Last fall’s visit to Mr. Kita’s bonsai collection was a real treat – I can only imagine how nice it would be to see such a scene in one’s own backyard. Boon Manakitivipart, a white pine, and Peter Tea A towering hornbeam Few gardens include large Chojubai like the specimen below. Japanese quince ‘Chojubai’ Kita’s […]
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.
Mr. Kita’s junipers
On our way to visit Ishii’s nursery last fall, Akio Kondo took Boon, Peter and myself to visit one of his customers – Mr. Kita. Kita has a small, but impressive, bonsai collection. Trees like the juniper below. Large shimpaku Impressive, yes, but was this the front? The other side, too, has great features. The […]
Beech – on top of the mountain
As we approached the pass near the top of White Mountain Forest Road, the flora signaled a change in elevation – fir gave way to pine, maples to beech. Maples added golden hues to beech-covered hillsides until they dropped away, leaving the silvery-bronze beech and a scattering of white pines. I found the beech impressive […]
Fall Color in Central Japan
Just a few days into my visit to Japan last year, our host, Mr. Oomura, took me and Boon on a drive to see trees in fall color. The season had yet to hit the lower elevations, so we got in the car and drove several hours from Shimpukuji Temple to traverse the White Mountain […]
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 […]