I had the opportunity to visit Michael Hagedorn’s garden in September. It had been a while since I’d last been there and I was pleased to see so many changes. There were more new trees than I could count and the trees I remember are coming along so quickly that they almost looked new again.
Strolling through the garden was a great reminder of lessons I try to keep in mind as I think about my own collection. For example, how great it is to see a variety of mature deciduous species.
Zelkova, ginkgo, and chojubai bonsai
You can never have too much movement.
Twisty pine
Not every plant in the garden needs to be a bonsai.
Equisetum
It’s fun to think outside the box.
Floating juniper
Floating pine
If you’re going to work with collected material, select material with outstanding characteristics.
Fantastic movement
Awesome deadwood
Dynamic movement
Appreciate pines thick and thin.
Black pine
Delicate pine
Grow moss whenever possible.
Mosses, lichens, and sundry elements adorning the surface of the soil
If you’re going to collect pots, collect good ones.
An assortment of bonsai pots
There’s always room on the bench for unique trees.
Cascading juniper
Be on the lookout for Michael’s forthcoming book, Bonsai Heresy, next year, and on the off chance you aren’t already reading it, I highly recommend following Michael’s work on his blog.
