Freestyle Bonsai: How to pot, grow, prune, and shape - Bend the rules of traditional bonsai

This book is amazing. It contains all the information that a novice would need, plus a lot of ideas for more advanced projects.The pictures are gorgeous, and it is fun to recognise the trees that were featured on their YouTube channel.The book itself is robust (hardcover) and colourful. Great book!The only negative note is in the shipping: Amazon decided to put it in a flimsy cardboard envelope together with a tube of cutting paste.As a result, the hard cover was bent. I would have expected more attention from a company that started selling books. Make sure when you order your copy that it’s shipped separately and keep your finger crossed!

As an advanced beginner, and after reading many bonsai books, I have bought the book with the intention to get inspiration about "thinking out of the box" regarding bonsai cultivation. However, the book has left me with mixed feelings.On the one hand, the book provides for an excellent introduction and manual for bonsai beginners and advanced beginners alike. It conveys the basics of bonsai (species, tools, pruning, wiring, potting, soil, etc.) in a comprehensive, compelling and motivating way. In addition it describes how to achieve different traditional bonsai styles (upright, cascade, over rock, etc.) in a very understandable and visually pleasing way. So, for tackling bonsai basics and developing a solid base, this book is superior over many others I have read and is therefore a recommended buy.On the other hand, and despite the promises made on the cover and introduction, the book does almost never go beyond creating a solid base. Neither is it "freestyle" nor does it really bend any rules of bonsai. Instead the book provides mostly traditional approaches, and the authors recommend their own additional experiences (such as soil mix). Admittedly, the authors often say that one should experiment and one should not be afraid to fail - so far so good. However, very little creative inspiration or at least exotic examples (apart from one bonsai with a statue) is given, which would help thinking out of the box with bonsai without failing too often. At least from this perspective, one should refrain from buying the book.

I pre-ordered this book as soon as I knew about it. Ive been watching Jerome and Mari on their youtube channel for years. They are very talented, fun to watch and they create beautiful stuff. This is a great book for beginners and experienced bonsai artists. Jerome really is a freestyles and this takes a lot of fear out of the process and lets you relax into to doing it YOUR way. Highly recommend this book and especially as a present to someone looking to start a new hobby.

This beautifully illustraded book takes you by the hand on an adventurous journey through the bonsai world. It makes you want to start with this ancient art right away or expand your existing knowledge.The detailed information on each area of bonsai growing is clearly written and the step-by-step explanations are accompanied by photos. Summary: An educational and exciting book and last but not least, a great gift for yourself and friends.

Great book for beginners to intermediate. Many great photos. Excellent detailed informational. Very inspirational and educational.