Adjacent to the Shimpukuji Temple in Okazaki, one can visit a very fine bonsai museum. A rotating selection of trees fills both indoor and outdoor displays. When the ume bloom, they fill the indoor display area.

I like ume because they capture some very important aspects of bonsai. The bark shows great age. The flowers, in contrast to the bark and deadwood, offer evidence of life and suggest that spring isn’t far off. Ume is one of the few deciduous varieties that feature deadwood. Plus, the scent of the blossoms is wonderful. Here are some photos from Boon Manakitivipart’s visit to the bonsai museum at Shinpukuji this past winter.