1. Five-Needle Pine

Imported from Japan.
I acquired this tree from the collection of a Japanese Bonsai Master.
The tree has been trained in the traditional informal upright style and has a beautiful sweeping lower branch that will be shortened in time.

When I think of classical Japanese bonsai this is the image I have.
Purchased from the grandchildren, this tree is well over 100 years old.

$9500

Black Pine, restyled by Michael Levin, January 2009

The tree in 2007

2. Hatanaka Black Pine

Mr and Mrs Hatanaka lived in Orange County CA, and were part of a small circle of Japanese American bonsai artists.
The Hatanakas created some of the finest bonsai specimens of their day, and even contemporary bonsai artists such as Kenji Miyata recognize the Hatanakas as among this country’s finest artists.

This black pine with its sinuous trunk is an excellent example of Mr. Hatanaka’s work.

This year's restyling of my most favorite pine entailed changing the front completely, 180 degrees! . . . I guess it's true that one should find the front by first finding the back.

I am pleased with my results - and it will have its potting angle changed as well when I repot in the spring.

I had about 3 months to decide what shape pot would best suit its new style - this one works quite well!

NOT FOR SALE

3. Gingko Forest

This Gingko Forest was a special find. It was created on the West coast by one of the Japanese old timers (do we have a name?)

It has a great balance and depth and is a welcome addition to our collection.

SOLD

4. Juniper (possibly foemena?)

I was fortunate to acquire this formal upright tree from Suthin Sukosolvisit during the summer of 2008.

It's an unusual cultivar of needle juniper - possible feomina.
While its original provenance is unknown, it is clearly very old.

I just finished wiring it this winter and it has instantly become another favorite. 

Wired January 2009 by Michael Levin.

$3750 

Rewired by Michael Levin, January 2009

the tree in 2007/2008

5.Hatanaka Black Pine

Rewired January 2009.

Another unusual Hatanaka piece.
The three main branches emerge from the base in a clump style.

The original composition included a long two- foot jin that extended past the long sweeping lower branch.

This shallow Chinese pot has served its purpose for the past 15 years but the tree will go into a slightly larger more traditional pot this spring.

SOLD

rewired by Michael Levin in January, 2009

Fall 2007

6. Hatanaka Black Pine.

Mr Hatanaka was this country's leading expert on black pines.

When I first met him in 1983, his nursery was filled with hundreds of pines - many in huge wooden boxes and sold as landscape trees.

All of these pines were started from seed in the early 1950’s.

The burl at the base of the trunk is an unusual natural feature of this tree.

$8,500.00

7. Black Pine

This Black Pine was originally grown in Northern California and has excellent bark characteristics.

I wired it this winter and pruned hard, getting it ready for a good 2009 growing season.

SOLD

8. Hinoki Cypress

This old Hinoki originated in California and was grown by Mr and Mrs Planting. I love this tree!

I would have enjoyed developing it a little longer but it just sold, but it's worth showing the image just the same!

SOLD

9. Hatanaka Hollywood Juniper.

These old Hatanaka Juniper are of great historic importance because they are the oldest things alive today tell the story of the beginnings of bonsai in this country.

This old Hollywood is a fine example of Mr Hatanaka’s skill.

$20,000.00

10. Marata Hollywood Juniper

Mr. Marata was another great bonsai artist, one of a small group who became the founding fathers of the California Bonsai Society during the 1960’s.

This Twin Trunk Hollywood is a very powerful example of the work that was being done at that time.

SOLD

11. Alberta Spruce Grove

This forest planting stands 4 feet high and represents a natural new england  landscape. Extremely winter hardy this planting could stay out all year with just a little protection from the wind.

SOLD

12. Hatanaka Black Pine

A well-loved Hatanaka Black Pine, rewired by Michael Levin in January 2009.

This tree was once restyled by Walter Pall during one of his early trips to the U.S. with Jim Doyle.

The European bonsai trend is to create wild-looking trees mostly out of the top half of the tree while the Hatanakas were classical students of John Naka and preferred simple Japanese design.

To Walter: I think these American trees were too balanced; you added a whole new dimension.

But in the end its all a matter of personal taste.  . . .

