Chinese Elm

Originally imported from China, it is an unusual example of a twin trunk because both trunks are very powerful.
With the popularity of bonsai rapidly rising world-wide, Elms of this quality have been becoming very difficult to find.

SOLD

Hatanaka Black Pine

What a fantastic use of material!
These two trees were planted next to each other in the 1960’s and have been together for 50 years.

I have owned this specimen for the past 20 years and have maintained it by just pruning and pinching—this year it will get a complete re-wiring.

SOLD

Hatanaka Chinese Elm.

While the bulk of the Hatanaka collection consisted of juniper and pine, they also had a few pyracantha, elm, silverberry, and olive.

This Chinese Elm grown from a cutting is probably the oldest Chinese Elm in the country that wasn’t originally imported from China.

SOLD

Hatanaka Prostrata

The Prostrata is the tree that I most associate with Mr. Hatanaka.

This specimen was later refined by Kenji Miyata , and then most recently redesigned by Michael Levin.

I usually am an advocate for leaving the original tree shapes intact, but this one has a new wild look I am very pleased with.

SOLD

Hatanaka Prostrata

One of the smallest and nicest in the collection. Very delicate branching - a show piece!

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Hatanaka Prostrata

Just recently restyled by Guy Guidry.

Guy is one of the few contemporary artists whom I trust to work on my trees (Not that there aren’t great artists out there but these trees need to be preserved for their historic value and not turned into some abstract sculpture!)
The Hatanaka lines are very simple and traditional, maybe too old fashioned for many.

SOLD

Hatanaka Prostrata

A difficult piece to work with, just recently re-wired and now waiting for new growth.

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Hatanaka Shimpaku

Grown from a cutting, these old shimpaku’s are definitely some of the oldest in the country.

Mr Hatanaka was one of the few artists growing Shimpaku on their own wood: mostly you will find grafted kishu shimpaku on San Jose root stock.

SOLD

Hatanaka Shimpaku

Original Shimpaku Juniper from the Hatanaka collection. Repotted in Richard Robertson pot and part of the Bonsai West Collection since 1992.

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Hollywood Juniper

This tree has great memories. While purchasing it from the Hatanaka’s, they were each pruning it so it would fit in my van and as they worked quickly cutting and pruning, they started arguing with each other - and as they quarreled they pruned harder and created this masterpiece right in front of my eyes.

SOLD

Japanese Black Pine

A Semi-cascade Japanese Black Pine, originally imported as an informal upright and restyled over 10 years ago by Guy Guidry.

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Yamasaki Cork Pine

A great pine grown from seed in the early 1950’s by bonsai artist and friend Mr Yamasaki.

I’ve had this tree for almost 25 years and I think of it as a mascot - we are about the same age!

SOLD