Review: Bonsai Magazines

Title: Bonsai Magazines
Book Report/Bonsai Magazines
By: Ken Schultz and Zack Clayton

Magazines have a different effect than books. Normally you must go specifically to a library, bookstore or a booksellers website to make a selection. Magazines are delivered to your mailbox on a regular basis once you’ve made the decision to subscribe. For me, this results in rekindled interest in some aspect of my collection. Also, I have been know to take my magazines on trips, and if I notice that I’m near one of the advertisers locations, I’ve made short expeditions to their nursery. This is how Meehans has become a potential visiting location when we drive to see Linda’s son in Washington D.C.

A bonsai purchased at one of these local vendors on a vacation trip makes a great souvenir of the trip, although transportation home can present a challenge. I have safely transported living purchases home when gotten at the tail end of the trip. Just be aware of the agricultural regulations of your travel route home. you wouldn’t want to have it confiscated at an inspection station.

Essentially there are three magazines available to the American public. None of them are monthly, two are bi-monthly and one is quarterly. Two of them are published by the larger Club organizations. “Bonsai Magazine” is the official publication of Bonsai Clubs International. (www.bonsai-bci.com) A one year membership is $36.00. BCI is a worldwide organization and you can see the efforts of artists not only in the US, but Europe and Asia too. “Bonsai Magazine” is a great place to see what is happening in other countries and emphasizes the social aspects of Bonsai and the camaraderie of enthusiasts. It also has a section devoted to viewing stones. This is not usually where I look for ‘how to’ articles, but it does have a great picture gallery..

“Bonsai, Journal of the American Bonsai Society” is as its title indicates. An annual membership is $28. The magazine is published quarterly. Since the magazine is published in Toledo, by joining you would be supporting some part of Ohio’s bonsai economy. Both the BCI and the ABS magazines carry calendars of upcoming events. You can visit the ABS site at www.absbonsai.org Our Club is a member of both BCI and ABS.

“Bonsai Today” is the other bi-monthly magazine. A currently annual subscription is $45.00. While many of its articles are Japanese Translations, you will also find contributors from the artists who write for ABS and BCI. This magazine is offered by Stone Lantern Publishing, www.stonelantern.com All three of these magazines can be found in the Club’s Library; if you are patient and aren’t concerned that you might miss a calendar event, as a member you can check out issues with trees, or stylings that catch your interest; but you have to come to our meetings regularly to make your selections and to return items borrowed. “Bonsai Today” has great how to articles and the pictures do a good job of illustrating what the technique described will accomplish. It usually has several articles of interest in each issue.