The Art of Flowering Bonsai [Hardcover]

Peter D. Adams (Author), Bill Jordan (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

Helping a flowering bonsai to flourish takes something of an artist's touch. Everything from potting to cutting to feeding, to the glory of a flowering bonsai is here. Propagate bonsai from cuttings and seedlings, and the proper time to pot them. Pick the best shape for your particular plant and then begin one of the most important tasks: pruning your tree. This ensures the plant's design, and that light, water, and air will be spread evenly throughout, nourishing every root and branch. Diagrams detail exactly where to trim to redirect growth energy, create finer foliage texture, improve drainage, rejuvenate the root system, eliminate pests, and promote the growth of striking flowers. A special section explores fast-grown bonsai; other bonsai receive species-by-species coverage, with detailed instructions. Learn about seasonal care, feeding requirements, and pests and diseases that might afflict your breed.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Adams (Bonsai Designs, Sterling, 1996) is one of the world's leading bonsai experts and winner of numerous medals for his trees. This his seventh bonsai book could easily capture the imagination and interest of anyone with no previous interest in the topic. Flowering trees are not usually considered for bonsai, but they can be successful when specimens with small flowers and berries are selected. The 60 color photos are stunning, but the text is what makes this book a winner. Adams, an artist by training, illustrates his well-organized and clearly presented instructions with excellent line drawings. The first section covers terminology and general principles. In the second section, techniques for ten flowering trees are described in detail, including suggestions for container shape and color. If a bonsai book is in your future, this would be a good one to get.?Carol Cubberley, Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Ward Lock Ltd (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0706376250
• ISBN-13: 978-0706376258
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great 'how-to', July 19, 2001

By 

Steve, Northern Calif. "steveindavis" (Davis, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Flowering Bonsai (Hardcover)

Put this one in the category of a good 'hands-on' guide to bonsai, almost like having a master looking over your shoulder. The book offeres specific advice on care & pitfalls of ten popular species -- which is great -- but the part I value the most is the author's use of examples in showing how to create and re-design bonsai specimens.

He often begins either with carefully-selected nursery trees or with commercially produced pre-bonsai trees. This way, he tends to start with mature trunks and roots, and some branching. This is probably the best way to go when seeking to create a truly good bonsai specimen within a few years.

If you like this book, you'll probably also like Gustafson's "Bonsai Workshop," which has been particularly helpful to me with conifers, and which uses a similar project-related approach.

I'd put this book on my short list for any bonsai library, and would have given it five stars had it been longer and more detailed with general bonsai information. But fortunately, the information not found in "The Art of Flowering Bonsai" can easily be found elsewhere.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detail oriented and does a great job of explaining all facts, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Flowering Bonsai (Hardcover)

I have read many books on Bonsai from various sources. This one gave me very detailed explanations on specific trees/plants. Lot of details and pictures. This is not one of those books with a bunch of good pictures and little details. Well worth the purchase.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated and very helpful: 4.5 stars, November 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Jeffersonville, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Flowering Bonsai (Hardcover)

I highly recommend this book to other bonsai-ists. It's worth the price for the illustratons.