$4500

13. Hatanaka Prostrata

Classical Mrs. Hatanaka - notice how the tree is wider than tall.
This more than anything was her signature.

(enquire)

14. Hatanaka Prostrata

Extreme Hatanaka. (Mrs Hatanaka)

Eventually the lower branch will be shortened but I am still enjoying its unconventional design - anyone can cut a branch, but it would take 50 years to grow it back.

Not For Sale

A Hatanaka Raft.

I think it's my favorite - I have a photo from the 1975 Bonsai in California Magazine when it was only 25 years old.

Great example of the Hatanaka’s genius .

$23,000.00

16. Hatanaka Prostrata Juniper

Classic Mr. Hatanaka, perfection!!

The closest tree to what is currently being done in Japan a true American masterpiece worthy of any botanical garden in the world.

$20,000.00

17. Hatanaka Prostrata

Great old tree by Mr. Hatanaka.
I purchased this off his own private bench - he told me this was one of his first trees, started from a cutting just after WWII.

$18,000.00

It looks very different in a rectangular pot! (November 2009)

18. Hatanaka San Jose Juniper

Another one of my old ones and definitely one of my favorites.
I often wonder: if I had to take only one tree with me, might this be the one?

$5,500.00

Dawn Redwood, rewired January 2009

Redwood, Summer 2007

The Tree in 1992

19. Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia)

Started from a raw piece of nursery stock in 1992, this has been a wonderful transformation over the years.

It is a tree I can truly say is mine because of the many years I have spent building it, but I can't take full credit.
Both Guy Guidry and Graham Potter from England have added their masterful touches to the wood carving on the main trunk.

SOLD

20. Yamasaki Japanese Maple

My oldest Japanese Maple and one of the first trees in my collection originally grown by Mr Yamasaki of Auburn, CA.

I have some of my earliest bonsai memories with Mr Yamasaki. He was a pioneer and founding father of bonsai in this country.
This tree captures his wild spirit - and the way trees grow in nature.

NOT FOR SALE

21. Hatanaka Prostrata

Work in progress - just recently pruned hard and repotted.

$3,500.00

22. Korean Hornbeam

(See also on Hornbeam Page, hb1056)

Collected from the mountains imported from Korea.
Extremely rare and old, most yamadori hornbeams are in private collections and it has become increasingly difficult to acquire one with this age and character.

$3000

23. Hatanaka Prostrata

Guy Guidry thinks this is the best Hatanaka in the collection - but it's too hard for me to judge - You decide!

(... the tree definitely needs a haircut!)

$12,000.00

24. Korean Hornbeam

Beautiful twin trunk-imported from the mountains in Korea Part of the Bonsai West collection since the early 1990’s
. This tree stands just under 3 feet tall. Excellent specimen bonsai.

SOLD

26. Montezuma Pine

A rare and special specimen, shown here in two views.

This tree has true exhibition quality.
Perfect untouched bark, excellent nibari and great attention to detail on all of its branches.

You can tell that this tree has been well loved its whole life.

$3500

27. Hatanaka Shimpaku Juniper

Old Hatanaka specimen; part of the Bonsai West collection since 1985.

This old Shimpaku is grown on its own wood. Unlike so many of the grafted trees coming out of California, this Shimpaku was started from a cutting in the very early 1950’s

A great American masterpiece.

$10,000

28. Hatanaka Prostrata

Another tree by Mrs Hatanaka.

Notice the width-to- height ratio: it's very unusual to have such short, fat and wide trees.

$8,500.00

29. Huge Redwood Forest

Too many trees to count!

One of the most admired trees in the collection.
Planted in a hand made container by a local artist

NOT FOR SALE

30. Hatanaka prostrata

I recently removed the lower branch and saved all the dead wood.
I think of it as the Dragon Tree (I wonder if Nick Lenz would approve of the carving!}

SOLD

31. Hatanaka Prostrata

Literati Style

This old prostrata has been around!

First grown as raw material by the Hatanakas, I once had styled it as a wind-swept tree.

Colin Lewis acquired it and repotted it as an informal upright.

