It’s always a treat when I get to visit bonsai gardens that I don’t see very often. Although it’s thrilling to see great trees for the first time, revisiting favorites can be particularly satisfying.
I had both experiences on a recent trip to Ryan Neil’s garden, Bonsai Mirai.
Since my last visit seven years ago, a lot has changed. Most notably, the number of spectacular bonsai at Mirai has increased significantly.
Ponderosa pine
There’s never enough time to study favorites, but I treat every moment with great trees as precious and as an opportunity to learn.
By far my favorites on this trip were the Ponderosa pines. On the best specimens the twists outdo junipers and the age of the deadwood is incredible.
Ponderosa pine
Deadwood detail
Ponderosa bonsai can take many different forms, but the constants are interesting movement, great bark, and aged deadwood.
Ponderosa pine
Ponderosa pines
Ponderosa pine
I had a chance to catch up with Ryan during the visit and learn about some of the recent improvements to the Mirai garden.
In addition to creating a beautiful greenhouse, Ryan added a striking shade structure to help with the summer heat.
Mirai’s shade structure
Ryan in the workshop
Because no visit to Mirai is complete without appreciating the collected junipers, here are two very different, and very interesting, specimens, including a favorite, No. 1.
Rocky Mountain Juniper No. 1
(Learn more about Rocky Mountain Juniper No. 1)
Rocky Mountain juniper
Thanks to Ryan, Ira, and the rest of the Mirai crew for their hospitality!
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Lars Larsson says
Well timed!
A neighbour passed an extra young ponderosa across the fence to me. I intend on passing the pine to a teen who has expressed interest in conifers. But passing the pine, and forwarding this post will perhaps be just that much better.
Thank you and your hosts
Jonathan Jee says
Sorry I cannot comment on an old post about PBE… but Jonas can you tell us what the table height and width is for both the extra large trees and large trees are? For those aspiring to participate in future PBEs I want to make sure I have a stand that fits correctly.
I could not find this information on the PBE website.
Sincerely, Jonathan
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Jonathan! We’ll be updating the Expo site with this info when we open the call of entries next spring. In the meantime, the table sizes will likely be the same as last year, 4’x8′ for for extra large displays and 30″ x 6′ for all other displays. We plan to give exhibitors a choice of which size display they’d like to use.
Jonathan Jee says
Thank you so much. Appreciate it!
Jonathan Jee says
Actually sorry can you tell me the table height not just the length and width. I want to make sure my tree on the stand that I’m making is at an appropriate height.
Jonas Dupuich says
The 6′ tables were about 30″ tall and the 8′ tables were about 24″ tall. The backdrops were 7′-3″, that may or may not change for next time.
Jonathan Jee says
Understood. Thanks for clarifying.