This is the Home page Page Links are at the top of the page For an interesting website featuring other Black Hills forest products go to www.akerwoods.com http://www.akerwoods.comshapeimage_2_link_0

Ordering and Shipping

    Before ordering a tree, e-mail or call to make sure the tree is still available. (goldenarrow@wildblue.net, 605-342-4467).

    After confirming your order I will hold the tree for you. Payment is expected within 10 days, unless other arrangements have been made. For payment I accept checks, money orders and Paypal. Make checks to: Golden Arrow Bonsai. Paypal payments should be sent to goldenarrow@wildblue.net. For Paypal only add 3% to the price of the tree (tree price X 1.03 + shipping = total). To learn more about Paypal go to www.paypal.com.

    I ship almost all trees by UPS ground. Very large specimens are shipped by truck. Books and DVDs go US mail. I ship year-round, except when the temperature is below zero or over 100 F. The trees travel very well. After unpacking they should be watered and put in a bright location, but not in full sun, for a few days to adjust to their new conditions. After that they can be put in their normal spot.

    My Guarantee: Any tree can be returned for a full refund within 14 days of delivery. The tree has to be in the condition it arrived in and you cannot have repotted, pruned, or wired it. There is no refund on shipping costs.

Moss on a cedar
Bonsai is a wonderful art, hobby, and quest, that takes it’s inspiration from nature. The beauty and wild feeling of an Black Hills Spruce, literati style, Estimated age 100 years ancient forest tree are recreated in a small space where it can be carefully tended and developed for years, decades and even centuries.
Look at the wild trunks on this ancient limber pine and juniper! Only century after century of incredibly harsh conditions can create character like this.
The tree on the left is a full-size, old ponderosa pine in the Black Hills with an incredible knot in the trunk. I’m not sure what caused it. The upper right picture is of a small ponderosa pine in the Black Hills with a similarly extreme knot in the trunk. I collected this tree for bonsai training in 2002. The lower right picture shows it during it’s first year in a pot. The two pictures below show the tree during initial phases of styling.
The picture at left shows the tree as it appears today. I call this tree “Seven Foot Tall,” because when I first measured the length of the trunk, around all the curves, it was a little over seven feet long. It stands 23” tall today. The estimated age is 125+ years. Shown in a Sara Raynor pot.
Some of the most desirable trees to use for creating a bonsai are specimens collected from nature that may already be quite old and show the distinctive character and charm that come with a long and relentless struggle to survive.
Golden Arrow Bonsai specializes in transplanting wild trees for bonsai training from the rugged mountains of the American west. Transplanting trees for bonsai, with a valid permit, is legal on select locations throughout the west. The photo above shows a 150-200 year old ponderosa pine growing on a rock outcrop in the Black Hills. Only a small percentage of such trees are in a situation that will allow them to be transplanted.
On the left is an old Black Hills spruce that I’ve been working with for many years. The estimated age is about 200 years. It’s shown in a Sara Raynor pot. Below that is a large, very old Rocky Mtn juniper that I collected in 2002 that has since been cared for and styled by a customer. The picture was taken at the International Bonsai Symposium. Estimated age would be around 1,000 years. Very impressive!
Here’s a phoenix graft using spruce seedlings on a beautiful piece of juniper driftwood.
This is one of my all-time favorite pines. Look at the incredible twists of the trunk! Estimated age would be 250-300 years.
This is a pair of young black Hills spruce. I split and intertwined the trunks. As they get older they will get more and more interesting.
Here’s one I just worked on. The branch that’s now the lowest was originally the crown. With proper technique many changes are possible to the design of the tree.
This is a common juniper that I recently wired. the trunk and deadwood are great. Estimated age would be about 125 years.
Andrew Smith, Golden Arrow Bonsai, 22473 Alpine Acres Dr., Deadwood, SD 57732. 605-342-4467. Goldenarrow@wildblue.netmailto:goldenarrow@wildblue.netshapeimage_16_link_0
More!
This tiny Black Hills spruce is 50-75 years old and just beginning bonsai class!