Customer Reviews (2)

Excellant book for the serious bonsaist.
This is an excellant book for people familiar with the basics andwishing to move beyond "a shrub in a pot."Adams is a world class teacher of the art and science of bonsai, but his books are hard to get. They are worth the effort.

Wonderful drawings and his usual concise text.
As always, Peter has managed to say some new words about his first love which is bonsai.There are many helpful guidelines in this book that we can all use when designing our trees.Peter is a real genius at this task. ... Read more

Product Description
The best bonsai book on the market! A complete guide to the art of bonsai, from design and choosing the tree, to pruning, wiring and propagating. It offers precise step-by-step instructions on how to work with each of the 15 classic bonsai styles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Lots of good info
I'm new to Bonsai, and this is one of my first books on the subject.I'm happy to have it as a resource.

BONSAI (RD HOME HANDBOOKS
IT IS A VERY GOOD BOOK.
VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND, LOT'S OF COLORFUL PICTURES.
I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE.

Bonsai (RD Home Handbooks) by Harry Tomlinson
This is a great beginners handbook.I especially liked the covering pruning and wiring for beginners.It also has an excellent section of trees and what makes them candidates for good bonsais.

Excellent
This book is exactly what an aspiring Bonsai-ite needs. It explains pretty much every aspect of Bonsai in-depth, but never compromises the fact that it's all about what you're looking to get out of it.The pictures are a wonderful companion and the dictionary is perfect. Get this now!

great beginning bosai book
Good book, fairly straight forward but has a great list of acceptable bonsai species.Good book to take with you to shows, if you're new tobonsai and looking for new unfamiliar bonsai material. ... Read more

Product Description
An essential reference for growing indoor and outdoor bonsai.

The cultivation of tropical and subtropical species is setting a new trend among bonsai gardeners. This book features a wide range of bonsai styles and shapes, along with step-by-step instructions and illustrations that expertly guide the reader through the pruning and wiring techniques.

This easy-to-use book covers how to grow bonsai both indoors and outdoors, including building a collection, diseases and pests, cultivating, and propagation.

A major feature of Successful Bonsai is the illustrated A-Z list of bonsai species with descriptions of 80 plants, including 15 classic species. Each entry details complementary training styles, ideal sowing conditions for seedlings, tips on how and when to propagate cuttings, how and when to shape an established plant, and detailed cultivation instructions.

Informative and practical, Successful Bonsai is a superb source of inspiration that will instill confidence in the beginner and spark the imagination of the professional. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for starter
Full of information and beautiful pictures. Execellent reference book for beginner. Come to think about it, what else do you need to learn the art of bonsai? ... Read more

Product Description
The Japanese art of bonsai is practiced worldwide, but while basic techniques have been more or less effectively taught, many of the more intriguing ones, as well as recently invented ones, have not. THE SECRET TECHNIQUES OF BONSAI remedies this oversight with the thoughtful instruction of second and third generation experts.

SECRET TEACHINGS is by the author of the groundbreaking BONSAI WITH AMERICAN TREES, one of the first books to unveil the secrets of the trade. This time, Masakuni Kawasumi II teams up with his son, Masakuni III, to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai but secret techniques he has developed over years of careful work and observation. Masakuni III, the first qualified tree doctor for bonsai in Japan, adds his unique insights. Between them they offer over eighty years of experience.

The techniques are simple and intuitive, yet have been developed only after decades of practice and perfection. Detailed information is provided to start, nurture, and shape bonsai. A number of secret techniques are introduced for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike. The father-and-son team also delves into bonsai tool usage, another area of their expertise, giving the reader a clear sense of how to use specialized tools—or how to better use the garden and workshop tools they have at home. All these make this an invaluable book for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike.

*Growing bonsai from seedlings or cuttings
*Secret techniques and new shortcuts to better bonsai
*Techniques for shaping, pruning, training, grafting, and repotting
*Step-by-step photos
*Expert advice from Japan's first bonsai tree doctor
*Detailed advice for using numerous bonsai tools to perfect bonsai work ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Thorough
I bought this book at the same time as Bonsai (101 Essential Tips) by Harry Tomlinson and am very impressed. It gives lots of detail on how to do different techniques. Everything i need to know to get my Bonsai's going. I already have a Fig and am planning to start a Crepe Myrtle from a cutting (since they are running rampant at my house). I also want to do a Murraya, my Murraya cutting is growing well. I feel that this book will give me the knowledge i need to make great Bonsai.

care and love for bonsai
I raise Japanese Maples, many in containers, but not really bonsai. I found it such a loving presentation and writing about bonsai that a had to read the whole book. I liked the information too.

