BONSAI & SPECIAL LINKS
Bonsai requires the eye of an artist, the skills of a technician, the nurturing discipline of a parent, and the soul of a person who deeply loves nature.
For those who can put all of these together, bonsai is a wonderful challenging complex hobby! But even if cannot grow bonsai yourself, it's interesting. There are many kinds of artistic pot plants including Japanese bonsai, Chinese penjing, Hawaiian or tropical bonsai, and Fuku-Bonsai's houseplant bonsai. FUKU-BONSAI'S BONSAI & GARDEN LINKS attempt to introduce selected websites with a blurb to better understand the sites's position in the multi-faceted World of International Bonsai & Gardening! Through these sites, you'll be able to find many more sites. Happy web surfing!
AMERICAN BONSAI SOCIETY is a non-profit bonsai group whose Journal shares contemporary developments. Numerous David Fukumoto and Fuku-Bonsai articles have been published since the late 1960's. David is a past ABS director and symposium headliner.
BONSAI CLUBS INTERNATIONAL began in the 1960's in California and has harnessed the enthusiasm of those who enjoy an international artform of the many and varied forms of artistic pot plants. They are also non-profit organization who publishes Bonsai Magazine. Numerous David Fukumoto and Fuku-Bonsai articles have been published since the late 1960's.
NATIONAL BONSAI & PENJING MUSEUM in Washington DC began with a Bi-centenial gift of bonsai from Japan that found a home in the National Arboretum. The National Bonsai Foundation was formed and added the American Collection honoring John Naka, Hawaii's Haruo "Papa" Kaneshiro, and others. A Fuku-Bonsai tree is in this collection. The museum also includes Chinese penjing including a number from Yee-sun Wu of Hong Kong.
WORLD BONSAI FRIENDSHIP FEDERATION & NORTH AMERICAN BONSAI FEDERATION are the primary international and regional organization dedicated to all forms of artistic pot plants and to create international friendships and peace. It sponsors major conventions every four years and the next will be in 2005 in Washington DC. The WBFF AND NAFB websites are both accessed from the splash page. The NABF premier newsletter issued November 2002 is "A TRIBUTE TO JOHN NAKA!" For more information about this group, go to http://www.fukubonsai.com/5a18.html
OTHER BONSAI SITES OR INDIVIDUAL WEBPAGES
JERRY MEISLIK'S "BONSAIHUNK" BONSAI PAGE is by an enthusiastic hobbyist who's amongst the most knowledgeable about growing high-light tropical bonsai in cooler climates. Jerry has a long commendable history of assisting his regional and the national bonsai community. Now retired and looking to share his knowledge, he's available for bonsai teaching tours. He has a lot to share! Jerry has authored Ficus; The Exotic Bonsai and the book can be obtained directly from him through his website. He has several contributions to this website including www.fukubonsai.com/2b2a2b.html
WALTER LIEW'S DRAGON GARDEN; HAWAII BONSAI CULTURE CENTER is a 20 acre dream being built. Walter is a good and honest friend who is a major importer of Chinese pots, plants, and other items. He is developing his own "Flying Dragon" penjing style. Although packing and shipping costs are high, his prices are reasonable and his large high-quality handmade Yixing Chinese bonsai pots have been ordered and shipped to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington D. C. Their website is at www.bonsaiculturecenter.com
ERNIE KUO'S BONSAI PAGE reflects the sharing and philosophy of one of the rising young stars of the current generation. In some respects, he inherited and is building upon the California bonsai traditions begun by the legendary John Naka. There's a lot to learn on this site as Ernie shares the "behind-the-scenes" stories of his beautiful bonsai.
DAVID AMBRO'S BONSAI PAGE reflects an enthusiastic bonsai hobbyist with computer interests that he puts to good use as the president and webmaster for the Quad City Bonsai Club of Moline, IL. David did a test-run on the Premium Keiki Bonsai Workshop Package and his step-by-step photo report is posted at: http://www.geocities.com/davidamhof/b_fukuws.html It compliments the report being developed by Angela Tillman (see Angela's Workshop)
FRANK XU (Xu Shu Zheng) is a Chinese national living in Nanking, China who is an import-export agent representing an Yixing bonsai pottery factory as well as other Chinese products. While most of his business is gearred for larger importers or businesses, he will work with bonsai clubs and individuals seeking high-end items. His website gives insights into Chinese history and philosophy. Frank is from a literary family who suffered after the 1949 People's Revolution and who can attest to the tales of horror during the Cultural Revolution! He is an avid correspondent with fairly good English. His email: bonsaifrank@hotmail.com His website: www.potsforbonsai.com is embedded in Craig Coussin's site. Frank sent some interesting photos that is posted at www.fukubonsai.com/2a2d.html that gives insights into the Chinese lifestyle and culture.
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JAPANESE BONSAI websites are mostly in Japanese. One exception is a site created by Yoshihiro Nakamizu who has a unique background combination including an interest in multi-cultural communication, English-speaking, travel industry experience, organizer of cross-cultural events, AND AN INTEREST IN BONSAI! He sounds like the ideal guide if you planning a Japan bonsai group tour. He also has books, tools, display stands and some of the highest standard Japanese bonsai for sale that are available for international shipping! This is the best Japanese bonsai website discovered to date and most of the site works even if you don't allow the long initial down-load.
MANLUNG GARDEN is a site being developed to make available and update the work of Hong Kong's Yee-Sun Wu whose 1967 book introduced the modern Chinese Lingnan penjing to the world. It focuses on the "clip-and-grow" system and the use of outstanding natural and carved rocks.
PENJING - CHINESE LANDSCAPE BONSAI is a site with some of the best information featuring the writings of Karin Albert, a modern scholar writer, editor, and translator who has played a significant role in introducing contemporary Chinese penjing. Visit this site for more information about the book: PENJING; Worlds of Wonderment by Qingquan Zhao, one of the few penjing books currently in print.
BONSAI IN ASIA GUIDE BOOK by John Oldland of Australia is an ambitious effort to provide detailed information especially for bonsai oriented travelers heading for Asia. This is a growing site with a lot of information.
BONSAI SITES.COM NETWORK is taking on the challenge of listing every quality bonsai site on the web and has recognized Fuku-Bonsai's site with an Excellance Award (January 19, 2001).
GARDENING LINKS
CYNDI JOHNSON'S LIST OF GARDENING CATALOGS: An extensive listing of specialty and general sources of just about any plant you may want! It includes other garden links on forums, organizations, seed & plant exchanges, plant finders, and other directories!
GARDENING LAUNCH PAD by Austin, Texas' Jim Parra of Zilker Botanical Gardens is being built to link thousands of sites broken into categories as a place for novice gardeners to search for any garden-related information.