5 comments about Bonsai (Rd Home Handbooks).

1. This book is a good basic start for the beginner (me!) Bonsai enthusiast. It is well organized, the graphics are a super plus. It is a handy and compact reference that is easy and comprehensive.



2. Awesome! With this book alone, I have kept 5 trees alive for almost a year now (I lost one tree due to my sister's neglect while I was away).
   Easy to read with great information.
   Great photos and easy reference for most popular species. The species section is thoughtfully laid out with a block of easy to access pertinent information regarding watering, pruning, climate conditions, etc. for each tree.



3. I had wanted to learn bonsai for years, but I kept putting it off because I couldn't find a reference that covered everything. Some books are great on types of plants but don't cover maintenance in much depth, some are great on maintenance but aren't well illustrated, and so on. Then I picked up this book, largely on the strength of the reviews I found here. I was not disappointed.
   
   This 216 page book has an 'A-Z of Bonsai Species' that covers 75+ species with a pagefull of information and at least one (often two or three) full color photo of each. A dictionary of trees and shrubs at the back of the book covers the requirements and care of 250+ species. All of the major methods of starting bonzai are covered, as well as the major forms, and every aspect of care and maintenance, all with clearly written instructions and step-by-step photos. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photos. These are supplemented with very clear one-color pen-and-ink drawings in the section on wiring, which is quite detailed. There are lots of before, during, and after photos showing how bushy nurshery shrubs, seedlings, and cuttings can be turned into attractive bonsai. Every "but what about X" question I had was answered. It is simply the most comprehensive, best written, best illustrated, and most reassuring book on bonsai I've ever seen.



4. By no means would I ever be considered an expert on the art of Bonsai, but about 5 years, I took up the hobby. As an avid reader, when my interest blossomed, I bought several books on the subject. Of those, by far, I found BONSAI by Harry Tomlinson to be the best "beginners" book, but it is also one I have turn to time and again since I first took up the hobby.
   
   This book is in six chapters, following the logical progression; The Art of Bonsai, A-Z of Bonsai Species, Creating a Bonsai, Propagating Bonsai, Maintaining Bonsai, and a Dictionary of Trees and Shrubs for Bonsai.
   
   The photography is exceptional an, for the beginner, will heighten your interest and give you goals to strive for as you are sure to see some examples you simply cannot live without. The writing, though rather brief, is equally compelling and easy to understand, even for the beginner. There might be better books for beginning bonsai, but I never found them.



5. Very good the best in all one i see best book A++++++++++

5 comments about Indoor Bonsai for Beginners: Selection Care Training.

1. While the book offers information on some indoor and partially indoor species, I was looking for a book with more species information. The pictures were not all that great and the book in general appeared boring. It was more concise that what I was looking for. The book lacked many species that I was interested in, such as: Camphor, Baobab, Banyan, Coffee, Bald Cypress, and Buttonwood. I have ordered Bonsai in your Home: An Indoor Grower's Guide, and hopefully that will have the information I need.



2. As stated in the title this book is about indoor bonsai, or more precisely how to grow and maintain tropical bonsai indoors. It doesn't contain much info on non tropical species, which are more appropriate to growing outdoors. There are many beautiful pictures that will inspire the beginning bonsai artist to create masterpieces of their own. Highly recommended beginners book.



3. This may be the worst Bonsai Book ever written. The tree on the front cover is a prime example of what a Bonsai tree is not supposed to look like. The tree is a young Ficus with no taper to the trunk. The branches grow straight up and the style is all wrong. Most importantly are the horrible scars on the branches from leaving the wires on too long. The book is very generic and really doesn't give enough information to create a heathly and well trained tree. If you have shown enough interest in Bonsai to pursue more information on the Art of Bonsai then you have already outgrown this book. Avoid this book, and buy a tree instead.



4. The first part of this book is general information and it is written for indoor bonsais. The pictures of the bonsais are of smaller trees, not the large bonsai trees that you see in many books. These are trees that the average person can have in their home. I think that indoor bonsais are smaller than outdoor bonsais. The author says much of the fascination of this hobby is derived from the experience of watching a plant grow. So the first section he describes in detail how to grow a bonsai from the very beginning.
   
