Bonsai magazine subscription...which is/are the best?

I am planning on putting a subscription (one for now) but would love to see what you guys (and gals) prefer.

Can you give me your favorite bonsai magazine? Say the top 3 in your opinion? (in order if possible, first being best )

I like eye candy bonsai pics and technique tutorial or bonsai step by step progress if that helps you make any suggestions. BTW, it has to be in English and hard copy (not digital).

Thank you!

P.S. I have a few older issues of Bonsai Focus and I really like it...is there anything better? I would like to use it as the benchmark if possible.

The ONLY one I still subscribe to is International Bonsai, Bill Valavanis' magazine.

“Bonsai Magazine” is the official publication of Bonsai Clubs International. (www.bonsai-bci.com) 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. The magazine is published quarterly. Both the BCI and the ABS magazines carry calendars of upcoming events. You can visit the ABS site at www.absbonsai.org

“Bonsai Today” another bi-monthly magazine 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

International Bonsai Magazine http://www.internationalbonsai.com/page/1403493 is published by Bill Valvanis.

While I have seen the others from time to time I only subscribe to Bonsai Magazine as part of my BCI membership.

Bonsai Focus for me.
This has been the most reliable reference for the last 20 years including it's predecesesors.
Good balance of quality material and beginers tutorials from the best artists.
Billy, Bonsai Today has been absorbed by Bonsai Focus.

I think Europe is its own Bonsai world and Bonsai Focus is European.

Poink88 wrote:I am planning on putting a subscription (one for now)

Dario,

I know from your posts your are a frugal buzzsterd,

Most bang for the buck is right there at stonelantern,
back issues of Bonsai Today, hey the info never goes stale

70 percent off

Good luck

haha i agree with rock. i bought every issue they had at stonelantern cause all mags are 70% off. they are great mags. awesome toilet material etc. each issue is a good 70 pages. i also like bonsai focus but the script is a bit pricey and idk how much ur willling to spend.

and bill, bonsai focus is from Europe but they do ship subscriptions to america, its just a little bit more expensive due to them shipping it to the US

rock wrote:Dario,

I know from your posts your are a frugal buzzsterd,

Most bang for the buck is right there at stonelantern, back issues of Bonsai Today, hey the info never goes stale

70 percent off

Good luck

Frugal I am and that is not bad. I am actually after good value. 70% off is great...I'll order a few and see how it compares to Bonsai Focus.

Thanks!!!

any of the kimura specials are great issues

stagz wrote:awesome toilet material

Can we safely assume you mean to read in the toilet rather than the other use?

fiona- READ while on the toilet by all means! i have a stack of em right on the tank!

I used to love getting Bonsai Today so much I bought a 3yr subscription, only 2 months in they sold out to Bonsai Focus and my subscription was null and void! So now I stick to IB ,Abs, BCI! Well that's my two cents worth, exit stage right!

Mitch

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:I think Europe is its own Bonsai world and Bonsai Focus is European.

I believe good reference has no boundaries. The ones I have featured; American, Japanese, European, South American, etc. artists. It does not discriminate & neither do I.

stagz wrote:fiona- READ while on the toilet by all means! i have a stack of em right on the tank!

Peter Adams and Colin lewis are always at the ready in my privy..I wonder how many other Bonsai spouses or roommates have to deal with our necessary reading materials in the bathroom?

That cracks me up
-Jay

stagz wrote:fiona- READ while on the toilet by all means! i have a stack of em right on the tank!

This happened to me while doing woodworking...my magazine of choice changed...that is the time I realized I got old.

Just had the chance to browse a back issue of Bonsai Focus this past weekend - not sure of the date of the issue - but it looked like a pretty good magazine. Couldn't figure out how much shipping would be to the U.S. (the website wouldn't tell me that until I registered), does anyone know the total cost for a 1 year subscription in USD?

Bonsai Focus is $65.00 for 6 issues. I subscribe to it, international Bonsai, and Journal of the ABS. I like to renew International Bonsai toward the end of the year, because all 4 issues arrive at once, and provide some fresh holiday reading!

Thanks Brian!

stagz wrote: awesome toilet material etc. .

yea baby, great minds poo alike

Brian Van Fleet wrote:Bonsai Focus is $65.00 for 6 issues. I subscribe to it, international Bonsai, and Journal of the ABS. I like to renew International Bonsai toward the end of the year, because all 4 issues arrive at once, and provide some fresh holiday reading!

Brian,

If you can only have one...which will you choose? If you wish, you can answer this through PM.

Thank you.

That's tough, they're all good for different reasons. I try to not miss an issue of either BF or IB! I'm new to ABS, but will be renewing it too.

PM sent.

I'd advise that you look at back issues of all of them. If you belong to a club, many clubs have "libraries" with older magazines in them -- usually BT and either the BCI or ABS magazines. Bill V sells back issues of International Bonsai. I dunno about Bonsai Focus -- like BT, it seems to most often deal in the kinds of bonsai (BIG!) that I don't grow.

Thanks Jim,

Joey actually told me through email that I can check out the magazines mentioned here bound by year from our bonsai club. I will probably do that before choosing.

Dario,

Bonsai Today 1 to 34 or so.
If you need, I can photocopy a few pages and send to you.
Later.
Khaimraj