Bonsai nursery and environs

Bonsai nurseries are rarely found in high-rent districts. Many are isolated blocks within residential neighborhoods or semi-rural areas, especially those with agricultural activity nearby. Ishii’s nursery is in the latter category. While there are plenty of nice houses in the area, there’s plenty of farmland too. And great vegetable gardens! Here are some more trees from Ishii’s nursery and a view of his neighborhood.

Wonderful Stewartia

Root base – the knuckles are a sign of age

Chinese Quince

If you’ve ever tried to wire Chinese quince, you’re familiar with how easy it is to snap branches. The alternative? Pulling the branches with twine. After creating bends with initial wiring, future maintenance can be simplified by tying branches down. Note how the twine was spread out (widened) at the base of the branch below to slow the rate at which it cuts in.

Plastic twine

Side view

Another large quince

And another

Root grafts at base of trunk

Quince fruit – they naturally look like the fruit was just smashed onto the end of the branch

Little ume

Kumo, Japanese for spider – these large and colorful creatures were everywhere!

Kinzu

Greenhouses

Vegetable garden

Yum – cabbage, spinach, daikon!

Rice and greenhouses