Product Description

Customer Reviews (17)

Indoor Bonsai for Beginners
An excellent book for beginners.I especially liked the description given to different plants; as it indoor position, care, and training.

Great book for beginners
This is a very good book for those just starting with the art of bonsai.The text is clear and concise.Photos are clear and beautiful.Instructions and illustrations are presented in an easy to follow manner. There is even a section in the back of the back (an A to Z of species)that describes the level of expertise needed for each species of plant so you can begin with a level you can handle.

I would highly recommend this book, even to someone more advanced.

Indoor Bonsai For Beginners
I was looking for an instructional book on Bonsai.As I am a total beginner, I did not find this book useful for step by step instruction.However, if I was past this initial stage of beginner, it is useful for care advice on specific plants.

Bonasi Book
I am new to Bonasi
looking for book on alot
have bought 3 books and none of them talk about
the plants I have wish someone would do a book on Bonasi beging for dummies

Bonsai for Beginners
This is an excellent book for anyone just getting interested in Bonsai. It gives you just enough information to make informed decisions - without overwhelming you. ... Read more

Product Description
Breaks down key information on cultivating bonsai into 101 easy-to-grasp tips and gives quick answers to all your questions.

Harry Tomlinson is one of Europe's leading bonsai artists and instructors. He has exhibited and judged bonsai all over the world. He is also the author of several books including DK's The Complete Book of Bonsai. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Steps for handling a bonsai for baguiners
Book is a nice step-by-step guide to handling a bonsai tree with a lot of pictures and easily understandable institutions. Definitive beginner must have.

Great little book
This is a great little book for tips. Either one or two tips are on each page. It has limited detail about creating and cultivating bonsai, but what can you expect for 5 bucks. I also bought The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai and this gives me all the details i need to make great Bonsai (patience not included). It gives a bit of information about repotting etc and also a list of great trees for Bonsai.

Nice book for beginners
This is a great book for bonsai beginners or those just looking for new ideas.The pictures are beautiful, but that is most of what this book is.I am just venturing into the art of bonsai, and this book gave me lots of great ideas.But if you are in need of more details and how-tos, I'm sure there is a better book out there.

101 Bonsai
Very interesting and when I make time i will further apply some instructions in this Book.

Bobsia review
The book had a lot of differant type bonsia but did not have enough information on how to care for the trees properly.
DPCToledo Oh ... Read more

Product Description
Many lifetimes of experience are represented in this compendium of the techniques practised by the Bonsai masters of Japan today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent value and information
This book is a MUST have for anyone interested in Bonsai.Although it is very strictly traditional Bonsai, you can use the techniques and styles for any other plants such as Australian Natives.Excellent value.

Good book for beginners
This book contains much information of how to care for your bonsai. Some well known bonsai are use throught the text. It contains good illustratuins covering most important topics and an excellent Appendix with chart ofactivities and timing of procedures for most species. The Black and whitephotographs are not to good. ... Read more

Product Description
Enter the fascinating world of bonsai, the centuries-old gardening art form of cultivating trees as potted plants. Refined to a high art in Japan, bonsai offers not only the familiar gardening delights but also, at its highest levels, a philosophical and aesthetic communion with nature.

Here in CLASSIC BONSAI OF JAPAN, the Nippon Bonsai Association, Japan's preeminent voice of the bonsai tradition, introduces a collection of the finest bonsai pieces to be found in Japan today-some of them presented to a Western audience for the first time. Over 130 full color and 48 black-and-white plates of priceless specimens with informative commentary provide a definitive tour of the bonsai world-from a 15-year-old flowering cherry to a majestic 1,000-year-old Yezo spruce. The notes for each piece offer insights into the balance, style, harmony, and overall aesthetic effect along with comments on the history of its cultivation at the hands of several generations of bonsai masters.

John Bester brings his intimate knowledge of Japanese culture and sensibility to an elegant interpretation of bonsai art specifically adapted to Western readers. Essays on appreciation, history, and aesthetics further invite readers to enjoy this "natural" art on an informed level.

A feast for the eyes as well as a lasting monument to the history of an artistic tradition, this deluxe volume is sure to delight the bonsai enthusiast, garden hobbyist, lover of things Japanese-indeed anyone with an interest in looking at art and nature in unison. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The best bonsai's I'ever seen
Without doubts this book is a collection of photos of the most amazing bonsais in the world. Some have more than 300 years.

