Right-sizing a bonsai collection

One consequence of writing a book about bonsai is that I’ve really started to take some of the lessons to heart.

For years I’ve known I have more trees than I can adequately care for. When I take on more projects than I can make time for it can become a challenge to keep the trees happy.

I also have a handful of trees that aren’t a great fit for my climate. I’ve been tempted again and again to “try this one thing” – or all of the things – to get a tree to thrive in my garden and I keep finding that without heat in summer (or sometimes cold in winter), some species simply don’t grow as well as they do when their climate needs are met.

Caring for fewer trees allows us to focus more on the bonsai that matter most which can lead to dramatic improvements in relatively little time. And on a practical level, it’s easier to water and fertilize the garden while making sure all trees receive the appropriate amount of light.

As the trees in my collection continue to mature, I find they require much more time. This is true for young trees as they begin to develop secondary and tertiary branching, but it’s also true for mature bonsai as they reach higher levels of refinement. I’m thrilled to be working on these trees and want to make sure I don’t fall behind as the work per tree increases.

To make more space in the garden, and in my calendar, I’ve decided to make a number of them available. I have some online now, and plan to list others throughout the year.

A selection of sales trees

More sales trees

Yet more sales trees

You can check out the sales page here (local pick-up only).

News & Updates

• Living Art in Bloom: BonsaiFEST! returns to Federal Way this Mother’s Day Weekend, May 10 & 11 at the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington. Come see the Puget Sound Bonsai Association Spring Show, demonstrations and tours of the garden. Learn more at the Pacific Bonsai Museum website.
• The 2025 Potomac Bonsai Festival returns to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum on May 9-11, 2025. Celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Yamaki pine established in 1625! The Potomac Bonsai Association’s annual event will feature headliners Andrew Robson and Guy Guidry, workshops, demonstrations, and an assortment of the best vendors in the area. See the full schedule at the Potomac Bonsai Association website.
• The Waterfront Botanical Gardens, along with the Greater Louisville Bonsai Society, are hosting the 3rd Annual Bonsai Weekend later this month in Louisville, Kentucky. The event runs from May 30th through June 1st at the garden and includes an exhibit, workshops, demonstrations by Owen Reich, and a great selection of vendors. Learn more and purchase advance tickets at the event website.
• I’ll be teaching classes at Bonsai Northwest in the Seattle area at the end of this month. Saturday, May 31st, I’ll be teaching a bring-your-own tree workshop focusing on pines. On Sunday, June 1st, I’ll be teaching a class focused on long-term development projects for any species. Learn more and register at the Bonsai Northwest website.