Happy Bonsai: Choose It, Shape It, Love It

by Michael Tran

Busting myths and making bonsai accessible to everyone, Happy Bonsai will make you fall in love with this most meditative of garden crafts.

Do you know your shari from your nebari? Can you tell a raft display from a semi-cascade? Do bonsai grow better indoors or out? When is the best time to prune? How do you create that windswept look? Happy Bonsai has all the answers, plus expert tips such as why pruning roots is just as important as pruning branches.

Forty tree profiles provide easy-to-follow growing information, with both day-to-day and seasonal care advice, along with ideas and tips for how to shape and display. Specialty techniques--such as repotting, wire training branches, defoliating, and root and branch pruning--are explained with illustrations for each stage of the process. Techniques are then put into practice with demonstrations of how to achieve the main types of bonsai display, from an informal upright specimen to a forest group or root-over-rock display.

Genres: Nonfiction, Plants

144 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2020

Reviews

[BarbaraW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book. DKs are the best and so beautifully illustrated.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been interested in Bonsai trees and there is a lot more work involved than I thought. Interesting read.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Happy Bonsai: Choose It, Shape It, Love It is a beginner friendly tutorial and introduction to the art and philosophy of bonsai by Michael Tran. Due out 5th May 2020 from Penguin Random House on their DK imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a really well written introduction to bonsai aimed at keen beginner level to expert gardeners. There is a good introduction with some history, current state of the hobby, a very short capsule introduction to tree growth and botany, as well as short 1-2 page tutorials on choosing pots and accessories, plant materials, and training bonsai into different shapes. The second section of the book includes profiles and information for 40 different species (all with accompanying photos). In fact the entire book is beautifully photographed with an accessible and understandable graphic layout.

Gorgeous gorgeous bonsai in all their glory, showing a wide variety of species trained into both traditional and modern silhouettes. Worthwhile and inspirational.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book is so eye-catching, just like the cute bonsai trees that have always fascinated me. I have always wanted to own one, but up until now I was too intimidated. I always heard they were a lot of work and hard to take care of. However, after reading this book I feel confident enough to finally purchase one. In the first half of the book, the author thoroughly explains the basics like what tools are needed, how often to water, how and when to prune, what pot to choose, and types of common pests and diseases. He also goes into more depth about how to shape your tree using techniques like wire to grow branches in certain directions, creating a cascading style, revealing your tree's deadwood, and growing the trunk in a specific direction. Then the second half of the book contains details for type of bonsai tree and whether it's best grown indoor or outdoor, how often to water it, how to best prune it, and when to repot it. This book is a wonderful and comprehensive resource for anyone interested in growing and caring for bonsai trees.

*Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. However, all opinions are my own.*

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive book on choosing and caring for Bonsai trees. I really loved reading it. I have never been brave enough to try growing my own Bonsai because I kill almost all houseplants. Only the hardiest and less needy plants survive my care. This book makes even me feel brave enough that if chosen carefully I could cultivate and care for a Bonsai.

I can truly see the joy and love caring for a Bonsai can foster. It has such a calming and therapeutic quality to nurturing and shaping your creation which is a long journey spanning years of careful cultivation. Each one an individual creation of it's owners personality skill level and dedication.

I truly loved the history of original Bonsai trees and the fact they are hardy by nature. I find it fascinating that choosing a pot is one of the major aspects of the Bonsai and is chosen with the specific plant in mind to ensure the adherence to tradition and proper care. This book is incredibly fascinating and I loved it. This is a true collectible for a Bonsai enthusiast or anyone wanting to explore this fascinating hobby. I highly recommend it. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Terrie Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic encyclopedia of Bonsai trees. It shows many different types of Bonsai, how to grow them and how to care for them. The general growing and caring for sections are followed by specific instructions for the type of Bonsai tree being addressed.

Descriptions and illustrations of each tree type are included. I learned a tremendous amount of information from this book. It is a must for anyone interested in owning a Bonsai tree.


I received an ARC from DK through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

[Kerrie Hoar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved bonsai and dreamed of growing one.  I have even tried a couple of times over the years, with little success.  This book gives me the incentive to try again and makes me think that I might be able to actually do it.  With fantastic photos, detailed instructions and tons of illustrations, the author walks you through everything from choosing a plant and a pot to proper tree training and possible pests.

(NetGalley ebook -  I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

[Kai Metcalfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! The first 50 pages or so are dedicated to teaching you the basics of bonsai. How trees grow, how to prune, wire, and shape, pots and potting medium, light, food, EVERYTHING. The photographs are incredible, but I do wish there was more than the one picture for each species. Also, the page layout on a few profiles was weird but forgivable. I like the format, content, and photos.

[Megan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the first part, teaching the basics of the art of bonsai. I've read quite a bit on bonsai recently, and I felt that it covered the basics in a clear and easy to digest way that I really appreciated, while also including some helpful tips and ideas that I hadn't ever encountered before.

I didn't find the tree profiles quite as useful as other sources, largely because it contained few trees that grow well in my area (very hot summers), but they were still a handy reference.

[Valerie Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book, packed full of everything you need to know about growing bonsai. It's published by DK so you know it's going to be well laid out and have wonderful photos and illustrations. I checked this book out of the library right after I went to a Bonsai show. I was so impressed with the plants and wanted to know more about the 'care and feeding' involved. After reading the book, I realize that there is no way that I will ever be able to care for a bonsai plant. In fact the one that I bought at my local nursery lasted only about 3 months before it started looking so sad and dry. I will stick to appreciating bonsai at the local botanical gardens instead. But I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to try their hand at raising bonsai.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

[Rev · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information in this book is laid out in a concise and easy to understand way, with plenty of visual diagrams for how to actually accomplish what is being explained in the text. I also enjoyed the bonsai profiles for each of the types of trees that can be grown for bonsai, and how they're styled.

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a DK book about 盆栽(bonsai), which has recently become a hobby not only in Japan but worldwide. Basic information about bonsai, how to grow, and necessary tools are explained.

I have never tried bonsai before, but I feel that the art of seeking perfection within a small frame is beautiful, and thought I would try it someday, learning from a Japanese master.

[Marla Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband is currently president of GNOBS (Greater New Orleans Bonsai Society). He’s taught me some things about bonsai, and while I’m not heavily involved in bonsai, I do find it interesting and wanted to learn more. This book provides beautiful, easy to understand pictorial representations of various bonsai and related techniques. Recommend to anybody who’s curious to learn some basics.

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't get much better than this - short and concise. I'd say this is pretty much the perfect book for beginners and while it's not terribly long, the tree profiles that occupy roughly 50% of the book could be very useful, although it's not entirely exhaustive.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewired my bonsais, love that it has a section on native British trees, particularly oak. Can care for mine properly now. Mildly disappointed there are not more British species of trees included but it's okay

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to keeping bonsai.

[Heather ***Has Moved To StoryGraph*** · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still don’t know what I don’t know because this is all so new, but I felt like I learned a lot from this book and that it had the right amount of each kind of info.

[J.P. Bailey]

Helped me to keep our bonsai healthy and growing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy introduction to the many styles of bonsai, with dozens of examples

[DonutKnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to know the different terms- even relating to pots!! 😲😲😲