I. Episode Summary & Links
In today's episode, you’ll find Ryan and Kevin catching up on life and then jumping into the interview with a multi-talented former school teacher, master of rock slabs, forest plantings, and South Carolina yamadori collector - John Geanangel. John shared with us his bonsai origin story, how it led to becoming a headliner artist for the Bonsai in the Blue Ridge convention in 2026, and what you can expect when attending his 3(!) Bald cypress workshops there. We also discussed his methods for bald cypress yamadori collecting and growing from seed.
YouTube version is here!
The podcast version of Episode 52 is here! Guest Info:
John Geanangel is a bonsai enthusiast passionate about his local scenery and the natives in the South Carolina area. Find more of his work on his Facebook page and YouTube channel, which have lots of great content from previous years of educational efforts and recent tree projects.
Sponsor Info:
This episode is sponsored 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.
Mailbag submissions/Community:
Support the Pod:
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
In addition to these examples of John's work, you can also see Ryan's previous workshop with John where they planted his truckstop elm on a rock slab here. The basic steps are documented by photographs. Ryan has also written a protocol for the method, available on request.
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| Hinoki Cypress? forest. |
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| Kingsville boxwood forest |
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| Small native deciduous forests. John uses things like elm, hornbeam, and hophornbeam in these. |
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| Trident maple forest on granite slab. |
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| Mixed species forest featuring native deciduous and tall junipers. This can emulate some South Carolina environments where young pine seedlings grow in sunny patches in the forest that open after fire or treefalls and then deciduous grow in the shade once the pines are mature. |
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| Hinoki cypress in lava rock? |
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| Mixed species bald cypress and other native deciduous forest. |
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| Kingsville boxwood styled as a southern live oak. |
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| John with Virginia pines. |
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| John styled these boxwoods, I believe, as a row of plantation live oaks, which can be seen in many places in the southern US. This was photographed at the Winter Silhouette show. |
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| More native deciduous or mixed species forests by John. He teaches both the near-view and far-view forest designs as distinct. Can you tell the difference in the examples shared here and in prior pictures? |
Podcast Info:
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!
Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or at the links below.
Your hosts can be found below:
Music by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them at the links below.
More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:
- Read more about Ryan's bonsai blog. https://www.InVivoBonsai.com/
- Find my bonsai seeds for sale here. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide. https://www.invivobonsai.com/p/sales.html#Seeds
- Find him on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.
- Also, check out some of my video editing work for the Puget Sound Bonsai Association and Columbus Bonsai Society's demonstration archives below.
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