The Bonsai Workshop

I was mostly...unimpressed by the bonsai books you normally find in a book store, so I asked my mentor(world famous) for a good suggestion for a book. He suggested this book. I went out and bought it. It is so easy to understand. It made the hardest stuff seem easy. It put everything that would seem extremely difficult into words even a beginner could understand. I used this book to save a tree that was almost killed by Hurricane Katrina! Using this book I still havn't lost a single tree.

This is a great book that I find myself reading over and over. Herb presents the art of Bonsai in a practical way, rather than an esoteric concept. There are numerous real life examples throughout the book, that will encourage the aspiring bonsai artist, and show that it really is possible to create beautiful bonsai from ordinary trees. It's the best hands-on bonsai book I've ever read.

Herb Gustafson presents the (often intimidating) art of Bonsai in a simple, straightforward and encouraging manner. Yet he is through. The photos are clear and to the point. I have been working Bonsai for 40 years and came away encouraged and excited, lifted to a feeling of renewal. Well worth the already bargain price. Thanks, Herb, for a job well done.

This is the best book on the art of bonsai that I have ever read. It gives an interesting history of bonsai. The author thouroughly describes the rules, methods, and styles. There are countless examples on how to create, train, and maintain your own bonsai. The book contains several pictrures of excellent exmples of ancient, finished bonsai.

Bonsai is an art form where one continues learning, year after year and plant after plant. Even the experienced need an occasional refresher. This book can give that reminder. The author wrote the book using his notes from a beginner's class that he taught. When I first read the book, I thought, "How could I have forgotten that?" If I had been a beginner, I would have thought, "How logical!" This book, if nothing else, inspires one to do as the author says and shows. I found myself wanting to go buy or find a suitable tree and pot it, even if it was the wrong season. This is expert advice. This is a book that is understandable. This book makes Bonsai "do-able". For the beginner it takes the "fear" out ofof doing things that may be scarry. Buy this book