While I was in town for the recent Mid-America Bonsai Exhibit, I had the opportunity to visit and learn about the bonsai collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Curator Chris Baker and Seasonal Bonsai Assistant Angelica Ramirez led me through a tour of the facility that included the work areas, multiple greenhouses for overwintering trees […]
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 David Nguy’s garden
Getting to know David Nguy over the years has been a pleasure. The first time we had a chance to talk at length was on a trip to Japan about eight years ago. He invited me to his garden that day, and I’d been looking forward to seeing it ever since. Earlier this year, I […]
Tom Vuong’s Giant Trees
I drew a lot of inspiration from my visit to Tom Vuong’s bonsai garden. It wasn’t just the trees, but the way he handled them. California juniper Semi-cascade California juniper Tom came up with many the techniques he uses on his own. This extends to the way he collects junipers, bends large branches, and works […]
A visit to Peter Macasieb’s shohin garden
Seeing photos ahead of time didn’t adequately prepare me for the literal wall of bonsai that greets visitors at Peter Macasieb’s garden. Peter Macasieb’s garden Peter has been a fixture in the Southern California bonsai scene for years. I’ve been wanting to see his collection up close and was excited to learn that I’d have […]
Little Champions – Special Exhibit at the Pacific Bonsai Museum
A “Champion Tree” is a specimen that has been measured to be the largest of its species (see “Champion Tree Registry“). The findings are based on a points system that considers tree height, trunk circumference, and average crown circumference (there’s a manual that spells out the details). Playing on this idea, the Pacific Bonsai Museum […]