Keep Your Bonsai Perfectly Shaped (Import) [Paperback]

Herb L. Gustafson (Author, Photographer), Lynn Boyd (Drawings), Judy Morgan (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1997

Noted bonsai artist Herb Gustafson provides advice on styling your tree with confidence and creativity. All the major styles are covered as he shows how to bring out the tree's essential trunk inclinations. Each style comes with its own methods about how to train, including pruning with the pinch-and-grow technique, training with wire, and container considerations, (knowing when it's time to transplant, and then what to do). 112 pages (all in color), 6 1/4 x 10 1/4.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co. (June 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806981342
• ISBN-13: 978-0806981345
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,341,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the wrong title., February 27, 2001

By 

James W. Wiggin III (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep Your Bonsai Perfectly Shaped (Import) (Paperback)

The title to this book might suggest that it is a practical guide to technique. Only the last 13 pages, however, are actually about technique. The first 94 pages explore each of the major bonsai styles, with careful attention being given to design considerations based on comparisons to trees in nature. As such, the book is less about "keeping" your bonsai perfectly shaped as it is about planning for its shape in the first place.

My more serious criticism about this book is that the photographs (especially the author's nature shots) are small and, in some cases poorly reproduced. I found it frequently difficult to convince myself that I could see what the author wanted me to see. Many of the photographs are not referenced in the text, and some of the references appear to be wrong.

All in all, however, it is a good book value and provides a detailed examination of bonsai styling.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Design Strategies, June 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keep Your Bonsai Perfectly Shaped (Import) (Paperback)

This book focuses on design strategies for bonsai enthusiasts. It is a wonderful, brief read. Photographs of natural-setting trees were poor, however, especially printed as they are in very small format. Photos of private bonsai trees were excellent. A good place to start for strategy in design.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for "General Knowledg", but lacking in content, June 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keep Your Bonsai Perfectly Shaped (Import) (Paperback)

I found this book to fair well in the category of "General Knowledge", but thought it needed a little more content. I now know all the different styles and basic wiring techniques but fail to find many of the pitfalls to training in some of the harsher styles.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a novice and lacks general knowledge, but would warn that there is much more to learn before attempting to train a bonsai tree.