Sometimes a new direction emerges because you are asked a simple question. This happened a few months ago when a caller enquired if I could do a presentation on “Natives for Bonsai”. This idea intrigued her, and it came from reading my website. A novice to bonsai, she...

My lovely maple, Acer palmatum “Mikawa Yatsubusa”, remains on display at Lake Oswego Flowers, where she is happily emerging from winter’s slumbers with new foliage buds— so thrilling to see! If you are in the area, stop in and say hello to proprietor and wedding...

Our work is never done when we care for the miniature trees— for weather is a variant we cannot control. However, in these quiet winter months, if the trees are tucked into their safe place, we can contemplate them in dormancy and consider how we might grow them in...

Thank you, Gary, for including my selection of bonsai for your soft opening of the new shop! The trees are very happy under the lights indoors out of the wet, doing their color changes and strutting their stuff for all the walk-in customers. A new floral design studio...

Bonsai Akira nursery and studio was formed ten years ago. To celebrate this milestone I am offering a discount on several of the trees that have been growing out here awhile. Please inquire for details. The sale prices are reflected on the individual products in the...

I’ve mentioned before that I’m launching a new business— “For Love of Maples…”. Taking new clients for landscape pruning of your precious specimen Japanese maples, conifers and shrubs. This is my eighth year and having a new apprentice enables me to expand my...

BONSAI (for Ryan Neil— creator of The Artisan Cup) The way they dance, even while standing still This is what moves me. The way they dance and move. The way they sing, even without words, Even with their silence. They sing their praises. They know who they are— the...

When I began bonsai styling I little imagined it would become a career— rather it was a series of experiments I felt compelled to undertake with the trees themselves  as my guides. After a few years I began to see the pruning of landscape garden trees as a natural...

There are whole seasons where keeping a bonsai garden is simply work with little reward. The uncertainties of weather, stresses on the trees that were unforeseen, waiting for maturity and full development— many times we are tempted to say it’s not worth the time and...

And so we move into the inevitable drizzle and grey skies that typify our Pacific Northwest marine winter months— graced by surprising moments of clear skies and sunshine midst the haze of fog and low clouds of our rainforest climate. For nurseries like ours, the...

I’ve been thinking for a long time about why bonsai are so compelling to the viewer—both as art form and living object needing care. This month the term I’m playing with is “icon.” As you may know, an icon is a window— or better, a doorway— into the Divine Presence....

Now is the perfect time to get a Bonsai Tree of your own.  

An artist’s dream is for the artistic gift to be fully realized— the resulting creation to be seen and loved into newness by the eyes of someone for whom the presence of the artwork brings ongoing delight. This is not easily achieved— the road from the artist’s hand...

A lesson learned is worth repeating. Once upon a time I could not resolve a design issue, and moved into new territory by choosing a pot that seemed entirely too small for the tree. Voila! The tree was suddenly in perfect balance, and began to dance— by which I mean...

This wonderful quince is “Toyo Nishiki” — the extraordinary cultivar that features red, pink and white blooms on one plant. It has been on display at several of my shows, and now resides permanently at this address.... so I’m waiting patiently (not...) to see what...

This lovely Azalea is reminding us that Spring will come again! We are on the threshold of a severe weather event— this is how we describe snow in the Pacific Northwest, bringing as it does rainy sleet and icy conditions making travel seriously difficult. It almost...

I just found this neat interview, and since I don’t know how to copy and paste here, I’ll just send my dear readers to the link:—https://blog.hardyplantsociety.org/featured-hortlandia-nursery-bonsai-akira/ I’m ever so grateful to this organization and the support it...