Last summer I started an ground layer on a small olive (see “Shohin olive ground layer” for details). The lower part of the trunk was unattractive so I figured layering the upper part of the trunk would be a great way to make the most of the material. Olive with faulty lower trunk The tree […]
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A look inside The Essential Bonsai Book
I’m writing on a Tuesday this week as the release date for The Essential Bonsai Book has arrived! It’s hard to sum up all that went into the book over the last three years – four major drafts, eleven photo shoots, feedback from more than 20 editors plus great work from the sales, marketing, production, […]
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 […]
Highlights from the 2025 Atlanta Bonsai Society Annual Show
Earlier this month I made a trip to Georgia to participate in the Atlanta Bonsai Society’s annual show. Held at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the two-day event featured vendors, critiques, a workshop, (fantastic food), and an exhibit in which every member is encouraged to participate. I’m a big supporter of the idea that everyone can […]
A visit to the Chinese Garden at the Huntington
After visiting the Bonsai Collection at the Huntington, I carved out time to visit the adjacent Chinese Garden. It was an eye-opening experience! Taking its inspiration from 16th and 17th century gardens in Suzho (near Shanghai), the 15-acre complex features a large pond, more than a dozen historically-inspired structures, and twelve different paving patterns. Liu […]