Hows and Whys of Wiring Bonsai with Rob Hoffman (CBS Lecture) - Bonsai Time Podcast Ep48

In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus

• July 19-20. Columbus Bonsai Society Annual Show!
• Details coming soon but there will be vendors, workshops, and great trees! Facebook event here.
• July 19, 3-5pm - Wild Boxwood Transformation Workshop @ CBS Show (hosted by me!)
• All participants get a wild collected boxwood or you can select the option to bring your own boxwood. We will discuss steps for transforming these into bonsai from raw material and how I refine them over time. Sign up here
• September 6, 1-4pm - Japanese Black Pine from Seed Workshop @ Franklin Park Conservatory (hosted by me!)
• All participants get seeds and some 1-2 year old seedlings and if interested in a higher tier, a older 4-5 year old seedling is also included. We will explain how seedlings are styled over multiple years so you can see the whole process in one session. Sign up here

I. Episode Summary & Links

            In this episode, catch up on what's new with Ryan, Kevin, and Kelly before diving into a talk on how to wire branches for bonsai styling. Rob Hoffman was the presenting artist for this recorded Columbus Bonsai Society meeting. We hope you learn something new and can share this with those you know who are learning how to wire bonsai.

The YouTube version of Episode 48 is here!

The podcast version of Episode 48 is here!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest Info:

Rob Hoffman of ⁠Yume-en Bonsai⁠ in Marysville, OH. You can also find him traveling to regional bonsai shows, such as the upcoming US National Bonsai Exhibit.

https://yume-enbonsai.com/

Sponsor Info:

This episode is sponsored by the Columbus Bonsai Society 53rd Annual Bonsai Show, July 19-20, 2025 in Columbus, OH, USA. Details at ⁠ColumbusBonsai.org⁠. We have 7 different bonsai workshops there - including from Rob and Ryan - as well as great raffle trees, exhibit trees, and tons of vendors.

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.

Everything you need to know for the 53rd Annual Columbus Bonsai Society Show! See you July 19-20, 2025

Last updated 7/18/2025

The outline for the weekend is included below. As we get more information, I will continue to update this page. Mark your calendars and see you there!

Sections:

1. Event Overview
2. Where & When!
3. Vendors & Guest Artists in Attendance
4. Workshop Schedule & Details
5. Raffle and Sponsor Details
6. Why & How to Exhibit Trees
7. Award Categories (and Sponsors)
8. Why & How to Volunteer
9. Bonsai Time Podcast Interviews with CBS Show Vendors/Artists

Catalpa Bonsai Early Updates - Seedling and Yamadori Examples

Source material: June 2025

            The catalpa says good morning! If you see any trees in the southern or eastern US this time of year (late spring) with large white and purple flowers followed by string bean-looking seed pods, you've found a native catalpa! Below I share some additional notes on working with this species for bonsai which I have started to learn over the past few years.

Sections:

1. Notes on Catalpa Seeds and Seedlings
2. Notes on Catalpa Yamadori and Wild Digging

In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus

• June 18, 6-9pm. Clip and Grow Styling for Succulent Bonsai - Lecture and Workshop with Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society.
• This is my next lecture/workshop here in Columbus. Since the Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society are already knowledgeable on succulent growing, for this educational day I will focus first on discussing styling via clip and grow. I will share some examples from Brucera (Frankincense), Jade, Dwarf Jade, and others so you can see the technique in action over time. Then you will get the opportunity to plant and style your own succulent bonsai. Species available include jade, gollum jade, dwarf jade, and others. Facebook event is here.
• July 3, 6-9pm. I will be presenting/demonstrating for the Akron-Canton Bonsai Society on the topic of deadwood! Bring a tree that you could use some advice on improving its deadwood if you happen to be in the Cleveland, Ohio area. I will have several stylistic examples of deadwood and potentially some manual carving tools available. Full info will be posted here.
• July 19-20. Columbus Bonsai Society Annual Show!
• Details coming soon but there will be vendors, workshops, and great trees! Facebook event here.

A catalpa flower. After a late spring rain, the flowers can often be found on the ground.

