Bonsai Blog

The Shinpukuji Temple complex features a small bonsai museum that displays a rotating collection of trees belonging to Mr. Oomura. My first few visits to the garden were in winter. On these occasions the indoor display area was filled with blooming ume. This past fall, the hall included a mix of varieties and a fun selection of […]

My visit last year to Japan began at Shinpukuji Temple. Not far from Okazaki, Aichi, Shinpukuji is a collection of buildings that includes a large temple and an old wooden shrine. A restaurant on the grounds serves bamboo delicacies, and a bonsai museum offers colorful diversion. The custodian of Shinpukuji is Mr. Oomura. Oomura’s family […]

My visit to Japan last fall included a number of visits to Mr. Moriyama’s garden. Often there were trees to pick up or drop off so we’d swing by on our way elsewhere. Other days we’d stay awhile – like the day we helped reorganize a section of the garden and tied trees to benches. […]

Mr. Moriyama is prominent among Nagoya bonsai collectors for good reason. He has an outstanding collection and he is a great supporter of both local and regional bonsai events, his trees featuring in at least five of the exhibits I visited last fall. At home, these trees are crowded into a beautiful garden setting. If […]

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 […]