Serhat
Actually it was my first book about Bonsai. As I have some background with plant propagation I was very interested in the methods the book advises with very nice pictures and step by step growing etc.
But I believe, it not the perfect one for a beginner as it gives some supplementary information about bonsai on top of some basic knowledge. I could not find explanation about some basics like some more simple technics for growing, pruning and taking care.

Bonsai Secrets
The book was everything and more.Because of the book I bought Bonsai tools and am looking forward to starting my own plants.

Advanced
I do not recommendthis book to the beginner who is just getting into Bonsai care-taking. This is more of a comprehensive book explaining how to create, shape, and nurture Bonsai trees. This book is very well written for and advanced level Bonsai owner. It goes into detail about how to start Bonsai trees, wire them, how to pick out the right environment, etc.
So if you're beginning, I think you should pass this book by at first. If, however, you have been into Bonsai trees for a while, this is the book to go with. ... Read more

Product Description
Bonsai Life Histories is a detailed absorbing insight into the transformation of original plant material into exquisite bonsai trees. These 50 dramatic stories show how one bonsai expert has created "something out of nothing," recording the life histories of over 50 trees, both in photographs and descriptions that reveal the rewarding process of tending bonsai to maturity.

This instructive and useful book also includes information on:- origins of bonsai- getting started- what makes a good/bad bonsai- bonsai style- styling, pruning, refinement- tools, repotting, watering, feeding- training techniques- finding suitable plants- seasonal planner- guide to pruning and maintenance tasks through the year- bonsai in the garden- displaying bonsai- exhibiting bonsai- pests and diseases- glossary of terms

Bonsai expert Martin Treasure reveals a wealth of technical and horticultural knowledge and demonstrates his technique in bringing out the personalities of individual trees. Even non-enthusiasts will be intrigued by the stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Bonsai life histories
The book arrived on time and in perfect condiction.
Thank you.
Mr. Menendez.

Bonasi Book
I am new to working with the plants
thought the book would tell me care , planting , and answer my questions
but for me it did not.

Really Great Book
This is possibly the best and most inspiring bonsai book that I've ever had the pleasure of reading - and I've seen plenty!

It is an instruction book which shows in great detail by example how superb bonsai specimens are acheivable, with just a little patience.My trees are already looking better as a result of reading this!

Loads of great chapters complete this book, together with some really super colour pictures.

Truly Exceptional Bonsai Book
I just read Bonsai Life Histories and it is the answer to every bonsai enthusiasts dreams.It is truly exceptional.I have been looking for a book to span most of the bonsai experience spectrum and this fits the bill - and so so much more.

I own and operate a small bonsai retail store/nursery/studio and I teach classes for novices and more experienced growers here at the studio and am often asked for book recommendations.This one is at the top of the list.Even with my 14 years experience in bonsai, I found it very refreshing, as it teaches by example, rather than just instructing.

The author is both a skilled bonsai practitioner and an astute writer. Most books are blessed with one or the other (and a few have neither!).I appreciate this book and thoroughly recommend it.

The pictures speak a thousand words
If you are a student of bonsai and looking for basing information, then this is not a book for beginners.However, if you want to see how bonsai trees are styled and develop over time, then this will provide you with a lot of information.The pictures of the trees in development over the years are worth the price of the book. ... Read more

Product Description
So what exactly is "pop bonsai"? Bonsai like you've never seen before-a "freestyle" version, in fun containers, that reflects the author's breakaway approach to this ancient art.

Pop Bonsai involves taking a tiny seedling, trimming its branches and leaves, and wiring the trunk and branches to bend them into almost any style. The result: a living work of art, for next to no cost, to display as you like-in a ball of moss, on a can of beer, even in a pair of shoes or an eggcup! Naturally this does require some basic bonsai techniques, and advice on looking after plants. But in contrast to classical bonsai, where the aim is carefully to reproduce natural scenery in miniature, pop bonsai stresses the imagination and creativity of people living modern lives.

Throughout, Pop Bonsai takes a no-fuss approach. Almost any kind of tree or foliage plant can be used, and you're encouraged to grow it from scratch. Before starting, you are told what you should know about trees in general, with hints on choosing the right one for your purpose. Instructions on care and maintenance-soil, temperature, pruning, watering and fertilizers-are provided in a sensible, easy-to-follow way that should take the tension out of "gardening" even for those who have never tried it.

