Lessons from a visit to a bonsai garden

I had the opportunity to visit Michael Hagedorn’s garden in September. It had been a while since I’d last been there and I was pleased to see so many changes. There were more new trees than I could count and the trees I remember are coming along so quickly that they almost looked new again.

Strolling through the garden was a great reminder of lessons I try to keep in mind as I think about my own collection. For example, how great it is to see a variety of mature deciduous species.

Zelkova, ginkgo, and chojubai bonsai

You can never have too much movement.

Twisty pine

Not every plant in the garden needs to be a bonsai.

Equisetum

It’s fun to think outside the box.

Floating juniper

Floating pine

If you’re going to work with collected material, select material with outstanding characteristics.

Fantastic movement

Awesome deadwood

Dynamic movement

Appreciate pines thick and thin.

Black pine

Delicate pine

Grow moss whenever possible.

Mosses, lichens, and sundry elements adorning the surface of the soil

If you’re going to collect pots, collect good ones.

An assortment of bonsai pots

There’s always room on the bench for unique trees.

Cascading juniper

Be on the lookout for Michael’s forthcoming book, Bonsai Heresy, next year, and on the off chance you aren’t already reading it, I highly recommend following Michael’s work on his blog.