   An indoor bonsai does not mean that it lives indoors all year. All bonsais grow better if they are outside as long as your area will permit. An indoor bonsai is one that can live in the house during the winter without a dramatic set back. Outdoor bonsais on the other hand must spend the winter out doors. If you try to keep them in the house for the winter they will eventually die. Most bonsai books include many of the indoor bonsais, but they don't label them as indoor bonsais and they don't tell you how to keep them thriving in the house for the winter.
   
   The second section is the "A-Z of Indoor Bonsai Species". There are 45 indoor bonsais in this book. Each bonsai has a brief description of the tree or shrub. Position, Soil, Watering, Feeding, Training, Acquiring a plant, and Pest are described for each bonsai. It ends with any particular features that make it suitable for training as a bonsai. There is a picture for each bonsai described. The name and age of the bonsai are under each picture.
   
   There are not many books that are devoted to indoor bonsais. The section on each species gives you good information. There is more information in this book than you will often find in a larger book. It's a good book for indoor bonsais. This book is not only for beginners it is for anyone who wants to learn more about how to care for indoor bonsai.



5. This is an excellent step by step book for the absolute beginner of either a "gift" bonsai or a gardner wanting to learn and play. I followed the instructions given and my birthday gift is doing beautifully, three months later. Originally I checked out about six books on bonsais from the library to find the most helpful before I bought; this book covered everything I needed.

5 comments about The Art of Natural Bonsai: Replicating Nature's Beauty.

1. As an avid gardener, but newbie to bonsai, all I can say is that this book is inspiring. I had been toying around with the thought of getting into bonsai for about 5 years. I have 5-10 books on the subject, but always felt that I didn't have all of the info. This book not only is a great how to book, but is also filled with photos of the author's beautiful trees. He does a great job showing his love for the art, and showing how you can do it also. The only thing that this book is lacking is a sequel, so I thank him and his wife for making the completion of this book a priority. It has given me the confidence to move forward!



2. If you want to become a Bonsai enthusiast this book is for you. Everything you could ever want to know on how to care for your little trees.
   
   One can tell that Dave Joyce has given hundreds of lectures on Bonsai and I can not think of any question that is not answered in this epic work.



3. If you have been studying everything you can get your hands on and are looking for something beyond the basic "tree identification/how to prune" book, then this is the book for you.
   
   This is a beautiful book that documents the author's many trees, from beginning to end, with beautiful photos and many pages of the author's tips, tricks, and experiences with each tree profiled.
   
   I've learned more about the progression of bonsai growth from this book than all the websites/blogs/library books I've seen.
   
   You will not regret buying this book.



4. This is one of the best books on creating and understanding Bonsai that I have ever read. The pictures are top class; the explanations are easy for the beginner, yet exciting for the advanced Bonsai keeper. A source of plenty ideas and inspiration.



5. Simply stated, this is the best book on bonsai. Amazingly, it has photo documentation of dozens of bonsai trees, and what techniques he used on them, over the 20 years of their development. It is a detailed and brilliantly planned how-to that other books just don't touch. It has advanced techniques and even instructions for concrete pot making. This book is chock-full of information. As the title of the book states, his trees have a natural, poetic look to them that will inspire you. The author is a true master artist. If you are serious about bonsai, this book is an absolute must-have.

4 comments about Bonsai Master Class.

1. Superbly written with, what I believe to be, over a thousand images, this is the most comprehensively photographically intensive Bonsai Book in the world. Craig Coussins has written a number of very popular Bonsai Books and his books are indeed unlike most others. It's not about him but rather about Bonsai, Bonsai techniques, other teachers' demonstrations and that is why I love this book. Craig Coussins has traveled all over the globe teaching Bonsai and he has asked his many friends to share the platform of this book with him.
   What you get is a very interesting assortment of wonderful Bonsai Masters showing you what it is that they do well. Clearly a lot of work has gone into this book and the breadth of knowledge in this book is simply vast. It's not too technical which is a relief but a book written with passion, presented with gusto and read with love. His last book started this broad attitude to discovering knowledge but if it was not for the author I doubt that many of us would have had the chance to meet so many wonderful teachers.
   I am sure that Mr. Coussins has very little Ego or we not have seen such a publication. He is clearly an ardent promoter of other Bonsai Masters while being one himself. Now that really is refreshing. Visit the masters from Singapore, South Africa, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, America and Canada through Craig Coussins photography of stunning bonsai and landscapes from all these and so many more countries where you can find Bonsai. I love it. I visited his website and that was another revelation. I loved that too.