In your own home or on a balcony or at work, pop bonsai will let you enjoy the wonder of the changing seasons close-up, and remind you how precious and fragile life can be. But, cared for properly, your tree should live for decades. And in the process it will give you a taste of the enormous satisfaction to be gained from creating, and watching over, your own living work of art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

charming, useful little book
I loved this book - I just picked it up on a whim, and read it through several times.It's got a lot of great, innovative ideas; wonderfulpictures; and really helpful, practical tips.And the author's personality shines through.She takes a very non-traditional approach, but acknowledges her debt to the traditional styles, and the book doesn't come off as gimmicky.

I live in a house with a lot of people, and they all enjoyed it too - we ended up pretty bonsai-obsessed, and soon were turning everything into crazy living sculptures.HIGHLY recommended.

Very creative book
There are some very unique ideas in this book, Lisa's creativity shines through her beautiful displays.Get this book if you are looking for inspiration or ideas, or a new way to display some of your favorite trees.

Pop Bonsai
I loved this book. The pictures are adorable, it inspires great ideas, and it gives great information about bonsai trees. Its kind of informal and is more fun than function, so buy this book it for into bonsai but not extremely serious about it. ... Read more

Product Description
With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Was a Fathers Day Gift
Fantastic book my Husband loved it. Arrived quickly & in great condition. All in all was very happy with the purchase.

Almost everything I wanted
I was excited to see the title of this book, as I have hundreds of--probably one thousand--volunteer red Japanese maples (Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum') coming up in my yard. The book does give very clear directions on how to take a young maple (two or three years old) and shape it into a classic Bonsai shape, and there are several different styles.The instructions are clearly written and well illustrated.However, what I would like to have seen included additionally was something else that I know is also done, which is to take a somewhat more mature tree, of maybe seven or eight years old or more, which has not yet been trained at all, and to accentuate its idiosyncrasies. Still, for anyone who has access to young maples and is a novice to Bonsai (as I am), this book opens up a lot of possibilities. I am happy to have it.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples
Peter Adams book on Japanese Maples is invaluable to those who wish to grow or style this type of bonsai. His attention to detail and instruction is of the highest quality. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in growing any deciduous trees.

An excellent reference book
I was recommended this book by knowledgeable bonsai enthusiasts. The techniques Mr. Adams shares are well thought out and written in terms that are easy to grasp and understand. I found his book about the different Japanese maple species and bonsai husbandry very helpful in that he touches upon interesting horticultural aspects of why and how each of the techniques are used. This book is for someone who has good bonsai husbandry skills and experience, and is looking for more refined techniques in working with, styling and creating beautiful Japanese Maple Bonsai. I liked it very much.

For theAdvanced Bonsai Hobbyist
Mr Adams is a really thoughtful, pleasant, and eloquent person and this text reflects that. It is well written and thoughtfully arranged to convey his impressive knowledge base. The bonsai design information is very useful for the advanced bonsai hobbyist. Above all, the great value of the book is the knowledge of this species and the value of patience and planning. It is a very useful addition to a sophisticated bonsai library. It would be particularly useful for a club or organization to share with members. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bonsai techniques that even I could understand
I found this book very interesting and informative.As a novice, I found this book an interesting source for styling ideas and techniques.The book is written in an easy to read format and in language even the beginner canunderstand.All in all I found this to be a very worth while book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Handy, quick and easy
Easy for a new Bonsai enthusiast to go thru this and see how things are done.Pictures are wonderful, and information is easy to understand.Great size, too.

An inspiring little treasure.
Bonsai Miniatures offers a refreshing alternative to the fairly large bonsai that often require two people to move them and an equally large porch or patio on which to grow them.The miniature bonsai (some as small as two inches in height) depicted in Zeko Nakamura's book open a whole world of possibility to those budding bonsai aficionados who have only a small deck on which to grow plants and who don't want to launch into a major undertaking.

Aside from creating miniature bonsai out of the standard bonsai plants such as cypress and Japanese maple, Nakamura suggests looking at other possibilities:a common houseplant, a garden perennial or even a dandelion.In this 62-page book, just enough information is provided to successfully create miniature bonsai, yet without overwhelming the reader with a lot of technical detail; the diagrams are equally sufficient.Finally, the numerous color photos (31 in all) found throughout serve as inspiration ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Detailed book easily understood by beguiners
Book depicts and explains theories and practices in handling a bonsai tree. It is written in really nice and easily understandable language. Definitive must have

Muddled Explanations Spoil an Informative Book
As a complete beginner I thought that this book would be the perfect way to get into bonsai.While it does seem to have been written by a couple of very experienced people, I had trouble finding any real step-by-step descriptions.They seem to bounce around too much and even after several passes through the book, I still don't feel like I have a firm grasp of the full process (which they advertise as the point of the book).I would suggest looking elsewhere.The book may be a complete source of bonsai information, but I was left confused as I found myself repeatedly flipping back and fourth looking for information that should have been grouped together.