A collection of very old beauties
Outstanding book. I got to know it from my bonsai master in Brazil, and it really happened to be one of the best on my bonsai library. Concerning bonsai books, I think good pictures are the most important aspect, and this books takes this to the top. Quite technical photographs, amazing trees, and a section at the end gives information about each and every tree shown. Absolutely recommended for everyone interested in bonsai and nature.

Classic Bonsai Of Japan
Beautiful book with pictures of the most increadible Bonsai Trees.I love it and it is now my favourite Bonssai book.

Classic Bonsai of Japan
Wow! This is what a Bonsai book should look like! The photos are superb. The story on each tree is very helpful I didn't even mind that they were in the back. I could more of this type of book because the photos were high enough quality to be able to see forms. Anyone interested in seeing quality trees should own this.

A very good book
This book has many great pictures to give the beginners inspirations to pursue this great hobby. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book, the author reveals the techniques necessary to create bonsai in a few hours. ... Read more

Product Description
From advice on evaluating and selecting plants, to assessing plant health and troubleshooting, the BONSAI SURVIVAL MANUAL provides the comprehensive information every bonsai gardener needs for success. Includes detailed horticultural profiles of 50 popular commercial varieties, with at-a-glance information on their specific requirements. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

This is an A to Z book on bonsai that will be a sure fire winner with anyone interested in this art form!
If you've spent a lot of time working with your bonsai plants, but are having a problem with them, it's very difficult to simply give up on them and throw them away without trying to find something that will help you.You can take your bonsai to a place where they sell them and the gardeners will more than likely tend to your plant for a price, but in this "survival manual" you may just find out what you are looking for. . .in most cases where you may be going wrong.If you've invested a lot of time in your plants, you certainly want to be successful with them.Of course the best place to start is with someone who has experience.Colin Lewis, without a doubt, is just the person you are looking for!

According to Lewis, "The most important horticultural information required is the knowledge needed to keep the bonsai alive."Any beginner can easily become frustrated and discouraged when a cherished bonsai plant begins to shrivel and die.You will learn how to purchase a plant, what its needs are, where to put the plant, what kind of plant will work well for you, what to look for in a plant, what kind of plant to avoid, how to care for your plant, how to shape your plant, how to identify and treat problems, and you'll get to take a look at fifty commercial species.

Each species is comprehensively profiled.You will receive a brief history, you'll be told what to look for, and points to watch.Each plant has a sidebar which tells the bonsai source, the needed light levels, the temperature range, pests and diseases that affect it, the type of soil needed, its water needs, how to feed, and prune the plant.Each specimen is accompanied by a photograph of a healthy, vibrant plant.The species, separated by an asterisk, are listed below.

Acer Buergerianum (trident maple)* Acer Palmatum (Japanese maple) * Acer Palmatum `Deshojo' or `Chishio'(Japanese red maples) * Acep Palmatum `Kiyohime' (Kiyohime maple)* Acer Palmatum `Seigen' (Seigen maple) * Arundinaria and similar species (bamboos) * Bougainvillea * Carmona Microphylla (Fukien tea) * Carpinus Species (Hornbeama) * Celtis Sinensis (Chinese hackberry) * Chaenomeles (flowering quince) * Chamaecyparis Obtusa (Hinoki cypress) * Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) * Crassula (Jade tree/Money tree) * Cryptomeria Japonica (Japanese cedar) * Cycas (cycad) * Fagus Crenata (Japanese "white" beech) * Ficus (Fig varieties) * Fuchsia (fuchsia) * Ginkgo Biloba (maidenhair tree) * Ilex Crenata (Japanese holly) * Jasminum Nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) * Juniperus Chinensis Sargentii (Sargent's juniper) * Juniperus Rigida (Needle juniper) * Juniperus Squamata `Meyeri' (Meyer's juniper) *Lagerstroemia Indica (crape myrtle) * Ligustrum Sinense (Chinese privet) * Malus (crab apple)* Murraya Paniculata (jasmine orange)* Myrtus (myrtle) * Nandina Domestica (sacred bamboo) * Olea Europaea (European olive) * Picea (spruce) * Pinus Densiflora (red pine) Pinus Parviflora (white pine) Pinus Thunbergii (black pine) * Pistacia Terebinthus (pistachio) * Podocarpus Macrophyllus (plum-fruited/Chinese yew) Prunus Mume (Japanese flowering apricot) * Pseudocydonia Sinensis (Chinese quince) * Punica Granatum (pomegranate) * Pyracantha (firethorn) * Rhododendron Indicum (Satsuki azalea) * Sageretia Theezans (sageretia) * Serissa Foetida (tree of a thousand stars) * Stewartia Monadelpha (Stewartia/Stuartia) * Taxus Cuspidata (Japanese yew) * Ulmus Parviofolia (Chinese elm) * Wisteria (Wisteria) * Zelkova Serrata (Japanese gray-bark elm)

