blandford Press
The Creative Art of Bonsai
by Isabelle & Remy Samson
published by Ward Lock Ltd
ISBN 0 7063 7024 4
BONSAI with American Trees
by Masakuni Kawasumi
published by Kodansha International Ltd
ISBN 0-87011-246-5
Bonsai Techniques
by John Yoshio Naka
Published for the Bonsai Institute of California.
The Complete Book of Bonsai
by Harry Tomlinson
published by Abbeville Press, 1991
224 pages Hardbound
$30.00
ISBN 1-55859-118-4
The Complete Bonsai Handbook
By Darlene Dunton
Stein and Day Publishers
ISBN 0-8128-6008-X
Four Seasons of Bonsai
by Kyuzo Murata
The Beginner's Guide to American Bonsai
by Jerald P. Stowell
ISBN 0-87011-326-7
The Masters' Book of Bonsai
Compiled by Directors of The Japan Bonsai Association
published by Kodansha International Ltd
ISBN 0-87011-453-0
Bonsai: Illustrated Guide to an Ancient Art
edited by Patricia Hart Clifford
published by Sunset Publishing Corporation
ISBN 0-376-03044-5
American Bonsai Society-Bonsai Clubs International Book Service
C/O Vernon Weeks Dept "B"
3740 Louisiana Ave. N.
New Hope MN 55427 USA
Tel: (612) 537-6984
Plants and gardens, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Record. -- Handbooks
Vol. 09 No. 22 Dwarfed Potted Trees, The Bonsai of
Japan
Vol. 22 No. 02 Bonsai: Special Techniques
Vol. 32 No. 02 Bonsai for Indoors
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
1000 Washington Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Art of Bonsai (Adams)
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1992.
(Paperbound. ISBN:0-7063-7116-X)
$17.95
Very good book for explaining strategy of training certain trees. Unfortunately ignores maples.Part 1: Profiles on 1) Beech and Hornbeam 2) Elm and Zelkova 3) mixed Juniper species & Cryptomeria (~20 pages each) explaining conditions for growing and production cycle over the first 6 years of growing and training.
Part 2: 16 case histories of authors own plants illustrating techniques and strategies.
Simon and Schuster's Guide to Bonsai (Giorgi)
Simon & Schuster Trade, 1991.
(Paperbound. ISBN:0-671-73488-1)
$14.00
Practical Bonsai (Lewis)
Trafalgar Square ( David & Charles ), 1993.
(Paperbound. ISBN:1-85223-661-2)
$8.95
Living Art of Bonsai (Liang)
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1992.
(Hardback. ISBN:0-8069-8780-4)
$35.00
Bonsai Basics (Pessey)
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1992.
(Paperbound. ISBN:0-8069-0327-9)
$9.95
Probably one of the better inexpensive basic books. A nice section on how trees grow.
Indoor Bonsai (Pike)
Trafalgar Square ( David & Charles ), 1991.
(Paperbound. ISBN:1-85223-254-4)
$15.95
Beginning Bonsai (Student)
Tuttle, Charles and Company Inc, 1992.
(Paperbound. ISBN:0-8048-1729-4)
$9.95
Bonsai
(Sunset)
Sunset Books.
(Paperbound. ISBN:0-376-03044-5)
$7.95
Masterpieces of Bonsai (Takayanagi)
Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
(Hardback. ISBN:0-87040-711-2)
$22.95
Bonsai: Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy
Written and illustrated by Deborah R. Koreshoff
Oregon : Timber Press, 1984.
ISBN 0-917304-68-3
This has an excellent section on the history and philosophy of bonsai, as well as descriptions of some techniques not found in many of the other books.
Adams, Peter. The Art of Bonsai. London: Ward Lock, 2nd edition 1990. Highly technical, very detailed opinions, not for beginners. A lot of information on Scotch pine.
Ainsworth, John. The Art of Indoor Bonsai. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing, 1989. (written in England) Overall, I consider this book fair. Some of the instructions are good, and the illustrated species guide is helpful, but the nomenclature is sloppy and the specimens illustrated are immature.
Barton, Barbara. Gardening by Mail; Fourth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1994. Directory of mail-order suppliers of seeds, plants, tools, etc.; also plant societies, magazines, and books. Updates available every few months for $2. Don't leave home without it.
Clark, Randy. Outstanding American Bonsai. Portland: Timber Press, 1989. Photographs and notes on the 1987 International Bonsai Congress exhibit in Minneapolis, which was the forerunner of the John Naka North American collection at the U.S. National Arboretum. I find it very inspiring. Three of the artists are members of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York, in Rochester. Currently available from Discount Garden Books, POB 8354, Portland, OR 97207.
