A visit to Kenji Miyata’s garden

When I found out I was going to Atlanta, I immediately made plans to visit Kenji Miyata’s garden. Kenji is a Japanese-trained bonsai professional who spent the majority of his career in the US, first in California, and now in Georgia. Kenji studied with Yasuo Mitsuya (Boon’s first teacher in Japan) where he learned black pine care and became known as one of the top professionals working with cryptomeria.

Miyata’s garden in McDonough, Georgia

Today Kenji shares the bonsai work with his wife Toyoko. After years of leaving the tree care to her husband, Toyoko now does most of the work in the garden, and the work is great!

Black pines

I last visited the Miyatas during their moving sale when they left California for Georgia eight years ago. Since then, the bonsai, mostly started from scratch, have come a long way.

Black pine

Black pine Kenji started from seed in Visalia

Although Kenji is associated with pines, he also enjoys growing deciduous species such as elms, chojubai, and hornbeam, and he’s become a specialist in needle junipers.

Chojubai

Chojubai

San Jose juniper

Needle juniper

The majority of the Miyata’s trees are available for sale, but they’re not set up for shipping so you’ll have to visit in person. You can get in touch by checking in with Kenji on Facebook.

Shimpaku

It was fantastic to visit Kenji and Toyoko, and it was a treat to see their garden on such a beautiful day. If you get the chance, I recommend that you make plans to visit too!

Toyoko and Kenji Miyata

News & Updates

• The American Bonsai Association Sacramento is holding their annual show on April 12-13, 2025, at the Shepard Garden Center in McKinley Park in Sacramento. Headliner Carmen Leskoviansky will perform demonstrations both days and vendors will a great assortment of trees, pots, and supplies on hand. Learn more at the ABAS website.
• The Essential Bonsai Book will be going on sale on April 15th – a week from Tuesday! I’ll say more about the book next week. In the meantime, you can pre-order it from your favorite online book seller.