In 2002, I visited the Bonsai Society of Dallas convention featuring Masahiko Kimura. The event’s exhibit included a composition that got a lot more attention than the others. Thirteen years later, I spotted the same composition in its creator’s garden. Shimpaku planted on shovel supported by cinder block The artist is Greg Brenden. You may know of Greg […]
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 Michael Hagedorn’s garden
On a recent tour to Oregon, Eric Schrader and I had the opportunity to visit Michael Hagedorn’s garden. It was quite a treat. The garden is filled with trees on the fast path to becoming awesome bonsai. Collected material – many from the Pacific Northwest – and deciduous varieties like chojubai fill many of the benches. Long-term […]
Fall work at Shinpukuji Bonsai Museum
Last fall, Boon Manakitivipart brought a student from Thailand to work with him at Shinpukuji Bonsai Museum. Removing leaves from a Chinese quince Some of the work involved removing leaves from deciduous varieties including quince and trident maple. Trident maple After removing the leaves Another trident maple with leaves removed Fall is also a great […]
Shinpukuji Temple Bonsai Museum
Just outside the city of Okazaki, itself outside the larger city of Nagoya, lies Shinpukuji Temple, a complex first built in the 6th century and home to an impressive bonsai museum. The museum was started by Mr. Oomura, a prominent bonsai collector and enthusiast. Here are some highlights from the trees on display last fall […]
A visit to Daiju-en bonsai garden
I’ve always enjoyed photos from other people’s visits to great bonsai gardens. Sometimes I recognize the trees and can see how they’ve changed over the years. Other times I’m seeing them for the first time. Seeing trees in gardens is different than seeing them in exhibits. The trees are in growing pots, we can see […]