Dreilinger, Sigmund, ed. Indoor Bonsai. Plants & Gardens, Brooklyn Botanical Garden Record, Autumn, 1990. Not much detail, except on a few selected species. Lots of interesting tips. A superficial list of indoor species; nomenclature fair.
Giorgi, Gianfranco. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Bonsai. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990. (written in Italy) A lot of information packed into a little paperback. Contains both a genus guide and an illustrated species guide, as well as background and history.
Hillier Nurseries. The Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 6th ed., 1991. A definitive encyclopedia of deciduous trees, conifers, vines, and bamboos hardy in the British Isles (meaning down to about Zone 9). Indispensable for correct identification and nomenclature.
Koreshoff, Deborah. Bonsai; Its Art, Science, History, & Philosophy. Brisbane: Boolarong Publications, 1984. Available from Timber Press. The Big Book; will give beginners indigestion. Wonderful reference. Contains everything. I really would not have bought it, since I can get it out of the library, but I had a chance to get it autographed, and my Favorite Co-dependent gave it to me for Mother's Day.
Lesniewicz, Paul. Indoor Bonsai. London: Blandford Press, 1985. (written in Germany). One of the best books on indoor bonsai.
Lewis, Colin and Sutherland, Neil. A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing & Displaying Bonsai. New York: Smithmark Publishers, 1993. (written in England) A very handy-dandy cookbook type book for beginners and advanced; good illustrations.
Owen, Gordon. The Bonsai Identifier. Secaucus: Chartwell Books, 1990. (written in England) Mainly an illustrated guide to growing & styling specific genera. Handy arrangement. Also contains tips and opinions on display.
Stein, Rolf (trans. from French). The World in Miniature: Container Gardens & Dwellings in Far Eastern Religious Thought. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990. Part of the material was first published in 1943. Absolutely fascinating book; Part I is about the spiritual origins of bonsai in China and southeast Asia. I got such a kick out of the suggestions from an interior decorator of the Ming Dynasty on how to display a viewing stone on your coffee table!
Stowell, Jerald. The Beginner's Guide to American Bonsai. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1978. Available in paperback. Some information outdated, but good reference on collected northeastern trees, especially apple, which is his specialty.
Tomlinson, Harry. The Complete Book of Bonsai. New York: Abbeville Press, 1990. (written in England) A good all-round beginner's book. The illustrated species guide and summary in the back are helpful.
Welch, Humphrey. The Conifer Manual, Volume I. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1991. Volume I contains a general introduction about conifers, a key, and latest complete nomenclature for all species and known varieties from Abies to Phyllocladus. Very helpful, but so far no sign of Volume II. You don't buy this one; it's for reference libraries.
Wu Yee-sun. Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants. Hong Kong: Wing Lung Bank, 1969. 2nd ed. 1976. No longer available, but try interlibrary loan. The 2nd edition is much better, with additional photographs in color. A photographic encyclopedia of Mr. Wu's collection, with a few trees by his friends. Mr. Wu is the leading exponent of the Clip-And-Grow school, and has been raising bonsai for 90 years. He donated a collection to the Montreal Botanical Gardens and one to the U.S. National Arboretum. Styling is very different from the Japanese.
Iris CohenI've spotted a couple of requests for info about Australian trees on the net but never seem to get the info back so I thought I'd post some out. I have a number of books produced here in Australia which give some helpful information, some exclusively Australian tree's, others mixtures.
Two books by a guy called Leonard Webber are quite helpful, From Rainforest to Bonsai published by Simon & Schuster Australia, ISBN 0 73180237 3 is good. Also by the same author Bonsai for the home and Garden published by Cornstalk Publishing which is an imprint of Collin Angus & Robertson Publishers, ISBN 0 207 150184 deals with some exotic and some native trees.
Books by Dorothy & Vita Koreshoff and published by Boolarong Publications have also been helpful, in particular Bonsai with Australian Native Plants ISBN 0 908175 66 3 but also You too can grow Bonsai, Bonsai in Australia ISBN 0 908175 63 9 although this book deals mostly with imported plants rather than natives. All of these will give some info on the kind of growing conditions experienced in this country. Some of our plants may have problems in colder climates but we do have some interesting cold weather plants especially the two main Nothofagus species in this country and plants such as Dacrydium franklinii (Huon Pine).