This is an A to Z book on bonsai that will be a sure fire winner with anyone interested in this art form.I purchase this book along with a couple other ones as a "starter" gift for a family member.Each one generates a lot of interest in the hobby, but this one will prove to be the most useful in the long run.It sends the message that your plants will not grow themselves and must be tended to carefully.The most applicable sentence states, "buying a bonsai is a commitment - very much like buying a pet - as it will need daily attention."This step-by-step book is detailed, thorough, and well written.If you are a beginning or intermediate bonsai aficionado, this is one book you should certainly consider adding to your library!

Excellent Bonsai Guide

This Bonsai Survival Manual is an excellent reference book for both beginners and advanced bonsai enthusiasts.I keep the Manual handy all the time!

Very basic guide
When I first got this book, I felt it had everything I needed. Two weeks later, I realize I need more. A lot more. But it was an excellent start at a good price, so I am satisfied.

wealth of knowledge for the Bonsai beginner!
I'm a Bonsai newbie, I wanted a Bonsai for years and this last christmas my wife surprised me with my first Bonsai Juniper tree. I had no idea what to do to it or how to take care of it so I looked for a book that would provide the info I needed. This book really looked good from the description and reviews so I took a chance.

The book covers just about everything a bonsai beginner needs to know. There is a bit of contradiction in the book I found because in one part it says juniper bonsai's need to be outdoors and another part says they can stay indoors. I wasn't sure what to do with mine so I try to put it outside when I can and when it gets cold I will bring it in and put it on my desk.

The book itself seems to be very accurate in terms of planting, replanting, pruning, watering and caring for a large number of bonsai plants. The book has great pictures on many types of bonsai trees and really made me want to move up to more bonsai plants one I am confient I can handle my first juniper.

The books is great, has a wealth of information and I really encourage people that are new to the hobby to get this book. It has helped me greatly.

Brilliant Book,Brilliant Service.
Very pleased with the content in the book,First class info,very well set out and easy to understand.

The ordering on line was simple and the speed with which i recieved the book was first class. ... Read more

Product Description
If your living room, bedroom, or kitchen is your garden, this beautifully photographed guide--written by North America's foremost bonsai pioneers--will keep your miniature trees thriving. An illustrated guide to styles displays a wide range of possibilities, from slanting trees with gnarled trunks to a tiny "forest."See how to control airflow and humidity in the home and construct a sheltered growing chamber. Find out one expert's tips for success, advice on artificial light, and suggestions on fertilizers and water. Grow from seeds and cuttings, combat pests and problems, master wiring techniques, and look at bonsai types from tropical blooming and fruiting to Texas ebony and succulents. Plus 100 plants that work well inside and a guide to ceramic containers to show them off.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Slightly antiquated Bonsai book
While the trees themselves have not changes, books have.This book is good, but there are better Bonsai books out there that are available for the beginner.Check out "The Complete Book of Bonsai" by Harry Tomlinson instead

Indoor Bonsai
This book was well-written, and very informative for the beginner.It went over all of the basics for Bonsai care, and was even appropriate as a reference book for the intermediate Bonsai caregiver.I would recommend itfor anyone who is interested in starting a Bonsai garden ... Read more

Product Description
A guide to flowering bonsai, combining practical information with photographs and step-by-step "re-creations" of bonsai species such as: cotoneaster; crab apple; firethorn; white and red hawthorn; deciduous holly; pomegranate; quince; wisteria; and Japanese flowering apricot. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great 'how-to'
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.

Detail oriented and does a great job of explaining all facts
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 andlittle details.Well worth the purchase.