I bought it back, and Glen Lord just finished this most recent restyling as a literati.
Well done Glen!

It'll be ready this spring for a nice pot.

  $2375

32. Hatanaka Prostrata

A younger tree, only about 30 years old, from a second generation of trees.

$3,200.00

33. Hatanaka Pyracantha

While the Hatanakas were known mostly for their Black Pines and Junipers, in the early 1980's there were always a number of unusual pieces. This Pyracantha is one of them.

Certainly one of the oldest Pyracantha Bonsai in America.

$8,500.00

34. Shimpaku Juniper

Yet another Hatanaka piece.

One of the oldest Shimpaku Juniper in the country!
I particularly love the sinuous movement along the trunk and beautiful full canopy of foliage. (Do I dare say "another American masterpiece"?)

$6500

35. Korean Hornbeam

(See also on Hornbeam Page, hb90)

At 16 inches of height, this monstrous Yamadori epitomizes the contemporary aesthetic of bonsai, both artists' and collectors'.

$5000

36. Hatanaka Shimpaku

Another original old Hatanaka Shimpaku grown from a cutting.

Restyled in 1997 by Guy Guidry: a great collaboration!

$6,500.00

37. Hatanaka Shimpaku

Very old and well grown, waiting for a complete rewiring.

$11,500.00

38. Hatanaka Shimpaku

Very old Shimpaku grown on its own wood. Started from cuttings after WWII from a group of Mr. Hatanaka's original works.

$10,500.00

39. Hatanaka Black Pine

This 65 year old Black pine was originally from the hatanaka collection.
Colin Lewis worked on it in a 2005 demonstration and I just recently rewired it in 2008.

It is maturing into a fine classical bonsai.

$6500

September 2008

September 2007

40. Hatanaka Shimpaku

Collected California Juniper with grafted Kishu Shimpaku.

One of the first American yamadori bonsai, estimated at well over 400 years old and expertly grafted by Mr. Hatanaka.

This tree was most recently displayed at the First National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, October 2008, as part of the Bonsai West collection. It was especially nice to spend so many hours brushing the bark and refining the dead wood-getting to know my tree much more intimately

$25,000.00

41. Trident Maple

(See also on Trident Maple Specimen Page, tm83)

This large Trident Maple was originally imported from Korea in 1999, and is the last of the old ones that I have.

We have been keeping it well pruned and now it exhibits nice structure and fine twiggy branches. 

$5500

42. Hatanaka Shimpaku,
grafted

Collected California Juniper yamadori.
Estimated age: over 300 years old and grafted with Shimpaku during the 1970’s by Mr Hatanaka. Excellent example of native American bonsai material.

$14,000.00

43. Hinoki Cypress

One of my first bonsai, acquired from Carl Young in 1983. I was just a kid then!

The original tree is on the left; the image on the right was taken in October of 2009 after several hours of cleaning it up.

What a difference!

SOLD

44. Trident Maple

This trident maple was originally imported from Korea in 1998. Great caliper on the trunk and nice canopy of foliage.

$1850

45. Maruyama Japanese Maple

This hard to find Japanese Maple was purchased in California from Mr Maruyama.
It has excellent fall foliage and an unusual variegation to the leaf in summer.

$1850

46. Hollywood Juniper

A work of art by California artist Shig Mia.
Shig: if you are still doing bonsai I want to tell you this is my favorite tree!

Notice how the trunk has been perfectly hollowed out from age.

$8,500.00

47. Ishii Shimpaku

Mr Ishii is still practicing his art in southern California. This is one of a few of his pieces I purchased in 1984, before he became an international star.

$5,000.00

48. Ishii Shimpaku

This original Mr Ishii masterpiece has perfect pads of foliage. This grafted juniper is Shimpaku on San Jose: the San Jose for craggy bark and the Shimpaku for soft green foliage.

Mr Ishii is known throughout the bonsai world as one of the best grafters of Shimpaku.

$5,500.00

49. Ishii Shimpaku

My first specimen bonsai, originally purchased from Mr. Ishii in 1983.

The tree was 25 years old then and I wasn’t much older. Who would ever have imagined another 25 years would go by that quickly?