2. While this book has a lot of great information about bonsai and good photos the editing of the photos make it hard to follow the progress of the trees in many cases. The photos seem to be out of order and they are shown in reverse negative so the trees are first on the right side of the pot then on the left side in the sequence. I still appreciate the volume of work and the effort to bring this to print. I just wish the editor liked the subject enough to care about the finished book. I would not recommed this book to the beginner or anyone who doesn't understand basic photography.



3. This book gives good points on bonsai plants. It is good for the beginner and the advanced grower as well. I enjoyed it and found it to be not only interesting but very informative as well.



4. This book is intimidating for a student of bonsai because the information is advanced and the trees are difficult to achieve. This information, though, is also inspiring and wonderful to learn about!

5 comments about Bonsai School: The Complete Course in Care, Training & Maintenance.

1. This is one of the Bonsai books that is worth having. Very informative. Great pictures and well written



2. This school book helped me very much in my Christmas bonsai gift. How and when to be precise, when to feed and fertilize, which month in the year and how often and when to add or stop the feeding in the year. Plus when to water each and every species as all bonsais known in the world.... in two words, THANK YOU. :)



3. My basic need was the care and training of a bonsai plant. This book was very helpful.



4. What a beautiful collection of information and pictures. Written for easy non complicated read.



5. Very well done. Informative, clear instructions which helps novice and experienced as well. It's a shame that it is printed in Communist China.

5 comments about Bonsai with Japanese Maples.

1. I first saw this book as a bonsai student but it was already out of print. After years of searching, and seeing prices over $150, I am really happy to see it in re-print. It is the seminal Japanese maple book with many ideas that can be used for any deciduous tree. I strongly recommend it for anyone doing bonsai.



2. Bonsai with Japanese Maples by Peter Adams has all you will ever need to know about maples in bonsai. Excellent colour photos, techniques are explained in adequate depth and it is well worth the price, I paid shipping to Australia just for this product. The only issue of concern is that one should read a basic bonsai book for a few clarifications on wording, that is to say it is written for an intermediate-bonsai audience.



3. This book is great. There's a lot of detail specific to trident and japanese maples. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with maples.



4. Great detailed instructions on growing, training and styling bonsai maple trees. Excellent pictures and graphics. He covers several different techniques, some I had never seen discussed anywhere else. Good discussion of the general cultural conditions specific to maples. Suitable for any experience level.



5. The item was shipped promptly and in the condition stated. I would purchase from this seller again.

5 comments about Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving.

1. Nice book. Details many trees. Could be a bit more on styling.



2. Dear Mr. Lewis,
   THANK YOU SIR for writing this fabulous little book. See, like many other unnamed persons in this world, I threw away over $300.00 on my first Bonsai attempt at peace and serenity in my home. After many long deep breaths and twinges of * I must be insane to try this again*, I did order two new bonsai-who were every bit as scared of me as I was of them. But see, now Mr. Lewis, I "get it". You have given the Holy Grail, if you will to keep these little buggers alive and flourishing! Never again will I keep my beloved trees too close to a window to burn, or to near a furnace to suffer. No sir, in fact, thanks to your book I know exactly when to water, when to fertilize, and when to remember to breathe and just enjoy the beauty of owning bonsai. I have read dozens of books that were nothing more than pretty pictures, but what I really needed was someone to tell me what NOT to do. There is no better book for a bonsai beginner. I didn't need a book to show me the fine details of repotting or bending delicate bonsai limbs - I simply needed a band-aid to help me get them started in the first place. The Bonsai Survival Manual is worth its weight in gold. Now my little trees won't be so scared of me when they see me pick up all my fancy tools and pretend to "prune". (I can at least pretend for now)



3. The book is mainly geared for somebody who purchased a Bonsai and is wanting to maintain it and maybe make it a little better. It doesn't have much information on how to train and style a bonsai. The information on how to care for all the different kinds of trees is more than worth the price of the book. I find myself referring back to this book frequently.



