Whenever I bring new trees to the garden I look forward to cleaning them up so I can take a closer look. This is especially true when trees have weeds or unhealthy foliage. In general my intake process includes: Cleaning up a tree is a good way to get to know it. I like removing […]
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Pot selection exercise – Chinese cork bark elm
When I have the time, I test out every container I can find when I’m repotting to see which I like best for a given tree. Size is the most important attribute to consider (to keep the tree healthy), followed closely by shape. From there I consider color and quality (I don’t like using show […]
Highlights from the MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies’ 2026 Exhibit
The Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies is a network of eleven bonsai clubs in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Each spring these clubs are invited to display trees at the region’s annual convention, the Spring Festival. Peter Warren, Kaya Mooney, and I were invited guests at the event and we had a great time. […]
A visit to Masahiko Kimura’s garden
One of the most anticipated stops on our tour this year was a visit to Kimura’s garden. The section that’s open to the public is relatively small and almost exclusively filled with pines and junipers. The most famous of these is a shimpaku named Toryu no mai (“Dance of the Ascending Dragon”). Shimpaku – Toryu […]
Taisho-en: the garden of Taiga Urushibata
Among the handful of gardens I’m happy to visit every time I go to Japan, Taisho-en is a favorite. World-class trees. World-class work. Taisho-en is managed by Taiga Urushibata. His father, Nobuichi Urushibata, was a prominent shohin professional. Taiga, who apprenticed with Masahiko Kumura, is well-known for working on trees of all sizes. Walking among […]