Excellent for beginners and as a resource guide
This is a very well written guide to starting and caring for your Bonsai.Once I get this mastered I would like to get the Master School Books.

Just the basics
This book is great for beginners.It is explains different styles and has illustrations as well as descriptions.The techniques it uses are valid.My only concern was that this book tends to over simplify things.Taking cuttings is one example.The book suggests that this is the best way to get stock.Anyone that has ever tried to take cuttings realizes the falacy in that.

Bonsai Basics
As a bonsai enthusiast (NOT master!), I have been designing bonsai for several years, and have acquired a few dozen books on the subject. Personally, I was unimpressed with this book. While it had some valid information, I noticed incorrect techniques photographed (trees with wire cutting in to the bark, or having wire scars). I didn't find the book particularly helpful. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Great
This is a great book--lots of valuable information, pictures, and info and different species of bonsai. Practical.

outstanding
I think this book is excellent. Although the trees are native to Europe, most of the advice applies perfectly to people in temperate North America. Scots Pine, yew, spindle, beech, hawthorn, apple, willow etc... all species are covered in detail with info on training, pests, propagation, etc.... Definitely not just for Europeans, anyone in the Eastern U.S. and most of Canada will find this very useful. Great photos, too!
-j

"Native" applies to Europeans
This is an excellent -- and useful -- book for those who wish to use native trees for their bonsai.However, to get the best benefit from it, you need to live in Europe, since the 'natives' are from that continent. ... Read more

Product Description
"This authoritative work covers the techniques and art forms of bonsai. Most medium and large-sized libraries should consider for purchase."--Library Journal. "A book as elegant and precise as its subject....Lush color...itself a work of art"--Publishers Weekly.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Helpful
Great detailed instructions on growing, training and styling bonsai maple trees. Excellent pictures and graphics. He covers several different techniques, some I had never seen discussed anywhere else. Good discussion of the general cultural conditions specific to maples. Suitable for any experience level.

One of the best
I have the 1985 hard back edition of this book. It is one of the mainstays in my library. I have been doing bonsai for about 15 years and refer to this book often. The apendices are extremely helpful. They list a large number of trees and shrubs and tell when each should be repotted, wired, fed, pruned, etc. This is a must for anyone who has a variety of different specimens. You just can't remember it all. The pictures are beautiful and helpful for ideas on how to do your bonsai. I'm ordering this copy for my son-in-law who wants to begin the art of bonsai. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover How To Create Masterful Bonsai Trees Using The Secrets Of Bonsai Master Growers…

Learn how to start and grow your own bonsai without spending hours perfecting your craft using simple, proven strategies and secrets…

Are you ready to find out how to grow bonsai quickly and easily, without spending hours struggling over concepts?

Are you even aware of the health benefits bonsai have to offer? Here is a fact…

For centuries, royalty and members of exclusive organizations have cultivated bonsai to bring joy, prosperity and luck into their lives. These ancient secrets are now available for all to enjoy…

Each year thousands of people adore the beauty of bonsai trees. Most however, fail to pursue their desires for growing bonsai, because they fear the work involved may not be easy.

Truthfully, once you discover the secrets of bonsai, growing aesthetically appealing bonsai trees is easy. You can learn how to grow and cultivate your bonsai in less than one day!

Join the ranks of bonsai masters… simply and easily!

Discover The Secrets Of Bonsai Experts And Build Your Bonsai Garden One Tree At A Time

There is a myth going around suggesting bonsai is a complicated craft only a “master” gardeners or horticulturists can master.

Let me let you in on a little secret. Anyone can grow bonsai. You do not have to be a master bonsai artist… you just have to know a few tricks and secrets of the “bonsai masters”.

You deserve to be a bonsai master in your own right. So find out how, in less than two minutes.

Anyone, even someone without a green thumb, can find a species of bonsai that will work well with their personality, skill level and ability.

Are you interested in growing bonsai, but short on talent and time?

No worries!