From Trash to Treasure: Origin of the Waterfront Botanical Garden - Bonsai Time Podcast Ep46 Part1

In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus

• I have a number of consignment trees and pots for sale. These are from CBS members who moved away including my friend Kevin from the Bonsai Time Podcast. Trees up to moderate size I now ship within the USA with some potential limitations by state laws. Contact me for a shipping estimate or to arrange a visit in person in Columbus or for drop off at or on the way to a local bonsai show I will be attending (DC, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cinncinatti).
• June 18, 6-9pm. Clip and Grow Styling for Succulent Bonsai - Lecture and Workshop with Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society.
• This is my next lecture/workshop here in Columbus. Since the Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society are already knowledgeable on succulent growing, for this educational day I will focus first on discussing styling via clip and grow. I will share some examples from Brucera (Frankincense), Jade, Dwarf Jade, and others so you can see the technique in action over time. Then you will get the opportunity to plant and style your own succulent bonsai. Species available include jade, gollum jade, dwarf jade, and others. Facebook event is here. Sign-up info coming soon.
• July 19-20. Columbus Bonsai Society Annual Show!
• Details coming soon but there will be vendors, workshops, and great trees! Facebook event here.

I. Episode Summary & Links

            In this episode, Kevin, Kelly, and Ryan sat down with Megan Bibelhauser of the Waterfront Botanical Garden and Russel Stevens of Twisted Nature Bonsai in Louisville, Kentucky. Among other things, in Part 1 we discussed how the Waterfront Botanical Garden was founded only 5 years ago and their major events. Then in Part 2, we focused on their new bonsai training program, bonsai collection, and Japanese garden that is under construction.

The YouTube version of Episode 46 is here!

The podcast version of Episode 46 is here!⁠

The YouTube version of Episode 47 (Part 2) is here!

The podcast version of Episode 47 (Part 2) is here!⁠

The Bonsai That Survived Hiroshima — and What It Teaches Us, Bonsai Time Podcast Ep 45

In Vivo Bonsai Announcements/Upcoming Events in Columbus

• I have a number of consignment trees and pots for sale. These are from CBS members who moved away including my friend Kevin from the Bonsai Time Podcast. Trees up to moderate size I now ship within the USA with some potential limitations by state laws. Contact me for a shipping estimate or to arrange a visit in person in Columbus or for drop off at or on the way to a local bonsai show I will be attending (DC, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cinncinatti).
• June 18, 6-9pm. Clip and Grow Styling for Succulent Bonsai - Lecture and Workshop with Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society.
• This is my next lecture/workshop here in Columbus. Since the Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society are already knowledgeable on succulent growing, for this educational day I will focus first on discussing styling via clip and grow. I will share some examples from Brucera (Frankincense), Jade, Dwarf Jade, and others so you can see the technique in action over time. Then you will get the opportunity to plant and style your own succulent bonsai. Species available include jade, gollum jade, dwarf jade, and others. Facebook event is here. Sign-up info coming soon.
• July 19-20. Columbus Bonsai Society Annual Show!
• Details coming soon but there will be vendors, workshops, and great trees! Facebook event here.

I. Episode Summary & Links

In this episode, Kevin, Kelly, and Ryan discuss how we can better preserve history through our bonsai and elevate them into an ambassador role between cultures and places. Kevin was specifically thinking about the famous Yamaki White Pine Bonsai that survived an atomic bomb and was later gifted by Japan to the US National Bonsai Museum. This tree has a powerful presence for all those who visit it. Likewise, Kevin compared it to his recent visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan and the powerful impression that place leaves on visitors as well.

The YouTube version of Episode 45 is here!

The podcast version of Episode 45 is here!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sponsor Info: 

This episode is sponsored by the Waterfront Botanical Gardens 3rd Annual Bonsai Weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. Details at BonsaiWeekend.com. Come visit Kentucky's newest botanic garden and see what's growing with the Greater Louisville Bonsai Society. The show will feature guest judge Owen Reich, bonsai workshops, demonstrations, cultural activities, food and drink, koi fish on display from the Louisville Koi Society, and an expanded selection of vendors for all your bonsai needs. I'll be there too, and I hope to see you there May 30th-June 1st. Tickets are on sale now at ⁠BonsaiWeekend.com⁠.

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.