Nagoya

We checked out of our hotel in Kyoto this morning and hopped on a bus and headed to Nagoya. It was about an hour and a half to visit Aichi-en Bonsai Nursery, one of Japan's oldest bonsai gardens. This garden was in the middle of the city.

Rows upon rows of fantastic trees, most are already potted just waiting to be styled and developed. I include just a few of the ones that caught my eye.

Twisty juniper

Look how the roots are strangling this rock.

Bjorn is thinking about buying this one below.

After the other members of our tour finished up their purchases, it was time for a quick lunch and then on to Daiju-en Nursery, famous for its pine bonsai. It is said that this is where the de-candling technique for Japanese Black Pine was initially discovered and developed.

When we arrived, the family was heading out, so we were able to briefly meet several generations of the bonsai nursery dynasty, including their Shiba Inu. He was such a good dog and tired. He barely paid any attention to all of us.

One of the apprentices from Australia gave us a little tour. The feel of this nursery was very different from the first one. Most of the trees here were already very developed and refined. A lot of pines, as you would guess.

It was either the grandfather or the great-grandfather that discovered a "witch's broom" which is a genetic mutation or abnormal growth on a branch. This mutation became known as the zuisho white pine cultivar which is now one of the most sought after and desirable cultivars for bonsai due to it's short and compact five-needle bunches. That's my index finger, see how short the needles are!

Here's a picture of the whole tree.

Ira really liked this tree below. It's a Chinese Quince. He said he'd never seen anything like it in the U.S.

Apparently the big stone to the left of the bonsai was given to the owner of the nursery by the emperor? I might have got that story wrong, but at any rate, it's an important stone.

Here's a closer look at the quince. Crazy!

Tomorrow we go back to Tokyo.

A dopo!