Harry Harrington's Bonsai Inspirations 1

I fount it entertaining and far more enlightening than any other bonsai book I have read. I wouldn't say this is a beginners book, as it doesn't tell you all of the common techniques you can easily just google, but if you are a beginner wanting to be inspired: Read This Book. And the Second one Too. Fantastic read!

This was a great read and very informative. I learned more from reading this book than any previous book I have read on Bonsai. His style of writing incorporates a personal story about each tree and the progression of these trees through out the years. A lot of thought provoking, new(to me) ideas on how to style trees.

It is inspiring!

Very good. Very well explainde case histories, with progression pictures. Very useful, simple and clear. Looking forward to buy next publications.

A great book - thee is plenty to learn from this book. And the price is terrific.

Excelente libro para los aficionados al bondad, es la mejor guía que he encontrado, explica paso a paso el moldeado de los árboles y todo lo que tiene que ver con su cuidado. Diseño. Lo recomiendo para cualquier aficionado y entusiasta de este arte.

Todas las guías de bonsái son burdos clones que se repiten hasta la saciedad. Te explican de forma aburrida y repetitiva las mismas técnicas, casi en el mismo orden, y cuando terminas te quedas con la sensación de no haber aprendido NADA.A lo largo de este libro, el señor Harrington (joven desenfadado sin apariencia de maestro ancestral del bonsái) selecciona varios árboles de su colección y desarrolla todo el proceso de formación desde sus orígenes (recolección) hasta su formación final. Es un texto súper didáctico, claro, muy útil y enriquecedor. Se disipan muchas dudas a la hora de empezar en este mundo, y aporta también experiencia a los que ya tienen bagaje en el tema del bonsái. Recomendado para todo el mundo.En mi opinión no existe ninguna guía que se acerque ni de cerca al concepto de este autor a la hora de comunicar al lector como trabajar un bonsái.

In the vast world of bonsai literature there is a very short list of books that I would consider essential. This is one of them. Whether you are a beginner just starting out or are looking to delve deeper into more advanced techniques, you will find it in Bonsai Inspirations 1 & 2. From field growing your own trees, to carving deadwood, to soil composition, to increasing ramification and vigor, it's in here.I've followed Harrington's work online for a while now, and his site bonsai4me was instrumental in getting me on the right path towards fantastic trees and an in depth understanding of the art of bonsai. These books are a compilation of all of the info on his site as well as new information that is laid out in an easy to read format, taking you step by step in the development of numerous species of trees in his personal collection. You will go through the stages from seedling to bonsai in a way that is easy to understand, and with genuine concrete facts behind why he does the things he does. And you can't argue with the proof because they are some absolutely beautiful trees.If you are looking to obtain a strong grasp of the horticultural principles it takes to produce outstanding bonsai, and want a nice blend of the old school techniques as well as modern practices such as currently used inorganic soil compositions, then pick up both of these books. You will not be disappointed.

This book and his other works are great. it provides information that is fundamental to design and puts it in a context so you can apply it to your own trees. Being a bonsai enthusiast for a bout 5 yrs I understand the frustration of finding information to developing your own trees from seedlings. Most of the information that I had stumbled onto, some great some bad is only but pieces of info. For example books I had read right from the beginning offered great info but its mostly for maintaining already developed trees. Mr Harrington I believe has provided the basis of a great teaching tool that I would love to see bonsai masters and bonsai clubs to develop further on. Thank you Mr. Harrington for providing a start to what could be a great way for masters to spread their knowledge comprehensively to enthusiasts so that they can enjoy this beautiful soulful journey with nature.

Good book, I like the progressions and the information it provides. Nice photos and author is very clear: worth the price.

I have been reading Harry's blog for many years and much of this information is on there but it's great to have everything in one, easy to locate place. I'm a big fan of Harry's work.

I read a ton of bonsai books and this book has the best section on building out branches and ramification. It provides excellent species progression examples as well. Overall one of the best bonsai books out there.

.... and Harry Harrington proves it.This is the book that us mere mortals have been waiting for.Who are those 'mere mortals' ?Well, we're the people who can't afford to spend £500 on a half-decent bonsai, and a further £200 on a designer pot.We don't start conversations with "I imported this tree from (insert name of famous bonsai nursery) in Japan.We are also the people who are of a certain age, and the suggestion that we spend a tenner on a small starter tree and then nurture it for the next 20 years isn't an option.We are people on a limited budget, but who love growing things.I've been growing bonsai for 25 years, and suddenly I don't feel inferior. I can even say (loudly) that some of the methods used by Masters in Japan don't work here, and that there are simpler and better methods that anyone can use.What the author does (whether he realises it or not) is to show us how the Japanese and others produce lovely, ancient-looking bonsai in less than ten years ... by the thousand.In fact, sometimes just two or three years is all that's needed.Excellent bonsai material is all around us - on wasteground - hillsides - pit heaps - old railway cuttings - riverbanks, everywhere.Of course, you MUST get permission from whoever owns the site. You might even decide to offer something in return. But the trees are there, waiting, and Harry shows you what to do about it.You will also find suitable material in your local garden centres or your friend's, family's, or neighbour's gardens (don't forget to look at your own).He concentrates on indigenous species, but the basic horticultural and bonsai techniques apply to most species with similar weather and growing conditions.Other books have 'progressions'- following the tree from wherever it was acquired to what we can justifiably call a 'bonsai'. Some of them are quite good. Some start with a very expensive imported tree. Others have been grown in a bonsai nursery for many years. But Harry H's progressions are leagues ahead.There's no waffle. No mystery. No strange exotic techniques. And no nonsense.There is a growing backlash against the elitism within bonsai circles, and this book, along with the author's wonderful, practical, inclusive website - 'Bonsai4me.com', is a part of this 'Bonsai For The People' movement.Yes, some of the images could be better, but this is a practical 'working' book (it even has pages where we can write our own notes), not a glossy coffee table one. It's so easy to follow that the graphics could have been in cartoon form and I'd still be able to understand everything (I'm assuming that readers will have some basic knowledge of growing things, and realise that if planted in a garden or field, 'bonsai' will grow into full sized trees or shrubs).And of course, many of those trees were photographed 10 years ago for the authors benefit, not ours. Many bonsai hobbyists, even me, do the same. They certainly aren't taken with a book in mind !Part 2 is due out next Spring (I might send in a few suggestions), and I WILL be buying it.But if you aren't sure, go to the authors website for an idea of his no-nonsense, practical approach to the hobby.I did, and suddenly most of those expensive bonsai books in my bookcases were redundant.There are exceptions - Harry Tomlinson's 'Complete Book of Bonsai', and a couple by Craig Coussins and Peter Chan. These are authors - all internationally renowned bonsai experts - who started to strip away the mystery.Harrington completes the job.