Beautifully illustrated and very helpful:4.5 stars
I highly recommend this book to other bonsai-ists. It's worth the price for the illustratons. ... Read more

Product Description
The art of bonsai, as traditionally practised, calls for training shrubs and trees to mimic -- in miniature -- the gnarled ancients of forest and crag. Those traditional specimens may need more than fifty years to mature, but by using woody herbs, you can get comparable effects in less than one year. Rosemary, scented geraniums, the thymes, and many other easily grown herbs are ideal for bonsai. In this book, horticulturist Richard W Bender shares his innovative technique, providing you with advice on choosing the appropriate herbs for the kinds of bonsai you wish to create. Practical instructions guide you through every step of the process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for the beginner
A friend gave this book to me knowing I would enjoy it. She was right. I've always wanted to make a bonsai, an edible one at that, so this gave me the opportunity to do so.

Concise, easy to read, simple instructions, and great pictures.All this makes this book a must have for anyone wanting to start out creating an herbal bonsai.

Herbal BonsaiPracticing the Art with Fast-Growing Herbs
This is the first book I have seen on the use of herbs as bonsai material. It is great book.It is informative and very descriptive with many black and white illustrations used to help explain text. Having only one-hundredpages, it is packed full of information on selecting herbs (includingauthor recommended choices) suitable for use as bonsai. Training,developing, potting, shaping, caring for, and displaying herbal bonsai areall covered in detail.References and resources include mail-ordernurseries.Terrific for beginners who don't want to invest a lot of money,but would like to try their hand at this hobby. ... Read more

Product Description
The pruning and shaping that goes into creating a bonsai cannot be achieved by technique alone; it also requires an artist's imagination. This work demonstrates the design principles and practical techniques behind growing the most popular species of bonsai trees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

horticulture AND art
It's probably safe to call this one a classic; it's just unfortunate that it's out of print and a bit hard to find.
Peter Adams comes at the subject of bonsai from the point of view of the trained artist, and his training shows through here. His emphasis on artistic method should be a welcome antidote to the oft-found notion that bonsai is little more than keeping alive a cute little tree in a pot.
In addition, this book has a wealth of hands-on information concerning soils, horticulture and strategies for long-term development of specimens.Keep in mind that few true bonsai are created in less than a few years, even when starting with specimens that already have a well-developed trunk and roots.
Adams has a special respect for, and treatment of, collected trees -- those taken from the wild.
This is a very good how-to book with lots of examples of how individual specimens were designed and developed.
This book is perhaps a little intimidating for the beginner; a novice might be better off starting with something like Herb Gustafson's "Bonsai Workshop," which gives a better basic overview of the art form but shares Adams's project-oriented approach. Or John Naka's "Bonsai Techniques" I & II, which have a wealth of very accessible information. Or even Peter Adams's "The Art of Flowering Bonsai," which has a lot of general information on developing trees as well as species-specific information related to certain blossoming kinds.
But if you find a used copy of "Bonsai Design" somewhere, buy it. If you don't read it now, you'll want to refer to it later. ... Read more

Product Description
Successful bonsai growing is not simply the technique of growing miniature trees; it is the art of growing them in forms based on the natural growth habit of various species. This is a book on the aesthetics of bonsai. In this revised edition, various additions have been made. It contains photographic updates of those trees featured in the first edition, has a new chart to help clarify the suggested feeding programmes and contains style and refinement sequences, as well as photo-essays on pine prunig, a glass-fibre rock construction sequence, and a selection of photographs of the author's Gold Award-winning bonsai display at the Chelsea Flower Show. ... Read more

Product Description
Information in this file was originally published under the title Growing Bonsai by the United States Department of
Agriculture, Home and Garden Bulletin No. 206, issued August 1973 by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402, Stock No. 0100-02772. ... Read more

Product Description
This illustrated guide to growing bonsai has been written especially with the newcomer in mind. The author discusses the basic bonsai styles and how to develop them, sources for bonsai material, the art of growing bonsai and the many different types available. ... Read more

Product Description
The ancient art of Bonsai is thoroughly explored in this guide, including artistic paths to creating a bonsai in a variety of forms, practical instructions on starting and training, and an encyclopedia of plants proven to grow successfully under bonsai treatment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Sunst Superb Gardening Books
I purchased this Sunset Book on Bonsai care because I have always been impressed with the thoroughness of Sunset to cover gardening topics in a simple straight forward manner.My wife is delighted with this book!

