Cheryl Manning's Bonsai Journey: California to Japan, Naka Protégé to Sensei, Ep 43-44

I. Episode Summary & Links

In this two-part series, Kelly sat down with Cheryl Manning in California for a wide-ranging interview. See episode 43 for Part 1 which focused on Cheryl's time in bonsai as an apprentice in Japan and how she got started in the professional scene. Episode 44/Part 2 focuses more on her time as a student of the California bonsai greats like John Naka and Harry Hirao especially reflecting on after returning from her apprenticeship. 

The YouTube version of Episode 43 is here!⁠

The podcast version of Episode 43 is here!

The YouTube version of Episode 44 is here!

The podcast version of Episode 44 is here!⁠

Guest Info:

⁠This episode features Cheryl Manning, an accomplished bonsai professional artist and writer. Find more of her work on her website, ⁠BetterBonsai.com⁠.⁠⁠⁠

Sponsor Info: 

This episode is sponsored by (me!) In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio. Find me in person, at ⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠, or go to ⁠⁠https://www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠/ ⁠to see upcoming events, expanding online offerings, educational materials, and more.

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 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.

Why You Should Apply for the Ben Oki Scholarship with Bob Pressler, Ep31-32

⁠I. Episode Summary & Links

            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, Kevin Faris and Kelly Lui, are among the previous recipients of this scholarship. For more information on how to apply, please go to ⁠https://www.californiabonsaisociety.com/post/the-ben-oki-bonsai-scholarship-fund-1⁠.

The video version for part 1 / Episode 31 is available here:

The podcast version of Part 1 is available here.

⁠The video version for part 2 / Episode 32 is available here:

The podcast version of Part 2 is available here.

Guest Info:

Bob Pressler is also the owner of Kimura Bonsai Nursery and President of the California Bonsai Society. 

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor Info: 

(INSERT YOUR AD HERE). Email us at bonsaitimepodcast@gmail.com if you would like to discuss sponsoring an episode! Sponsor information will be tailored to your needs but generally is read on air and included in the show notes.

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 through Spotify 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. Even $1/month would be a great help!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bonsaitimepodcast/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

See the relevant images and links from this episode below.

Listener Bonsai Brainstorm - More metal pots, spring prep, and more! Ep27

⁠I. Episode Summary & Links

            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. Many listeners also submitted questions surrounding spring topics such as how to identify good bonsai styles or techniques when working with a new species and how to dig wild bonsai aka "yamadori". Lastly, Kevin and Ryan shared some pots and trees to discuss style options and considerations when for matching trees to pots as the repotting season gets underway around the northern hemisphere.

The video version is available here (follow along to see the images as we discuss):

The podcast version is available here.

⁠

Sponsor Info: 

Tori Solis of Blue Nose Trading is a multi-talented artist specializing in bonsai pottery, other ceramics, and jewelry. Her beautiful work, tips for techniques, and her new Bonsai Pot-cast series can be found at the links below.

⁠https://linktr.ee/BlueNoseTrading

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 through Spotify 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. Even $1/month would be a great help!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bonsaitimepodcast/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

See the relevant images and links from this episode below.

Bonsai Stories and Other BS with Dennis Makashima! Bonsai Time Podcast Ep 18-20

           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 pruning. This is what ultimately drew him into bonsai and eventually a bonsai apprenticeship in Japan. Ultimately Dennis' own contributions to the art stand proud as he taught aesthetic tree pruning at Merritt College and served as president for the Golden State Bonsai Federation. Dennis also went into great detail regarding how he worked to improve GBSF during his tenure for the clubs and local scene. We hope you enjoy his many BS stories as much as we did!

Dennis Makashima is a long-time pillar of the Bay Area and the greater California bonsai scene. We are grateful for his time and for sharing his experiences! You can learn more about Dennis' life story in his upcoming autobiographical book "Mr. Omoshiori: Journal of a Sansei Baby Boomer and Bonsai Sensei". The book will come out in early 2024 and is being published by the Zentoku Foundation.

PART 1 - The video version is available here*:

*Check out our new YouTube channel! ⁠⁠⁠

PART 1 - Podcast version available here:

Apprentice Talk & Bonsai Brainstorming with Julian Tsai & Andy Bello - Bonsai Time Podcast Ep 04

           Hear ye, hear ye! Today marks the release of the fourth episode of the Bonsai Time Podcast hosted by myself and a fellow Columbus-based bonsai friend, Kevin Faris. In today's episode, I dug up the pilot test interview I did back in May of 2020 with Julian Tsai and Andy Bello. Julian is a former apprentice of Fujikawa Kouka-en bonsai nursery in Japan and Andy is a former apprentice-turned assistant curator at the US National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington, DC. We discussed our observations in bonsai around the world and spent the last half of the interview brainstorming styling ideas for reader-submitted trees. Hopefully seeing our thought process can be helpful in styling trees in your collection! We welcome submissions of additional trees for us to discuss in the future here. 

Find our episodes on YouTube!

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