Bonsai Time Podcast

For this next 2-part series, Kevin and Kelly interviewed Bob Pressler regarding a bonsai scholarship that he helps organize. They talked about why you should apply and how you can boost your odds of success! The Ben Oki Scholarship Fund is awarded by the California Bonsai Society to two recipients a year. Each recipient is granted $1000 to use to further their bonsai education to give back to the bonsai community. Your co-hosts, Ke...

For this special 2-part Earth Day series, Kevin and Ryan interviewed Dr. Gordon Bonan, a Colorado-based bonsai artist and climate scientist. We asked Gordon in this wide-ranging interview to distill his scientific findings from climate modeling, how it may impact us as humans, bonsai artists, and our trees, and how he approaches sharing information on the subject with the public. In part 2, we also have some listener questions he a...

For this special 2-part Earth Day series, Kevin and Ryan interviewed Dr. Gordon Bonan, a Colorado-based bonsai artist and climate scientist. We asked Gordon in this wide-ranging interview to distill his scientific findings from climate modeling, how it may impact us as humans, bonsai artists, and our trees, and how he approaches sharing information on the subject with the public. In part 2 coming next week, we also have some listen...

In today's episode, Kevin interviewed Rodney and Charlie Clemons at their bonsai nursery in Georgia. Rodney is well known online as a specialist in Boxwoods, but less well known is the story of his wife Charlie who is an accomplished bonsai artist in her own right. Here they share their intertwined story.

The video version is available here.

Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are available ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. See you in the n...

In today's episode, Kevin, Kelly, and Ryan met up to share recent listener questions and submitted tree pictures. There was vigorous discussion online about Benjamin Keating's work potting bonsai into metal sculptures which we talked with Ben about in the last episode. Many listeners wondered about the viability of these trees long-term, so we posed the question to Ben and relayed his response to go deeper into that subject...

In today's episode, Kevin and Benjamin Keating discuss his history in art and how he got into bonsai, challenges associated with displaying bonsai in art galleries for long periods, Ben's bonsai + metal marriage projects in progress, and what to look forward to from Ben's art!

The video version is available here (follow along to see Ben's trees in development during the garden tour):

https://youtu.be/j5mIz2ateO...

Our first episode of 2024 is a collaboration with Tori Solis of Blue Nose Trading. In the first half of our two-part interview, we interviewed Tori to understand her artistic perspective in ceramics and discuss the motivations for her new podcast. That is available as episode 1 of "The Bonsai Pot Cast". Next in this episode, Tori interviewed us about our involvement in bonsai clubs, tips for getting involved, and a smatte...

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, your hosts Ryan, Kelly, and Kevin continue the New Year episode tradition of reflecting on how we have been doing on the podcast and in our bonsai lives last year and what we resolve to continue or improve for 2024. The future is bright! We hope you will continue enjoying the Bonsai Time ride with us. Have a happy holidays to you and your family!

The video version is available here:

http...

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, we have part 2 of a winter solstice/Christmas special featuring Ryan, Kelly, Kevin, and Julian Tsai. In Part 2, we discussed the history of the winter solstice and Christmas celebrations in Europe, Egypt, and America especially as it pertains to symbolic tree species associated with this time of year. We then go on to discuss and compare the merits of these historic tree species for bonsa...

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, we have part 1 of a winter solstice/Christmas special featuring Ryan, Kelly, Kevin, and Julian Tsai. In Part 1, we catch up with Julian regarding how he transitioned into being a full-time bonsai professional and we dive into the subject of what can we do as bonsai artists in winter and what might be risky to do in colder climates at this time of year. Stay tuned for Part 2 later this wee...

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, Kevin and Ryan welcome a new co-host to the podcast, Kelly Lui of California. Kelly is an enthusiastic newcomer in the bonsai scene who has already made a splash by winning the Ben Oki Scholarship in 2023 from the California Bonsai Society. Hear the story of how she got roped into our podcast and how we hope to help one another amplify her work sharing the history of the senior bonsai stu...

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, Kevin and Ryan welcome Dennis Makashima. Dennis has been a witness and active participant in bonsai history as he learned from many of the greats of California Bonsai and even inherited many of their trees. Although Dennis is a second-generation Japanese American, he found himself drawn into the same line of work as many Japanese were at that time - gardening and aesthetic tree pruning. T...

In this episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, Kevin and Ryan welcome Dennis Makashima. Dennis has been a witness and active participant in bonsai history as he learned from many of the greats of California Bonsai and even inherited many of their trees. Although Dennis is a second-generation Japanese American, he found himself drawn into the same line of work as many Japanese were at that time - gardening and aesthetic tree pruning. T...

In the latest episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, Kevin and Ryan welcome Dennis Makashima. Dennis has been a witness and active participant in bonsai history as he learned from many of the greats of California Bonsai and even inherited many of their trees. Although Dennis is a second-generation Japanese American, he found himself drawn into the same line of work as many Japanese were at that time - gardening and aesthetic tree prun...

Today's episode is the final installment in our multi-part interview with Angelica Ramirez, the current US National Bonsai Apprentice. We discussed listener questions and submitted trees and shared our various thoughts, especially on styling options and nuances of particular species. You can submit your own listener trees and/or questions for a future episode on our website, www.bonsaitimepodcast.com, or at our email, bonsaitim...

Angelica Ramirez is a bright new face in the bonsai scene. As Kevin and I learned in our interview, Angelica is a uniquely driven person with expertise in music, helicopter piloting, archery, painting, bonsai ceramics, and more recently she is set on learning bonsai to the highest degree possible. Angelica has been an apprentice at the Chicago Botanic Garden's bonsai collection and this year she is the new National Bonsai Appre...

Angelica Ramirez is a bright new face in the bonsai scene. As Kevin and I learned in our interview, Angelica is a uniquely driven person with expertise in music, helicopter piloting, archery, painting, bonsai ceramics, and more recently she is set on learning bonsai to the highest degree possible. Angelica has been an apprentice at the Chicago Botanic Garden's bonsai collection and this year she is the new National Bonsai Appre...

In today's interview, we had the honor of hosting Hugh Grant from Australia who came on to share his story and thoughts on the evolution of bonsai in Australia and around the World. Hugh explained how his background as an art student led him to study at Bonsai Mirai and shapes how he thinks about modern bonsai displays. Hugh also taught Ryan and Kevin about the diversity of Australian ecosystems and the native trees there which...

In the thirteenth episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast, the renowned Portland, OR-based ceramicist and bonsai artist Michael Hagedorn joined Kevin and Ryan to discuss his time as a Japanese bonsai apprentice, his apprenticeship program in the US, his floating shore pine in the pacific bonsai expo, his unique invisible slab style plantings, and more! Enjoy the interview!

The video version which includes relevant pictures is avail...