Another book which does not talk about Bonsai but is an invaluable reference on our plants is Australian Native Plants by John W. Wrigley & Murray Fagg and published by Angus & Robertson, ISBN 0 207 16685 4. I don't think it is exhaustive but it gives a lot of helpful information about a lot of plants. I hope this information is helpful to some of you. Also does anyone know much about growing Sequoia dendron giganteum, mine really seem to be quite marginal although Sequoia sempervirens are doing well here.
Croma Press, S.A.
Plaza de Honduras, 26
40022 Valencia
Spain
Phone: 34-6-3551999
| Prices ($US) | Title, Author and Publishing Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List | Member | Postage | ||
| 1. | 17.95 | 14.50 | 2.50 | The Art of Bonsai (Peter Adams) |
| 2. | 19.95 | 16.00 | 2.50 |
The Art of Indoor Bonsai (Ainsworth) David & Charles, 1989. (Hardback. ISBN:0-943955-11-4) Trafalgar Square (David & Charles), 1992. (Paperbound. ISBN 0-943955-58-0 $19.95) Good pages on basic techniques and basic ideas for growing indoors. 66 pages devoted to care and feeding of 33 species which work well indoors. |
| 3. | 9.95 | 7.95 | 2.00 | Beginning Bonsai (Shirley & Larry Student) |
| 4. | 49.95 | 40.00 | 3.25 | Bonsai (Koreshoff) |
| 5. | 35.00 | 28.00 | 3.00 | Bonsai (Susan Resnick) |
| 6. | 9.95 | 7.95 | 2.00 | Bonsai Basics (Pessey & Samson) |
| 7. | 29.95 | 25.00 | 2.00 |
The Bonsai Book (Barton) Trafalgar Square (David & Charles), 1990. (Hardback. ISBN 0-85223-742-1) |
| 8. | 17.95 | 17.95 | Paid | Bonsai Book of Practical Facts (Meyer) |
| 9. | 27.95 | 22.50 | 3.25 | Bonsai in Your Home (Paul Lesniewicz) |
| 10. | 14.95 | 12.00 | 2.50 |
Bonsai Masterclass (Chan) Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1993 (Paperbound. ISBN 0-8069-6763-3 $14.95) |
| 11. | 14.98 | 12.00 | 3.00 | Bonsai Step by Step Growing & Displaying (Lewis/Sutherland) |
| 12. | 16.95 | 13.50 | 2.00 | Bonsai Step by Step to Growing Success (Dave Pike) |
| 13. | 25.00 | 25.00 | Paid | Bonsai Techniques I (Naka) |
| 14. | 35.00 | 35.00 | Paid | Bonsai Techniques II (Naka) |
| 15. | 29.95 | 25.00 | 3.00 | The Bonsai Workshop (H. Gustafson) |
| 16. | 12.95 | 10.50 | 2.00 | The Bonsai Yearbook (Paul Goff) |
| 17. | 27.95 | 22.50 | 2.75 | Bonsai: The Complete Guide (Lesniewicz) |
| 18. | 14.00 | 12.00 | 2.50 | Bonsai: Trees & Shrubs (Perry) |
| 19. | Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Handbooks. Postage is 1.50 first and 0.50 each addl. | |||
| a) | 6.95 | 5.75 |
Bonsai for Indoors Sewall Company, 1991. (Paperbound. ISBN 0-945352-59-X) | |
| b) | 6.95 | 5.75 |
Bonsai: Special Techniques Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1992. (Paperbound. ISBN 0-945352-02-6) | |
| c) | 6.95 | 5.75 |
Bonsai: Dwarf Potted Trees | |
| d) | 6.95 | 5.75 | Japanese Gardens | |
| 20. | 29.95 | 25.00 | 2.50 | Chinese Bonsai (Lesniewicz) |
| 21. | 39.95 | 32.00 | 3.00 | Chinese Penjing (Hu) |
| 22. | 100.00 | 75.00 | Paid | Classic Bonsai of Japan (Nippon Bonsai Assoc.) |
| 23. | 35.00 | 28.00 | 3.25 | The Complete Book of Bonsai (Tomlinson) |
| 24. | 19.95 | 16.00 | 2.50 | The Creative Art of Bonsai (Samson) |
| 25. | 24.95 | 20.00 | 2.50 |
Four Seasons of Bonsai (Murata) Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990. (Hardback. ISBN 4-7700-1498-8) |
| 26. | 17.95 | 14.00 | 2.50 | The Grafter's Handbook (R. J. Garner) |
