Apr 29
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

Cupressus Sempervirens “Peroni”

It all begins with this cypress entering into my garden in 2017, after purchasing it from my dear friend Stefano. Although it does not have a thick, dark bark, like other Tuscan cypresses I was intrigued by its well-sized trunk and healthy vegetation.   The scale is of a lovely shade of green and there are no traces of disease.   The branches are properly sized. Too often, unfortunately, you see plants with newborn branches on very old trunks. Having properly-sized primary branches will enhance the cypress’s appeal.    Some of them have a common malformation of the branch attachment: this branch inclusion malformation at the junction weakens the connection of the branch to the tree causing the reduction of the stability in case of bending. The area with this malformation is definitely more brittle, so I always recommend to secure it thoroughly and never force the bend there.   In the high section of the trunk we can see the huge pruning scar which has already resulted in a small Shari. We will obviously have to let the cut disappear and widen the Shari as a result of the natural withdrawal of sap.   I had the chance to […]
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Jan 13
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Juniperus Chinensis

This Juniper is with me since 2009, the very same year I joined the team Franchi Bonsai in Pescia (Pt). The photo shows the juniper a few years before my arrival.   From the beginning, it was my duty to take care of the trees in the Museum and soon I was mesmerized by this specimen of Juniperus Chinensis. The massive growth of the last few years had narrowed down the possibility for the light to penetrate the inner vegetation, resulting in a weakening.  Here is the tree, in 2009, before being worked on.   The first thing to be done is a good cleaning and thinning of the vegetation, using the wire only to open up the branches and let air and light enter the canopy. Once the work was done, the bonsai highlighted a beautiful trunk with two swollen lymphatic veins that, going up along the trunk, come together in the highest part only. The colour of the vegetation is a deep green, a clear indicator of a strong and healthy foliage.  The first branch only is unfortunately weaker due to a previous parasite attack that has already been eradicated. With the thinning and the opening of the […]
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Dec 08
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

Cupressus Sempervirens Arcobonsai

A cypress for Arcobonsai. I don’t think I’ve ever bought a tree in all these years simply by choosing from a picture. I just can’t do it!  I need to see it, touch it, walk around it to fall in love and decide whether to welcome it into my collection. Then, in 2019, a dear friend put this cypress up for sale on a social media and instantly I was so curious to get to know it properly.     After a little while I was standing in front of the cypress tree, which immediately won me over with some lovely details: a beautifully sized nebari and the dark bark on the trunk, enhanced by the already old dry wood. The lack of movement was counterbalanced by some features that would ensure a composition with a significant sensation of old age. The straight trunk, distinguished by an old shari, ends in a manageable way.  The strong and vigorous vegetation attests the excellent health of the cypress. In two seconds flat, the tree was at home! I never make hasty decisions and all newly arrived trees are simply cultivated for a year, at least. This cypress is no exception, so it […]
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Dec 08
by Francesco Santini in Preparation, Uncategorized 0 comments

the Massive Cypress

I adore cypresses! Besides being the typical tree of my beloved Tuscany, I see in this essence the perfect combination of strength and grace. Its unmistakable scent, its dark green colour and its grey, wrinkled bark are the elements able to make it my favourite tree. I bought this cypress in 2007 from a very dear friend. It was definitely not the container in which it had been placed that draw my attention, but rather the large, old trunk with its beautiful dry wood. The vegetation, allowed to grow freely, testified the excellent health of the tree.     From the large, compact trunk, there were two generously sized branches which, however, created an unsightly fork. The upper right branch was particularly long and cylindrical and the vegetation was very distant. The lower left branch was a different matter, with rich vegetation even close to the trunk. I began by shortening this last branch with a hacksaw. Then I move on to the upper branch, shortening it with a splitter, to highlight the wood fibres and create a natural effect; I leave only a little Jin.   This is a fairly drastic pruning as most of the vegetation is removed. […]
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Nov 19
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS “Cypress’s new twist”

This cypress became part of my collection in early 2014. It was the thick black bark, typical of the Tuscan cypress tree, that drew my attention. Needless to say, these elements of ageing are fundamental. If we imagined the same tree without this bark it would be immediately obvious the minor evocative power this tree could transmit. So, with the same style, when we have such obvious elements of ageing we are in front of a tree with a much more potential. Unfortunately the cypress also had two important con elements: the very distant vegetation and a Nebari consisting basically of a cylindrical and large root. A solution to these problems had to be found. All at the right time. One step at a time! Here is the plant as it was in 2014.     A few months later, I decided to immediately face the first problem: the distant vegetation. I don’t like very much trees with artificial and excessively forced bends made to place near the trunk the vegetation. The latter is definitely not my style, so in this case I opt to make a narrow bend downwards to bring the branching closer to the trunk. From here […]
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Nov 15
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

Bonsai trees stolen from FRANCHI BONSAI

Unfortunately another bonsai tree has been stolen from Franchi Bonsai in Pescia (PT). Despite some new security systems, in recent days has been stolen a specimen of Korean Hornbeam  (pot size cm.35×35 height cm.20). If someone has information about this, please contact us at 0572 429262. Korean hornbeam:   the theft of this latest bonsai is added to the long list of bonsai stolen in 2016. Below you can see some photos of the previously stolen specimens:   Acer Palmatum   Acer Palmatum   Acer Palmatum   Pinus pentaphilla   Juniperus chinensis   Juniperus chinensis   Juniperus chinensis   Juniperus chinensis Again, if anyone has any information  please contact us at 0572 429262. http://www.franchi-bonsai.it/  
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Nov 15
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

Visiting “CHENG MEI CULTURE PARK” in Taiwan.

The incredible “Cheng Mei Culture Park”, a wonderful garden with ancient trees, bonsai, temples….and so much peace! 
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Nov 15
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

VI° BONSAI NIGHT

Here we are at the 6th edition of the BONSAI NIGHT! Every year I am so happy to gather a small group of friends with whom to spend an entire night working on our bonsai. The idea is inspired by several factors: First of all the beauty of the night … cool and quiet … an atmosphere where I like to work on plants and be with friends. So I thought to combine the two things in a marathon night beginning at 9 pm  up to  7 am …. BONSAI NIGHT indeed! I am lucky enough to work with bonsai trees every day. This is my job! Every day I do my job with professionalism and commitment, but do not forget that bonsai is also my passion, my great love! The BONSAI NIGHT represents for me the moment when I return as a simple amateur, surrounded by friends with the same passion. At BONSAI NIGHT there are no professionals, instructors or students, just bonsai practitioners! The night becomes the occasion to have fun, to play with plants and friends … in a silence broken only by our laughs. I’m sorry I didn’t tell many people. Unfortunately, the workshop cannot accommodate […]
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Nov 15
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

Visiting Mr. Chen Tsing Shing garden in Taiwan.

The incredible garden of Mr. Chen Tsing Shing in Taiwan!
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Nov 15
by Francesco Santini in Uncategorized 0 comments

HWA-FONG NATIONAL BONSAI EXHIBITION TAIWAN 2016: THE SPECIMENS.

This year I had the opportunity to visit the 21st edition of the exhibition of the Taiwanese Bonsai Association. An exhibition full of many bonsai and suiseki from all over the state of Taiwan. A very high level of the exhibition with special essences that we often do not see. Here is a roundup of some of the bonsai on display.      
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