A Visit to Green Witch Gardens - Michigan's Largest Bonsai Nursery

            A few months back I had the pleasure of being invited to give a talk for the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society by Ellen Veselenak, their new club VP and head of programming. Before my club presentation, I was able to stop over at her nursery - the Green Witch Gardens - which I learned is the largest bonsai nursery in Michigan. As it turns out, the Green Witch Gardens was originally called The Flower Market, and has been operating between Dundee and Monroe, MI for decades through different owners before Sara, Ellen, and Melissa took over most recently. Since assuming ownership, the Green Witches have learned bonsai quickly, traveled to countless bonsai shows to sell their trees, and they have also become even more of a staple of their local bonsai scene with many educational opportunities each month. Meanwhile, the Green Witch Gardens also do some of the typical nursery/flower store things beyond bonsai as well. To dive deeper into their histories and plans for the Green Witch Gardens and what it means for them to strive towards being a community hub, I sat down with Ellen and Mellissa while I visited to record an interview with them during my visit. Please enjoy our conversation over at the Bonsai Time Podcast Episode 38 - Behind the Scenes at the Green Witch Gardens and get a glimpse of their nursery through the trove of photos below.

In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus

• CyberMonday sale: Now through 12/4/24 I am offering 25% off any purchase of $40 or more on my Etsy and my in-person bonsai nursery here in Columbus, OH. Contact me to visit in person or to discuss ordering/shipping any items mentioned below that are not yet in the webstore.
• My Etsy page currently has a variety of seeds along with my bonsai-from-seed printed guide to help you plan for the long term and a few bonsai books available there. In person you will also find trees, pots, wire, tools, soil, and more.
• January 19th, 2025, 2-5pm at Franklin Park Conservatory - Japanese Garden Design with Walter Reins
• January 25th, 2025 9am-11am - Intro to Indoor Bonsai with Upper Arlington Recreation. For details and to sign up, see here.

A row of larch bonsai at the Green Witch Gardens.

When to Repot

Source Material: March 2020

          It is crucial to prune roots in their optimal window because if roots are pruned at the wrong time, this is one of the easiest ways to kill your bonsai (aside from simple watering neglect). The repotting season also is a vague window that changes from year to year based on the weather, adding to the risk of confusion for beginners and tree death. For the bonsai beginners out there, after today you'll be able to repot with much more confidence that your tree will make a healthy recovery. If you're already a bonsai expert, I put some pretty bonsai pictures in that I think you'll find worth scrolling for either way.

Sections:

1. Optimal Temperatures for Root Repair
2. Swelling Buds
3. Advanced Exceptions, Caveats, & Disclaimers
4. Bonsai Bud Gallery

Japanese Maple/Acer palmatum waking up at Elandan Gardens.

Repotting the Melted Hemlock

Source material: April 2017

          Melted wood?? Yes, melted wood. How else do you describe this hunk of mountain hemlock below? As the Covid-19 virus spreads around me here in Seattle, I have some extra time to also call the melted mountain hemlock below the subject for this week's Throwback Thursday. Today's post is short, so if you're curious about how a tree can become as mangled as this one, read on. 

From this view, we can appreciate some of Dan's deadwood carving, which starts to look more natural as it  naturally weathers over time.

Haunted Hollows - Halloween Bonsai!

Source material: 2019, October-November

          This week, I am especially happy to share that I have finished applying to my Ph.D. programs! Now I can finally return to my more creative pursuits and share them with you all again. Luckily, I have recently been inspired to create some new, unique, and seasonal ways to display bonsai. My first-attempts at Halloween-themed bonsai displays are cataloged here.

Sections:

1. A Pumpkin Painting
2. A Pumpkin Accent
3. A Pumpkin Pot

My mountain hemlock with a mountain jack-o'-lantern backdrop and my spooky flashlight face as the accent.