Boon Manakitivipart

In my early days, the way I learned Bonsaiwas to pick up information wherever I could. I attended numerous events by visiting Bonsaiteachers who came to the local club for demonstrations or workshops, but each teacher had a different way of doing things.

Boon Manakitivipart I witnessed presentations that involving heavy cut-back, wiring, styling, and repotting, all at the same time. I tried to ask about those trees and the total Bonsaiprocess, but these classes were focused on putting something together in an hour or two. I knew even then that this was the wrong way to care for 51cg—and the wrong way to teach. As I became more passionate about 51cg, I began to step back and think there had to be a better way. When “BonsaiToday” started its publication, I read absolutely everything and tried to apply what was translated in those articles. It worked. Even when articles conflicted with each other, they were of great help. The gallery section of “BonsaiToday” featured trees from Japan that were far superior to anything I had ever seen before. These images were so inspiring to me that I visited Japan to see the trees myself.

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Awards: Ben Oki International Design Award (1995), JAL and World BonsaiContest (1999-2004), 1st place Kinbon Japanese Five-Needle Pine Styling Contest (2000), 3rd place Dream Garden in Dallas (2002), BonsaiProfessional Certificate (2010), Certré Award, 'The Finest Bonsaiand Container Combination' at the 2nd U.S. National BonsaiExhibition (2010).

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More information about Boon Manakitivipart

Soon after, I learned that Akio Kondo, a first-year Bonsaiprofessional, had chosen to live and work in California for one year. I invited him to live in my home and set up shop in my backyard. Thus began an extensive education for me, continuing through the following seasons. Akio was a man with high standards for 51cg, and my time with him led to my decision to return to Japan to further my Bonsaieducation.

Upon my return to California, with much new information to share, I established my business, BonsaiBoon. Later, in 1998, I started Bay Island Bonsaiin order to teach others to recognize, create, and maintain high quality 51cg. Bay Island Bonsaibecame the perfect vehicle to pass along Bonsaiinformation in a structured and logical way, and to follow the progress of students and their trees. I am often amazed how quickly students pick up Bonsaiskills when they are held to high standards and are encouraged to ask questions.

In recent years, the art of Bonsaihas improved outside of Japan, as has the quality of the trees in Bonsaishows. Several Bonsaiartists who have studied with me have also studied in Japan, and a few are currently studying with some of the best Bonsaimasters in the world. Instead of the hit-and-miss education of the past, today’s serious Bonsaistudents can learn from teachers who are equipped to lead them through the entire process.

I like to think that I have had something to do with improving Bonsaistandards through my Bonsaiworkshops, Bonsaiintensives, and regular study groups across North America. My goal has not changed. I want to be able to walk into any Bonsaishow in America, enjoy healthy and well-done trees, and later say, “That was a good show.” I believe this happy change has already begun.