Shinji Suzuki couldn’t possible maintain so many beautiful bonsai without help from several skilled apprentices. Gardens like this require a lot of effort.
Suzuki’s garden
Today Matt, Yusuke, and Tyler work at the Obuse garden, watering, wiring, and tirelessly carrying trees in and out of the workshop.
Yusuke watering
Fortunately not all of the trees require a lot of moving. The two red pines below have lived at Daiju-en and the Imperial Palace. They’ve been recuperating at Suzuki’s for at least the past two years. They’re looking great.
Akamatsu, Boon, Akamatsu
Here is a photo of the same two trees from my visit to the garden on 2009. The trees were very thin at the time – it’s nice to see so much improvement.
Akamatsu – February 2009
Even the assorted accents around the garden looked great. Although they were likely intended for use at Kokufu or some other exhibit, they are another example of the level of care that went into everything at Suzuki’s garden.
Kusamono
Kusamono
Kusamono
With the one exception of the photo from 2009, all photos here are from Boon Manakitivipart’s February, 2011, visit to Japan.
Kaede
Ezo matsu
Shimpaku
Bonsai
Bonsai
It’s nice to see that not all of the trees in Suzuki’s garden are show-ready. Grafting projects, escape branches, and freshly carved deadwood can be found on many of the benches. What sets the garden apart is that all of the material is outstanding.
Momiji
Tosho
Goyomatsu
Shimpaku
Goyomatsu
Goyomatsu
Ezo matsu
Shimpaku
Shimpaku
Shimpaku
Goyomatsu
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Daniel Dolan says
September 16, 2011 at 6:20 amJonas:
Fantastic pictures.
In the first image one gets the sense that this greenhouse structure is very large.
What would you say are the approximate dimensions of the enclosed area?
Thanks,
D/D
xwires says
September 16, 2011 at 8:58 amHi Daniel – I don’t remember exactly how big the enclosed area is at Suzuki’s. It’s been two years and the place was nearing the end of construction when I was there. It’s good sized and very tidy – that’s what stuck out to me.
Scott Roxburght Roxburgh says
September 19, 2011 at 2:57 amHi Jonas,
Do you know what the 2nd and last Kusamono are, that last one is great!
Scott
xwires says
September 20, 2011 at 2:27 pmHi Scott – the penultimate might be a saxifraga, but I’m not familiar with the last one – maybe another reader knows.
Boon says
September 20, 2011 at 2:33 pmScott.
The second one is saxifrage
The third one is horse tail shoots that start to come out in late winter. I used to go out and picked them up before the show. My teacher cut them into different length and arranged them one by one.
William says
September 22, 2011 at 1:58 pmBrilliant, I have never seen so much amazing material in one place (except some exhibitions). Wish I could visit Suzuki’s garden one day..
Phil Lanceley says
October 2, 2011 at 7:50 amHi,is the Shimpaku with the small black pots having air layers or grafts? Phil
xwires says
October 2, 2011 at 11:00 amHi Phil – it looks like the black pots are supporting the plants used for approach grafts. My guess is that they’re swapping out the original foliage for new foliage.