Good Picture Reference
Very nice photographs.Good intro to the craft...but lacking a bit. (There is no mention on `stump chopping' at all.)Has a good tree reference/care at the end.It was my first bonsai book...It's a keeper.

This book was great and answered all of my questions!
I highly recomend this book to any one who wants to become serious about bonsai.Great photos and explanitions.

A quick reference at a glance book
I have read this book and have looked at the pictures many times.I use it as a picture reference as to how my creations should look more so than as how to do it.I have a web site that goes more in depth in this subject...

Great for beginners or those just curious about bonsai
Contains clear, easy to follow guidelines. Great pictures of trees, styles, tools, etc. Recommend for beginners or anyone wanting to know if they want to do bonsai. ... Read more

Product Description
Creating your own bonsai is simple, calming, and serene, and best of all, it lets you bring the outdoors inside, even if you don’t have a lot of space.
Learn everything you need to know to become accompished at the art of bonsai growing--how to pick a plant, what tools you’ll need, and how to trim and style your plant.At the heart of the book is a species directory with 10 easy-to-grow plants that are great for getting started, as well as another 40 species that need a little more care. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Bonsai
I bought this as a gift for my friend and he specifically requested this book because she looked at others and thought this to be the best out of the selection.

Good beginners title
This is a good beginners book with information about all phases of the art and some of the science.It is accessable to anyone.I would recommend it to serious beginners.

Good basics, but no real step by step for beginners
This book provides excellent background and general information for someone starting out in bonsai.The photos are excellent and a wide variety of types are shown.However, I was expecting more of a guide on how to actually start growing a bonsai.There are a lot of references to finding "a local club" which would of course be helpful, but if you're just starting out (like me) and don't have a nearby bonsai club, you'll probably want additional books to guide you through getting started.

A wonderful beginners book
"What else would I need than this book when learning about Bonsai? I recommend it fully and suggest that it should be on everyone's bookshelf, or at least in his or her hands"

When you start growing Bonsai, it is hard to work your way through all the titles available. I first bought a book called Bonsai for Beginners by the same author and while this was a very nice book, it was not only geared to beginners but also to more advanced growers. This new book is a revelation. Beautifully laid out, the practical guide to Growing Bonsai is the first book I have read that truly spells it out. It is lavishly illustrated and very well written that it is more than a reference book. It has become a `read'.
The Practical Guide is just that. It covers all the basic information that you, as a Bonsai Grower in the early stages of this wonderful hobby, need to learn to understand what is to be done. A real beginners book but written by someone who understands what a real teacher needs to speak about when speaking to a newcomer. Craig Coussins writes in a very one to one style and I really felt that he was with me every step of 'his' way. This is a great book!
Clear instructions filled with some gorgeous photographs looks at all the techniques that I need to know. Charts explain the right times of the year to do the work and completed by a species list of all the most popular Bonsai that beginners should try.
Therefore, what else would I need than this book when learning about Bonsai? I recommend it fully and suggest that it should be on everyone's bookshelf, or at least in his or her hands.

Bonsai inforamtiopn for the complete beginner
What is vastly different about this book and most other Bonsai books is one simple premise. It is this. When you start Bonsai you are afraid that growing such a plant will take many years. Most folk can be put off by the fact that they believe they will need 30 years to produce a Bonsai that looks old. Craig Coussins new book explodes that myth.

In his first book, Bonsai for Beginners, Craig Coussins covered a vast range of subjects up to intermediate but in Totally Bonsai, the title used in North America, ('Growing Bonsai' elsewhere)he uses Bonsai throughout the book that are rarely over five years old. But what Bonsai. Some of these trees are wonderful and extremely beautiful. Gone are the seedlings in a plastic pot, Craig Coussins really shows you what you are capable of. This shows the newcomer exactly how much they can achieve in a short period of time. Many of the trees are also shown in winter so that you can really see the branch structure and shape under the leaves. Most of the trees are easily available as shrubs or garden centre material which makes life a lot simpler for the complete novice.