You are about to discover the secrets of bonsai, a sequential tutorial that will show you how to grow dozens of different species of bonsai simply and easily.

Create a professional bonsai garden without paying professional prices.

Interested in advancing landscaping to the next level? Then why not give The Beginner’s Guide To Bonsai a try?

In just thirty minutes (depending on how fast you read a book), you can learn everything you need to start growing your first bonsai tree. You can download your copy in just two minutes.

There is tons of information on bonsai gardening on the Net. However, much of it is confusing for the novice bonsai artist.

If you are someone that wants to create beautiful bonsai, but are skeptical of your ability, fear no more. The answer is but a click away!

Here is a small sample of what you will learn when you enjoy this enlightening guide…

* * What a “bonsai” tree really means and how easy it is to create bonsai from the trees living in your backyard…

* * The #1 species of tree suited to beginning bonsai masters… a species so hardy, you are guaranteed bonsai mastery…

* * How to feed, water, prune and repot almost any species of bonsai with care and ease, so you and your bonsai can live together in peace…

* * What terms like defoliation, pruning, and finger pruning mean, and how you can put them to work for you…

* * How to choose the best bonsai tree for your home or garden, one that will thrive no matter the climate you live in…

* * How to grow a bonsai from scratch or buy a small bonsai and keep it hardy, and hand it down from generation to generation…

* * And MUCH MUCH MORE!

Join the exclusive ranks of “bonsai masters” without spending years learning how to perfect your art. ... Read more

Product Description
• Plant gallery shows 55 species of trees, shrubs, and woody plants adapted to bonsai culture

• Ideas to display and design bonsai to fit existing home decor and gardens

• Details several bonsai styles as well as techniques for dwarfing and training to bonsai form

• Dozens of tips for seasonal care, including how to maintain, water, fertilize, prune, and shape ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Review: Ortho's "All About Bonsai"
A very good book for anyone with an interest in cultivating bonsai. This book's no non-sense appoach coupled with its "readability" make it a great choice!

A little bit of everything
This book is definitely over-rated by others (my opinion).However, I would agree with a couple of reader's comments that some of the pictures are good, but the discussion on the topics of bonsai are too general (and kind of shallow indeed).If anyone would like to know about or even start a bonsai, I would recommend a better substitute: Bonsai (101 Essential Tips) that costs less than $5.00.

Helped my skills grow as well as my trees....
Of several of the bonsai books I have purchased, this is excellent.Photography is wonderful, line drawings and instructions are excellent.The text is excellent and good reading instruction for novice to more skilled bonsai grower.

Learn Bonsai Techniques
"This book shows step-by-step growing and training techniques, how to choose bonsai styles and tools, and it provides a comprehensive guide to plant selection. 'Learn the secrets of pruning, shaping, watering, and care requirements to ensure success with your miniature landscape in a pot.'" (summary by South Texas Library System)
These miniature landscapes have always fascinated me. They are a work of art. In the plant gallery, it shows 55 species of trees, shrubs, and woody plants suitable for bonsai use. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

A great book to introduce a beginner to Bonsai
I found this book a wonderful read. Excellent information, not too lengthy in detail but concise and intelligent. No information overload. Just the very thing to get a beginner interested in starting Bonsai. Sound techniques and a very friendly read throughout.The sections are well laid out and in my opinion, the book acts like a teacher of Bonsai was just behind me when I am working on my Bonsai. I have been keeping Bonsai for two years now and this was exactly the kind of book I was looking for-a book to take me from the elements to intermediate. I have seen this excellent teacher twice now and I have been inmpressed with his teaching abilities. This is clear in his writing. Succinct, to the point and no faffle! This beautifully illustrated book must obviously make one or two other Bonsai writers very jealous.

A very good Bonsai Book
This book is excellent when it comes to giving beginners to Intermediate growers information on basic techniques. I am a Bonsai grower of nearly ten years and I wanted to review this book after reading some of the other reviews. Its clear that Craig Coussins has worked to keep such information at the introduction level and he succeeds extremely well. His section on watering, for example, does not cover bad, old fashioned techniques such as full pot immersion, which, on most trees, disturb the soil and cause damage to the fine feeder roots that need to develop in a Bonsai. He discusses proper soil requirements for most types of Bonsai. And their various needs. In a simple way and not a complicated way, unless you find such things complicated of course. He uses clear and well-tried techniques to explain the best way forward. He can not cover all species in such a book of course, after all who can, but he goes a long way towards this by explaining the general techniques for most popular species in many climates. His understanding of techniques can be applied to both indoor and outdoor trees and he discusses that in some detail. His second book, Totally Bonsai is very much a beginner's book and works well, in addition to Bonsai for Beginners which is designed to take the beginner from start to intermediate standard. Apart from being a reference book it is also a very will planned book and easy to follow and easy to read. I can not wait for his next book, Bonsai School, that he mentions on his web site.