NOT FOR SALE

Restyled by Michael Levin, January 2009

Restyled by Colin Lewis, September 2007

2006

50. Japanese Black Pine

Exposed root style, originally imported from Korea.
Michael Levin rewired this tree in January of 2009.

The tree had previously been worked on by Colin Lewis during our 25th Anniversary Fall Open House in September 2007.

This is a great example of a seldom-seen style in contemporary design. The exposed root style bonsai was very popular during the early 1900’s.

$9,500.00

51. Hatanaka Black Pine

Another classic Hatanaka Black Pine that has been part of the Bonsai West collection since 1985.
This was one of my first trees purchased from Mr. Hatanaka and it is clearly one of the best.

These Black Pines are among the oldest American Bonsai of this species in the country.

$6500

52. Nick Lenz Korean Hornbeam

(See also on Specimen Hornbeam page, hb91).

Nick Lenz is one of America's finest Bonsai artists (if not the most eccentric!)

He morphed this ancient, collected hornbeam into a bear.

$2500

53. Japanese Maple

Originally from the Nagatoshi Collection.
Purchased from Roy Nagatoshi in 1998 this tree was originally used as a mother plant for all of their cuttings and grafting stock.

A beautiful cultivar and excellent tree

$5000

54. Japanese Five Needle Pine

This hundred-year-old specimen was originally imported from Japan and is one of the oldest of its kind in the country.

$12.000.00

55. Hatanaka Prostrata Juniper

This is another of my oldest Hatanaka Prostrata Juniper.

This 65 year old tree has been in the bonsai west collection since the early 1980’s.
I love the sinuous movement in the trunk

$4500

Summer 2009

Winter 2008/9

56. Japanese Maple

(see alson on Japanese Maple Specimen page, jm15)

Great old imported Japanese maple!

It is still recovering from a wound at its base, but time heals everything. Already the wound is much less noticeable this year.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could find an old tree like this in your local garden center? Makes you want to move to Japan ...

$7500

57. Nick Lenz Cedar

Collected Eastern white cedar.

Originally part of the Nick Lenz collection this magnificent specimen was collected off the shore of Lake Champlain in the 1960’s.

Excellently trained by Nick Lenz for the past 40 years, it is now one of the prizes in the Bonsai West Collection

Not for sale

58. Nagatoshi Shimpaku

This beautiful Shimpaku Juniper has been in Roy Nagatoshi’s family for the past 40 years.

An elegant tree.

$3,750.00

59. Nick Lenz Larch

A great example of the way trees grow on the coast in the North East.

Everyone comments on how eccentric Nick Lenz'S styles of bonsai that create are - however, one trip up the coast of Maine shows you how he got his inspiration.

An American masterpiece.

SOLD

60. Trident Maple Forest Planting

A grouping made from old trident maples originally purchased from Roy Nagatoshi.
Very nice arrangement, and developing a nice canopy.

$2750

61. Nick Lenz Larch

Another Nick Lenz classic. This two-tree Larch was originally collected over 40 years ago, and is a great example of North American yamadori . Take a close look at the trunk and you can see a little porcelain doll that has become embedded inside.

Who says bonsai can't have signatures!

Not for sale

62. Kogi Black Pine

Another large Black Pine from the Kogi collection.

This one is a favorite because of its size and power.

It's also well over 50 years old, and has been refined by Guy Guidry and Michael Levin for the past 10 years.

$5,500.00

63. Japanese Maple

I think we can all agree that this is a one-of-a-kind Japanese Maple. 

Grown in the Clump style and very meticulously wired, creating beautiful tight branching pads. I'm looking forward to photographing it this in the spring with its new leaves!

Sold

64. Hatanaka Silverberry

(Elaeagnus commutate)

The Hatanakas had some interesting trees besides conifers.
This is another one of their masterpieces.
This Silverberry has to be one of the oldest of its kind in America.

$8500

65. Japanese Black Pine

This large Cascading Pine, grown from seed in the very early 1950's, was part of the Kogi Pine collection that Guy Guidry and I purchased in 1999.

Guy originally styled this in 2000. I refined it this winter, and the additional work has turned it into a great specimen.

$4500