The unique section written by his friend Salvatore Liporace and his student Luigi Maggione, highly respected Bonsai Masters from Italy, also shows how you can, within Craig's five year period, take basic raw material and turn it into a masterpiece when you have understood the basics and focussed on the techniques.

This well liked Bonsai International Teacher has kept to his remit in writing a book that is truly for the beginner and it is recommended as a very good read. A great present for a friend just starting out.

One interesting thing is also his sensitive dedication to his mentor, John Yoshio Naka, the respected American Bonsai Master and one of the top five Bonsai Masters in the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Presenting a unique blend of information and ideas, The Complete Book of Bonsai is a comprehensive, practical guide to the traditions and artistic principles of growing and maintaining bonsai trees. Over 300 bonsai trees and shrubs are described, over 100 of them in an outstanding full-color photographic catalogue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

great book, very informative
great book for me, new to bonsai, has info on many varieties of bonsai trees for various climates, how to take care of them, pruning, shaping, etc. worth the money, gorgeous pictures too.

3 Titles, same book
It's a good book with some good info. The problem is that there is 3 different books by this author that are all pretty much identical. It's kind of rediculous and it's a scam.

The complete book of bonsai
This book is wonderfully written, and beautifully illiustrated.It has everything you need to know about bonsai, and more.

the complete boo of bonsai
can there really ever be a complete book of bonsai i think not but it is a great book

Excellent Bonsai book
If you are just getting started in Bonsai and could only buy one book this book will give you everything you need to know for a long time.

This book has a nice section on the art of bonsai; it has beautiful pictures and good information, including pictures of bonsais in every season.The next section is on creating a bonsai. This includes style and containers; it shows in detail how to prepare a pot before planting.It has pictures and descriptions of all the tools that are used in bonsai, plus it has pictures and descriptions on how to use each tool. Excellent for beginners.

This book gives many methods of creating a bonsai.It shows before and after pictures and many pictures of the author actually doing it. Along with each picture there is good descriptions of what he is doing.This first section of the book is very good for anyone getting started.

The next section is a species guide to over 60 species.There are one to two pages on each tree.It has at least one picture for each species, plus an up close picture of the leaf. There is a description, cultivation information and additional points of interest for each species.This section has beautiful pictures and valuable information for both indoors and out door bonsais.I think this section is good for everyone.It is good to know what a bonsai requires before you get it.

At the end of this book there is a list of over 300 trees and shrubs suitable for cultivation as bonsai.There is a description and cultivation information for each entry.

This book is excellent, the text, the photographs and the captions combine make this a very easy to understand guidebook and a good reference book.I recommend this book very highly.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Good book & good value
This book does a good job of explaining the basics of bonsai.It is well written and complete with excellent illustrations.It is matter of fact and avoids mystical advice.It is an excellent value; the binding and pages are durable and attractive.I chose it over other books under $20 to give to students in a class on bonsai basics that I taught recently.The members of the class liked the book also.

Great book
Very helpful. Buy this book before any bonsai! It will save you from buying a bad plant!!

Very Comprehensive
I actually bought this book as a gift along with the various items needed in the growning of a bonsai. The book was amazing with beautiful pictures and detailed instructions for growing a bonsai from the underground - up. Great deal for the money. Enjoy!!

Un libro excelente - An excellent book
* Un libro excelente finamente ilustrado, recomendable para todos aquellos que comienzan en el arte del Bonsai o para aquellos que desean deleitarse con magníficas fotografías de Bonsai.
* An excellent and finely illustrated book, a must for those who are starting in the art of Bonsai or for those who want to enjoy Bonsai magnific pictures.

Classical Treatment of a Classical Art
David Prescott's treatment of bonsai is highly recommended.The Bonsai Handbook is a fine example of how bonsai should be presented. It depicts both young trees and fine specimens.It makes bonsai approachable to the beginner as well as creates intrigue for the advanced collector.The plates are clear and finely photographed.Illustrations are well executed and helpful.The text is well written, although, at times, a bit complex.The author thoroughly descibes the art, science, and technique.He includes excellent information concerning tools, pots and general horticultural practices.As a bonsai artist and horticultural botanist, I find this book to be a great value and superior to many bonsai books presently in-print.

I question only minor elements: the use of cut-paste on pruning wounds.One photograph (p.104)is mislabeled (Larix larcina should be Thuja occidentalis). ... Read more