| 27. | 8.95 | 7.25 | 2.00 | Indoor Bonsai (Ainsworth) |
| 28. | 14.95 | 12.00 | 2.00 | Indoor Bonsai (Lesniewicz) |
| 29. | 16.95 | 14.00 | 2.25 | Indoor Bonsai: A Beginner's Guide (Pike) |
| 30. | 24.95 | 20.00 | 3.00 | The Japanese Art of Miniature Trees & Landscapes (Yoshimura & Halford) |
| 31. | 30.00 | 24.00 | 2.50 | The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation (Covello & Yoshimura) |
| 32. | 40.00 | 32.00 | 3.00 | Japanese Maples (Vertrees) |
| 33. | 35.00 | 28.00 | 3.25 | The Living Arg of Bonsai (Professor Amy Liang) |
| 34. | 29.95 | 24.00 | 3.25 | Miniature Living Bonsai Landscapes (H. Gustafson) |
| 35. | 29.95 | 20.00 | 2.00 | Outstanding American Bonsai (Clark) |
| 36. | 39.95 | 20.00 | 3.00 | Penjing: The Chinese Art of Miniature Gardens (Hu) |
| 37. | 29.95 | 25.00 | 2.50 | Popular Bonsai (Pike) |
| 38. | 14.00 | 12.00 | 2.50 | Simon & Schuster's Guide to Bonsai (Simon & Schuster) |
| 39. | 14.95 | 12.25 | 2.50 | Successful Bonsai Shaping (Adams) |
| *** | 45.00 | 36.00 | 2.50 | Bonsai, The Art & Technique (Young) |
| ??? | 24.95 | 20.00 | 2.00 |
Bonsai Design: Deciduous & Conifer Trees (Adams) Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1990 (Hardback. ISBN 0-7063-6836-3 143 p.) |
| ??? | 29.95 | 22.00 | 2.00 | Hagamos Bonsai (Botero) [Spanish Text] |
| ??? | 8.95 | 7.25 | 1.50 | Successful Bonsai Growing (Adams) |
| ??? | 75.00 | 60.00 | Paid | The World of Bonsai (Lesniewicz) |
| ??? | 14.95 | 12.00 | 1.50 | Bonsai: The Art of Training Dwarf Potted Trees (Brook. Bot. Gard.) [Video] |
Tiny Trees Book Sales
PO Box 5834
Hauppauge, NY. 11788-0170
Bonsai Today
Stone Lantern Publishing Co
P.O. Box 816
Sudbury MA 01776
(508) 443-7110
Subscriptions are $42 a year. 6 issues a year.
English translation of a Japanese magazine. Very detailed!
Bonsai -- Journal of the American Bonsai Society
Quarterly, ca. 30 pages
Annual membership fee: individual $18, student $11
Information: ABS Executive Sec. Box 358, Keene NH 03431
Bonsai Magazine
The official publication of Bonsai Clubs International
c/o Virginia Ellerman
2636 W. Mission Road #277
Tallahassee FL 32304-2556
USA
FAX - 904.864.1410
Six issues per year included with membershiip
Membership dues of $32.00 per year
International Bonsai
International Bonsai Arboretum
William N. Valavanis
Post Office Box 23894
Rochester NY 14692-3894
USA
(4/year; US $22; foreign $28; never read it; anyone?)
Editor's note: This is the most informative of the bonsai
magazines for beginners, and is recommended for the advanced
grower also.
Bonsai "Great Britian's Premiere Bonsai Magazine"
US Telephone: 800 842-5523
(4/year; US $23.95 introductory price; $7.60 sample; never read it)
Bonsai Actual
Croma Press, S.A.
Plaza de Honduras, 26
40022 Valencia
Spain
Phone: 34-6-3551999
Spanish translation of "Kindai Shuppan", Kyoto, Japan. Bimonthly. [I think it is the original translation of the japanese magazine, from which Bonsai Today is also derived. In fact, Bonsai Today is printed in Spain]
Bonsai Autoctono
Neagari Press, SCP
Plaza de Fray Luis Colomer, 3, A-3
46021 Valencia
Spain
Phone, Fax & Modem 34-6-362-51-78
Bonsai Creation
French translation of "Kindai Shuppan", Kyoto, Japan bimonthly. The publication of Bonsai Creation was stopped in 1992. Issues 1 through 12 were printed. [I'm sure it is a French translation of the Spanish translation of the Japanese magazine.]