THE GIFT

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I grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, where I worked in my family business, doing everything from sharpening knives to selling pork. As a teenager I fell in love with orchids I saw at the open-air markets we worked. I began raising them - and to see how horticulture could become art.

 

My life would change when I received a small juniper bonsai as a birthday gift from a friend in February of 1988.​ This little tree had a huge impact on my life and future. I became fascinated with the art of bonsai and needed to learn more. 

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GETTING STARTED (AND LOST!)

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I joined the Bonsai Society of San Francisco and took my first beginner class in the spring of 1989. Anxious to learn as much as possible about bonsai, I tried to pick up information wherever I could. I attended numerous events by visiting bonsai teachers who came to the club for demonstrations or workshops, but I kept running into the same problem - each teacher had a different way of doing things. You probably know the feeling.

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I witnessed presentations that involved heavy cut-back, wiring, styling, and repotting, all at the same time. I tried to ask about those trees and the total bonsai process, but these classes were focused on putting something together in an hour or two. I knew even then that this was the wrong way to care for bonsai—and the wrong way to teach. As I became more passionate about bonsai, I began to step back and think there had to be a better way.

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A BETTER WAY

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That’s when I discovered Bonsai Today magazine. When it came out, I read every issue cover-to-cover, and tried to apply what was translated in those articles. It worked. Even when articles conflicted with each other, they were of great help in setting up experiments. The gallery section of the magazine featured trees from Japan that were far superior to anything I had ever seen before. These images were so inspiring to me that I memorized every issue.  The next step was clear. I had to visit Japan to see the trees myself.  I was blown away. But I also longed to have trees like those closer to home.

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GOING PRO

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Upon my return, I got to work. I learned that Akio Kondo, a bonsai-professional who was Kihachiro Kamiya’s first apprentice, had chosen to live and work in California for one year. I invited him to live in my home and set up shop in my backyard. He agreed! I couldn’t believe my luck. So began an extensive education for me, continuing through the following seasons. Akio was a man with high standards for bonsai, and my time with him jump started my bonsai career.  

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In 1993, the Golden State Bonsai Federation awarded me a Teacher Development Scholarship; two years later, I received the Ben Oki International Design Award for styling a Sierra juniper. Then in 1995, I received several informal offers to study bonsai in Japan. 

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STUDY IN JAPAN

At Akio’s encouragement, I decided to seize the opportunity and return to Japan to further my bonsai education, where I studied bonsai for his first year as an apprentice with Yasuo Mitsuya, a master known for his work in black pines.

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After a year with Mitsuya, I began studies with Akio’s former teacher, Kihachiro Kamiya. His nursery, Kihachi-En became my “bonsai home” and he became my master. Kamiya showed me bonsai standards through his amazing talent and deep personal integrity. 

 

In my time with him, he won two Prime Minister Awards at Sakufu-ten (professional entry only, bonsai exhibit) for Informal Upright, Japanese Five-Needle Pine in 1994; and for a Clump of Japanese Five-Needle Pine ("Zuisho") in 2002. In 1998, hemade Sakufu-ten history by being the first to receive all five of the different top awards. They were:

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1985 Ministry of Education Award (Best of Conifer Bonsai)
1990 Nippon Bonsai Sakufu-ten Committee Award (Best of Shohin Bonsai)
1994 Prime Minister Award (Best of Show)
1995 Minister of Environment Agency Award (Best of Chuhin Bonsai)
1998 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award (Best of Broad-leaf/ Deciduous Bonsai)
 

Kamiya also exhibited countless trees in Kokufu-ten. And over time, ten of his trees received the highly-coveted, highest Kokufu prize.  I had the honor and privilege of studying and working on many of those trees with Mr. Kamiya.
 

BACK IN CALIFORNIA - BAY ISLAND BONSAI

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Upon my return to California, with much new information to share, I established my business, Bonsai Boon. Then, in 1998, I started Bay Island Bonsai in order to teach others to recognize, create, and maintain high quality bonsai. Bay Island Bonsai became the perfect vehicle to pass along bonsai information in a structured and logical way, and to follow the progress of students and their trees. I am often amazed how quickly students pick up bonsai skills when they are held to high standards and are encouraged to ask questions.

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GAINING SOME RECOGNITION

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I returned repeatedly to Japan for prolonged periods of bonsai study, then April 2000, my own tree won the Grand Prize in the Kinbon Japanese Five-Needle Pine Styling Contest in Japan. I was the only non-Japanese entrant and the first non-Japanese entrant to win.

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Meanwhile, back home, my students' trees started to win awards across the country. 

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At the 2002 Dream Garden event in Dallas, judged by Masahiko Kimura, one of my students won first prize while I took third place with a $30 tree! 

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In 2004, at the St. Louis-BCI Convention, my students earned both Best of Show and third place. 

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At the inaugural U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition in 2008, my students again achieved recognition, winning First Prize and Best of Conifer. 

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Several of my trees were named in the World Bonsai Top 100. 

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In 2010, I received the Certré Award for "The Finest Bonsai and Container Combination" at the Second U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition for my Kingsville Boxwood, titled "Pandora.”

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Finally, in 2010, I was awarded the “Professional Certificate” by the Nippon Bonsai Association in recognition of my study in Japan.

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TODAY AND BEYOND

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In recent years, the art of bonsai has improved outside of Japan, as has the quality of the trees in bonsai shows. Several bonsai artists who have studied with me have also studied in Japan, and a few are currently studying with some of the best bonsai masters in the world. Instead of the hit-and-miss education of the past, today’s serious bonsai students can learn from teachers who are equipped to lead them through the entire process.

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I like to think that I have had something to do with improving bonsai standards through my bonsai workshops, bonsai intensives, and regular study groups across North America. My goal has not changed. I want to be able to walk into any bonsai show in America, enjoy healthy and well-done trees, and later say, “That was a good show.” I believe this happy change has already begun.

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Over the last three decades, I’ve made my living as a full-time bonsai artist and teacher in Northern California. I style client trees, lectures, put on demonstrations, hold workshops, maintaining collections, and find and develop show-quality bonsai for clients. I continue to stay up to date on the latest bonsai techniques and horticulture, synthesizing new information with almost four decades of prior bonsai experience, to maintain innovative techniques, unique styling, and creative teaching methods. 

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My favorite thing to do is work directly with students to find and develop high-quality bonsai. I am excited to offer that experience on this site, in the form of courses, consultations, and more.  Reach out to begin your own bonsai journey today!