Japan: It’s every Bonsai fanatic’s dream. While I’ve been doing Bonsai for 6 years, it’s only in the last 3 that I’ve become serious about the art. From the first images I saw of Japanese bonsai in Kokufu albums and online, it’s been a milestone pursuit to travel there and see Japanese bonsai in person. Last week I did, and it was everything and more that I hoped it would be. But let’s back up a little bit.
One of my closer bonsai and pot nerd buddies is Matt Ouwinga, of Kaede Bonsai En, and earlier this year he invited me on the trip he was planning to Japan, led by the illustrious and delightfully sardonic Peter Warren, Mr Saruyamahimself.
I was, of course, ecstatic, and still consider myself quite lucky as a bit of greenhorn to have been included on this tour with such a respected group of Bonsai vets and notables.
6 months later, we were there. Here’s how it went(Peter Warren has beaten me to the punch on posting about our adventures, and his commentary is not to be missed. Click here for his excellent blog posts on the trip: Saruyama). I’m separating the posts into two or three nurseries at a time, plus an additional post solely about pottery, as the quantity of material and photographs are daunting, to say the least!
Here are just a few highlights to whet your appetite for posts to come:

Up First: Kaede Bonsai En, Shofuen, and Yamatoen, Stay Tuned!