The Complete Book of Bonsai

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational, beautifully photographed and illustrated
Review: Harry Tomlinson's "The Complete Book of Bonsai" is a wonderfully inspirational work for the bonsai enthusiast. The photographs are enormous, showing the necessary detail to illustrate his points. The text is enjoyable and geared to all levels of experience. The species guide is thorough and informative. This book is meant to be opened again and again, a must for anyone interested in the art of bonsai

Rating:
Summary: excellent beginner's manual
Review: I am a novice Bonsai enthusiast with little prior horticultural experience. Harry Tomlinson's book is an excellent starting point for practicing the art of Bonsai. There are numerous illustrative photographs throughout the text displaying the basic techniques of tree maintenance. In addition to instruction in the basic skills necessary for successful cultivation there are also in depth descriptions on each of the suitable species delineating appropriate styling, pruning, potting, watering, and propagation methods for each. Overall, a comprehensive first source.

Rating:
Summary: Perfection!!!
Review: I became intersted in bonsai several years ago and have read and purchased numerous books on the subject. "The Complete Book of Bonsai" by Harry Tomlinson is absolutely the very best on the subject I have ever come across.

What makes this book so outstanding is the lavish photographs of every imaginable bonsai species. The photography is so impressive, I had this book displayed on my coffee table for a number of years! When guests came over and looked through my book, they were always amazed at the beauty that well trained bonsai possess. Included in the section on bonsai species are impressive examples of English Elm, English Oak, European White Birch and many others. Many of the specimen pictured are 30 or more years old and beautiful examples of what bonsai can be.

Also included are numerous pictures of bonsai "forests" containing multiple plantings and plantings using the root-over-rock style. Detailed instruction for creating such plantings are included, as well as instructions for creating jins (which are carved or torn branches) to give the appearance of age.

More importantly though is the detailed, illustrated instructions on creating a basic bonsai, which I followed to the letter to create a charming wired juniper from a purchased garden center plant in just a few hours time. Instruction is so detailed and well presented that even a beginner, which I was at the time, could have really awesome results on their first attempt.

Also included in the book are chapters entitled "The Art of Bonsai", "Routine Maintenance" and "Propogation Techniques". This book is really extensive and covers everything you need to know. Once you see it, read it, and follow the simple instructions to create your very own bonsai... you'll be hooked for life!

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in bonsai, trees or gardening... it is well worth every dime!!!

Rating:
Summary: Probably the best organised bonsai book ever written !!!
Review: I have been searching for bonsai books for a really long time. There were many books that I bought and read but I can certainly say that this book, firstly explains and defines what the philosophy of bonsai is. It is an art form of exact esthetism. The book also is an efficient How To book. The index it contains gives much information on alot of species with fine pictures. It absolutelly gives you the pleasure to deal with this breathtaking art of miniaturised trees.

Rating:
Summary: Instructive introduction to bonsai
Review: I recently grew an iterest in bonsai and decided to do some research before I killed any trees. I work in a library and found nearly a dozen bonsai titles that I poured myself into. Overall, I found this one to be the best single title one would want to buy to get started in the art. Overall, the book is very helpful in showing you step by step photos and diagrams for every aspect of creating and maintaining a tree. My favorite part about this book is the species guide. There are many, many species, each with one or two full pages dedicated to it, each listing watering, feeding, soil composition, etc... along with a very beautiful specimine to inspire you.

Rating:
Summary: From a beginning Bonsai enthusiast
Review: If you own a Bonsai, or are thinking about getting one you shoudl have MORE than one Bonsai book. No Bonsai book is perfect, but this one has great information and pictures that help illustrate what the Bonsai is supposed to look like and what you shoudl be doing. Save your Bonsai and get this book! :)

Rating:
Summary: Nice.. but wish it had a little more technical information
Review: The book has LOVELY pictures and explains some tecniques but I wish tha he would have gone a little more in depth and been more specfic... the "instructions" were overly generalized.

I still recomend it though.

Rating:
Summary: If you have only one bonsai book, this is the one.
Review: The book is a clear and precise aide to the facts which will help you to start and then to expand your bonsai skills.It is very informative and is the ulitmate reference guide to any enthusiast. I was attending a 'lilac masterclass', instructed by harry at his nursery when I first picked up the book, and I have found that it has become 'my bible' to keeping bonsai.You simply must get it!!!

Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: The book was not great. It stressed that bonsai is an outdoor activity which I think is false. The book lacked instruction on many topics.

Rating:
Summary: From a beginning Bonsai enthusiast
Review: This book was very helpful to the beginner. It shows quality photographs and had very informative explanations about the different aspects of caring for Bonsai trees. It took the doubt out of my mind about wheather I could raise and properly care for a Bonsai tree I could be proud of. Great book!