4. This is a very good book to learn about individual species. This book has profiles 50 species of bonsais. It includes out door bonsais and indoor bonsais. Each profile is two pages. It includes one or two pictures, an older bonsai and a younger bonsai. It gives a description of the bonsai, which includes the history and where it is grown, along with a lot of helpful information on growing and caring for each bonsai. It has a chart for each bonsai with includes light, water, temperature, soil and a few other things. The information about each bonsai is very interesting and helpful. Many bonsai books don't give you much information on individual species and their needs. It is very important to know what a bonsai needs before you decide on a bonsai. You need to know if you can meet the needs of a bonsai.
   
   At the beginning of the book there is general information on bonsais, buying, care, plus trimming, pruning, repotting, root pruning, shaping with wire etc. This is good information and the pictures are detail, but it is not exceptional. There are better books on the care and training of bonsais. But the book is well worth getting for the information it gives you on the individual bonsais.



5. This is an excellent basics book and would rate it 5 stars if that is what you are looking for. I give it 4 stars because it gives one enough information to be dangerous but not enough to certain . Example: Using fungicides and pesticides. Certain trees Maples for instance, are very sensitive and be harmed using chemicals they recommend are safe for most trees. Define most!! An excellent starter basics book just not the only book one should use in my view.

5 comments about The Complete Book of Bonsai.

1. A great way to see many different examples of well done bonsai. Excellent inspiration for beginners.



2. This book is really nice the presentation is awesome it looks like a collection book it has a hardcover protector and the information is very usefull nice pics and good tips for begginers and medium masters it`s a must have book i recomend it 100%



3. When I received a bonsai tree for mother's day, I was determined not to kill it like I had done with a previous bonsai. After researching 7 or 8 books at the library, and several more at local book stores, this one stood out as positively the best one out there. It offers full-color pictures of over 100 different species plus growing, watering, pruning, propagation, and other tips for each kind of tree. There are step-by-step instructions for growing bonsai from seeds, cuttings, and several other techniques such as grafting are included. This has been the most helpful book out there, and my trees, including several I bought, pruned, and potted myself, are flourishing! This is a wonderful book for any bonsai lover, or even just as a beautiful centerpiece for your library. Happy gardening!



4. Great photos but lacking detailed information. Wonderful, I think, if you're a beginner. I was hoping for more.



5. 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.

4 comments about The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai.

1. This is a fine work on Advanced Techniques for the Bonsai enthusiast, in particular giving full particulars on specialty tools and pruning shears in Bonsai Culture. It is kind of surprising the great tips one can get, from just the one paragraph tips that the authors son added after his father death. Very concise and precise is a great summary for this book.



2. The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai An understandable, complete book on Bonsai .



3. In short, my opinion is that this is an excellent book if you are serious about bonsai and would like to get started, or to complement your knowledge from other books.
   
   Before I purchased this book, I checked out several books from my local library. Some books seem to show many pictures of finished bonsai without really getting into details and I feel as if I still don't have the knowledge to even start on a bonsai. This book is a bit more helpful with step-by-step pictures from repotting to pruning, diagrams of undesirable branches, and methods of propagation.
   
   There is a lot of information in this book that I read in this book that other books brush by, but I found helpful to me. Without a doubt, it is important to read different books because each author has their own views on certain issues.
   
   Other books that you might want to look into are "Bonsai (101 Essential Tips)" by Harry Tomlinson and "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb Gustafson.



4. This is a great little book for the beginner because it explains everything simply but thoroughly.

5 comments about Bonsai (101 Essential Tips).

1. Perfect book for the beginer or someone who is curious about Bonsai. Excelent pictures and very convienent size.



2. This was a good book for getting ideas and then going to the web for more research. A great introduction. I thought it could have been a little more detailed so I gave it a 4. Worth it for those doing bonsai with little and no experience.



3. I expected more info on techniques, however for the begginer it is OK start. Some good pictures to show how to trim, prune etc your beloved bonsai baby.



4. I just bought my first bonsai tree,This book is so helpful.The shipping was very fast.It is packed full of information and lovely pictures.It has great tips for your tree and great ideals.It also gave me information on others bonsai trees i will be trying next..



5. This was a good beginner book for my husband when we bought our first bonsai, although we wish there was more descriptions on trimming it and how much water to give it. We think we have some sort of ficus bonsai, but couldn't find it in the book, so we're hoping what we are doing will keep it alive! Good tips on most aspects of keeping them thriving.