Philosophy of Bonsai with Ryan Neil - Bonsai Time Podcast Ep 53
In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus
Over winter break, I started updating my Trees for sale page. You'll notice the tropical trees now have care guides by species, and I am adding more pictures of my outdoor trees for sale in the coming weeks. Outdoor trees are shippable immediately and tropical trees are too if requested, but it's a bit riskier and more costly to ensure they don't come damaged in winter. Otherwise, pick up locally in Columbus, or at my upcoming trips to Cincinnati and Ann Arbor bonsai clubs in February and April, respectively.
I also have many pots for sale, see here. Easy to ship. If you listen to Bonsai Time Episode 54, you will also find a discount code.
NEXT Columbus Bonsai Society meeting: Repotting Demonstration and Discussion by Bryan Six - 02/15/2026. All day at Franklin Park Conservatory.
BONUS EVENT: Thursday February 2/19, 6-8pm, I will be presenting on local yamadori collection techniques for the Cincinatti Bonsai Society. We also intend to do a dig your own tree workshop on the following Saturday but if it is still snowy and cold, that is likely delayed to March.
I. Episode Summary & Links
Today’s episode is a special one! Your hosts Ryan Huston and Kevin Faris sat down with Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai, just outside Portland, Oregon. We dive into bonsai, life, apprenticeships, family, purpose through the art — and so much more. Enjoy and Bonsai on!
Ryan Neil is already known by many in the bonsai world for his accomplishments, including serving a 6-year apprenticeship in Japan under the world-famous artist Masahiko Kimura. He then went on to found his garden and educational operation Bonsai Mirai which for years has done both in-person and live-streamed advanced bonsai education. He is one of the first and biggest players in the bonsai educational subscription content/community scene which has now evolved into an app most recently.
This episode is sponsored by Chris Meade of the Columbus Bonsai Society and by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at invivobonsai.etsy.com, or go to www.InVivoBonsai.com and navigate to the consignment pottery and tree pages.
Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.
See the relevant images and links from this episode below.
II. Show Notes / Pictures
A. Links/pictures discussed in this episode:
Links to things discussed in this episode are added here with some curated pictures. Even more pictures are available in the source links.
Ryan Neil Chicago critique
I thought it would be on the Midwest Bonsai Society YouTube channel but did not see it. If anyone finds it, let us know!
Jonathan Cross's stone-inspired pots in use at Mirai
Mirai also featured Jonathan Cross in an article on their website here. They have many examples of his pots for sale here.
Also, one well as one prominent example in the 2025 US National Bonsai Exhibit was discussed in our recent US Nationals reflection episode (BT#50) and you can see its picture in the Bill Valvanis article linked in the show notes.
A few examples from the Mirai website are copied below
Many examples are visible in the video and show notes from our interview with Ben (BT#26) here.
A few more recent ceramic Ben Keating pots that Ryan referred to are available on In Vivo Bonsai's consignment pot section.
See a few pictures of Ben's recent work below
David Degroot Artisan's Cup Critique of President Hoover Larch by David Crust
The artisan's Cup website and gallery are preserved here and even more so here on Mirai's websites.
The Artisans' Cup Website is still online here. There, you can purchase a pass to listen to the critiques of all the trees as well as see high-quality images of each tree. You can also buy the Artisans' Cup Book, which contains the tree images.
I also found this YouTube video from the YouTube channel "Fabio Antakly BONSAI" who attended the Artisan's cup here. Thie video is partly a walkthrough showing many of the trees.
President Hoover Larch by David Crust, recently donated to the Pacific Bonsai Museum
See the tree here in its first display at the PBM for their Avant-Garde Bonsai Exhibit.
President Hoover Larch collected and potted by David Crust, now owned by the PBM in Seattle, WA, USA.
Greg Brenden's Engelman Spruce from the BSOP Rondevous 2018 Supercritique (Mirai Youtube channel)
See the tree at 1 hr 12 minutes here. See a screenshot below.
Artisans' cup (linked and mentioned already above)
A few others with sample pictures can also be found below.
"Vitalize" 2019 - Bonsai Displayed in an Urban store (Aesop West End) in Portland, OR, USA
Pine
Beech forest
"Environment" 2018 - Bonsai Displayed in an interior design gallery (Casa Perfect) in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Aloe bonsai? Some sort of succulent in a Jonathan Cross container.
Bald or pond cypress also in a Jonathan Cross pot.
Another succulent, possibly aloe. Not sure but this pot may also be from Jonathan Cross.
Sergio Cuan's Yatsabusa Elm; recently exhibited at the 2025 US National Bonsai Exhibit and donated to Longwood Gardens after.
In Sergio's Website, M5 Bonsai Works, his deciduous gallery includes pictures of the Yatsabusa Elm (#13, bottom of the page) and more of the backstory of the tree. The pictures span 2019-2025.
The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. Learn more about the podcast at the links below. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly!
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