A couple of years ago, Andrew Robson and I hosted a Winter Shohin School in Milwaukie, Oregon featuring headliner Daisaku Nomoto from Japan. The event is coming to Northern California next month! The 2026 Winter Shohin School will be held at Lincoln Park’s Harrison Recreation Center in Alameda, California, on January 31st and February 1st. […]
Excursions
Excursion posts feature visits to bonsai gardens in the U.S. and in Japan, visits to the Kyoto's Most Renown Gardens, and trips into the mountains to see junipers and pines in their natural setting.
A visit to the Bonsai Zentrum Heidelberg
The Bonsai Zentrum Heidelberg is a large bonsai nursery and event center owned and operated by Edis Ziegler. A previous incarnation of the business had closed in 2006 prompting Edis to acquire the property, renovate, and reopen it in 2008. Since then, the operation has grown into a premier destination for bonsai, containers, suiseki, and […]
Amazing pines at Michael Tran’s garden
One of several side trips on my recent visit to Germany took us to Heidelberg to see Minoru Bonsai, the garden of Michael Tran. Michael Tran Michael, who studied with Udo Fischer, among others, founded the garden in 2009 and hosted several high-profile events featuring international bonsai professionals known as Generation Bonsai. Michael’s garden features […]
Walter Pall bonsai master class
About a year and a half ago, I mentioned that I’d like to visit Walter Pall’s garden. The message got through to Walter (thanks, Jennifer!), and last week I was able to make the trip a reality. Each summer Walter conducts a master class for students and friends at the Bonsaigarten Munich, a public bonsai […]
Highlights from the 2025 REBS bonsai show
The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society held their annual exhibit last month at the Rohnert Park Community Center in Rohnert Park, California. This year’s event featured a demonstration from Mike Pistello, member tree sales, and a good mix of vendors. It also included a trees-in-training display with bonsai presented by members who are relatively new to […]