Somewhat disappointing at best.
I found this book to be somewhat disappointing at best. The positive reviews that other people wrote were misleading. This book should certainly not receive 5 out of 5 stars! I myself am a beginner to bonsai, and found this book to be quite unacceptable in terms of actually instructing the beginner. In fact, after purchasing this book I was immediately inclined to go purchase another book that had more explicit instructions for different bonsai.

First off, this book contained detailed information on only a few species of trees. In general, the information presented is put out in such away that it implies all deciduous trees and all coniferous trees should be treated the same way. It doesn't even mention tropical trees, which is what I have found beginners should really be focusing on in terms of learning the basic skills required to care for a tree with a dormancy period.

Second, this book contains information that is in no way aimed towards a beginner in bonsai. The different case studies in this book include planting established bonsai in forest-like groups, performing extremely severe pruning on established trees, grafting, etc. None if this stuff is at all basic, and therefore should not be included in a book that is sopposedly geared towards beginners

Finally, this book contains information that is very poorly presented. There are certain sections of parts of the book which don't even explain what they are talking about. Coussins will explain basic procedures to complicated processes of which the reasoning for performing the procedure is not even explained. Basically, I don't even know what he is doing and why; he will explain the process, briefly, despite this. Additionally, he does not even discuss the immersion method of watering, which is the most convenient method of watering indoor plants. This is indicative of his complete lack of thouroughness on writing about bonsai.

This book does contain some great pictures, and SOME basic procedures to basic principles. However, Coussins leaves out a great deal of necessary information, and includes information that is in no way necessary; i found a good deal of this book to be completely useless to me as a beginner in bonsai. I could not recommend this book to anyone who is beginning bonsai.

The nicest book I have read about Bonsai
"Now and again in Bonsai, or indeed any other art form, comes along someone who not only knows how to do this art but also, and more importantly, knows how to teach this art."

Bonsai for Beginners is much more that a simple beginners book. It takes you form the beginners points of reference up to intermediate standard in Bonsai. I am a beginner to intermediate grower and I was astonished at the breadth of information in this truly wonderful book. It is the most lavishly illustrated book on the subject that I have seen and I was riveted to the pages as it is a very easy to follow text. The step by step is practical in every sense and the subject matter made me want to go out and try them immediately.
Now and again in Bonsai, or indeed any other art form, comes along someone who not only knows how to do this art but also, and more importantly, knows how to teach this art. Craig Coussins is such a person and I would heartily recommend his writing to anyone that truly wishes to understand the subject.

r42thebar@aol.com
Bonsai for Beginners is a superb book written by someone that obviously knows their subject. Unlike many other Bonsai books, this book shows you through many examples methods of achieving excellent results from this `art'. The photographs are simply amazing and I have never seen so many in a Bonsai book before. There are close on approaching 450 in this volume and while there is a lot of text, the text is easy to read and follow. In fact, I found myself sitting down and reading what I thought was a reference book. The quality of the writing is almost novel in its structure and very riveting. If you want to know how to make Bonsai then this is, without any doubt, the book for you.As you develop your Bonsai skills, you go to some of the slightly more advanced sections such as taking a cascade style, where the Bonsai foliage is cascading down over the pot and below the table and turning it upside down to make a wonderful informal upright tree shape. You really have to see this to appreciate it. The core of this book is its excellent series of step-by-step photographs covering all the techniques such as potting, pruning and root pruning, subjects that usually scare the pants of many a beginner. Scattered throughout the book are many wonderful examples of Bonsai from Craig Coussins own collection and prize specimens from a number of other Bonsai collections.

Craig Coussins shows you in a clear and concise way all the techniques that fill you with confidence to try these techniques for yourselves. Not only a `best buy' but also a truly necessary purchase if you are interested in Bonsai. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book is disappointing
This book is disappointing. Although a lot of Bonsai topics are covered
there is not any real depth to the material. This is too bad as I think
the author of the book has a lot more knowledge on the topic as is coming
through in this work.

Although I bought this book I had to purchase others to get the
answers I was looking for. My favorite book at this point is "The Art of
Natural Bonsai" by Dave Joyce. ... Read more