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Scots pine grown from a seedling that I planted through a hole in a rock..... it eventually swelled up so much that it split the rock (no longer in my collection)
Large (and very heavy) trident maple over rock. No longer in my collection
Cotoneaster group grown from seed planted over 25 years ago.
- Flowering quince
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- Semi-cascade hornbeam started from a tiny seedling found in a local wood. (no longer in my collection)
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- Juniperus meyerii “the corkscrew” created at IBC’91 Convention, in Birmingham
Sequoiadendron giganteum made from garden centre material (no longer in my collection)
Cascade Hawthorn started from a tiny seedling growing in the side of quarry. This tree dates back to the year I began bonsai (April 1969).
Cotoneaster 'hedge' with style and deshojo maple. A fun exercise to release the tension sometimes experienced with bonsai!!!Detail of cat sleeping on styleDetail of cat sitting on style
Some of the stages involved in making a cotoneaster hedge. In this case the the hedge was planted on a strip of sawn log.
detail of cat sleeping on style
DAN BARTON BONSAI POTS 
All of the bonsai on this page have been created by me over the years and many are now owned by other enthusiasts. The greatest satisfaction for me is in the ‘making’ of the bonsai rather than the ‘keeping’ so once the bonsai has ‘arrived’ I tend to lose interest in it and offer it for sale or exchange. I always have new trees on the go and am still planting seeds in some instances. There’s nothing like starting a bonsai from its grass roots!
Good evening. I just wanted to thank you for givin me the first and the most important advices in my beginnings,and that all through your book. Already 16years gone since I started to “breed” my first tree and through these years I even got the same feeling about changing the Bonsais “just finished”. Such a pity I also didn´t get that feeling of a “trust,that the tree I give or sell will at least survive in the hands of his new caretaker.. Anyway,thank you for what you´ve taught me 🙂
Gabriel
Hi Dan, Great Site, That Hedge really does have style. I notice it also has a stile!
Hugs & Kisses to you both Bob.
Dan,
Wonderful site ! It is now on my “favorites”, and I will visit it often for inspiration.
Hope all is well,
Ed Trout Florida, USA
PS: I meant to identify the bonsai as stunning.
How could you let these trees go, Dan? I understand your ethos regarding “when the tree appears, my job is done”, but there must be a limit on just what you’re prepared to part with!
I’m loving your ‘hedge scene’, btw. I’ve seen several similar miniature landscapes by an American artist (I think?) which I liked, but yours is such a typically British scene (ok, deshojo isn’t strictly a common sight in our countryside!).
I’d love to have a go at something similar in the future. I think scenes like this will help attract more people (especially youngsters) into the bonsai world, which can only be a good thing, right?
Dan – This is a very impressive web site.
One day,if we ever have time, we would like to learn how you do it.
Your content is impressive and has a gripping impact and we’re not bonsai practitioners.
Well done
Worked on bonsai all day so i’m too tired to do anything but look at bonsai tonight. I try to keep up with your bonsai container development. Great creative work.
Joe Day
Mobile, Alabama
wonderful ! =D
well taken pictures, and very beautiful bonsai
Hello…
We met in Toulouse over 20 years ago during one of your demonstrations with L’arbre en pot.
Going through your site I just recognized this hawthorn that I know by heart, because it’s in your book, and because I cloned it in a very convincing way, giving it a perfect twin.
You’d be amazed at their similarity!
Your book has been with me since 1991, when I borrowed it from a friend…and never returned it. Much too precious !
Only now do I venture in using some of the techniques you teach. I honestly have some difficulties in cutting or pealing some perfectly healthy areas on a tree. I already had this problem when we met, and you said there was nothing wrong with unconventional bonsais.
Well, I guess I’m more Chinese than Japanese….and I suppose there is nothing wrong about that either, as long as the trees look nice.
G.L
hi grampa cool tiger
cool wesite hi grampa
Hi Dan,
I am searching for information on Bonsai and came across your blog. It is breathtaking and inspiring. Your work is beautiful and the imagery you have created inspires me.
I have been looking for something that meshes with ideas I have not been able to define so that I could continue porcelain art (china painting) with something I am at peace with. Bonsai art may be that inspiration I have been looking for.
Your photography is something I would like to use as studies for ideas I have. I would be painting small pieces of porcelain, generally shards of china from plates with imagery I incorporate in other art pieces. I would be developing my technique and style, ultimately attempting a realistic rendering of the Bonsai in total (tree and pot).
May I use some of your photos as studies for these paintings?
Thanks for your blog and your beautiful work.
Best wishes,
Rick Truhn
Lakeland, Florida
Hi Dan,
My name is Brendon and I live in New Zealand. I was lent a copy of your book “The definitive Bonsai Guide”, approximately 8 years ago. It inspired me to take up Bonsai with vigor. A copy was aquired by myself through “Trade Me”, and it remains my most informative and inspirational book to date. The first couple of years for me was a lot more trial and error, rather than progress. It wasen’t until after that, I could look at my previous creations, and Potensai, and see their real potential. I quickly moved onto your air layering and other techniques / quides, with much success. As I went over the top to start with (and wound up with over 50 Bonsai in a very short space of time),I soon realised I would need to be more selective with future trees. At present, I have about 30 trees in the ground, fattening up. They range from Oaks, Olives, Tridents, Elms, Blue Cedar, Chinese Quince, Thunbergii, Ficus etc etc. My trees range from shohin, to larger Bonsai, Privot, Cedar, and our native Pohutakawa etc. I would ramble on shamelessly, but my point is as follows. I hope you are as happy in the knowledge that people are still inspired by your works, as I am happy in the knowledge you have passed on to me.
Regards, Brendon.
very many thanks Brendan for your very kind comments.
Just thought i would say thank you.
About 15 years ago,i bought a bonsia book,becuase i thought the tree on the cover looked nice.It was one of yours,and had no idea how much the trees in there would influence me and set me on my way to creating my own bonsia.
Your trees still give me great pleasure,to this very day and still influence me into an even greater pleasure in creating and maintaining my own!
THANK YOU..
dave..
hi mr barton , i was at exminster earlier this year when you did a critique . very enjoyable . i have been applieing this straightline technique to my trees ever since , and got to say it works , would like to have copy number one of your new book . will you please finnish it ?
HI Dan hows things hope you are well. i dont no if you remember but i asked you for help with a Hawthorn that had started to come into leaf march 2010 but then just stopped what leaf it had all turned brown and fell off. i followed the advice that you gave me but nothing seemed to happen so i just left it and forgot about it. That is until i was cleaning up round my other bonsai at the beginning of November and noticed that it had started to come into bud again. so now its in my poly tunnel full of leaf and doing really well and to think i nearly binned it. so i would just like to say thank you very much for your help and advice. Have a cool Yule and a grate new year
Regards Paul……
very nice bonsay .my name flavio henrique i live in brazil .
beautiful works.