A Bonsai Side Quest

In this continuation of Australia’s top 20 natives for bonsai discussion, the guys only manage to cover 3 more (with a minimum of 5 side-quest species features)...

Jarryd’s picks: Huon pine, Woolly Tea Tree
Hugh:’s picks: Coastal Tea Tree

Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

In this episode, the guys spinulosa’d around, only getting to 5 more out of the top 20’s greatest hits of native species with many informational species side-quests. In continuation of Jarryd and Hugh's top 10 picks for bonsai material, here are the selections of this round: 

Jarryd - Strawberry Pine, Varnished Gum
Hugh - Banksia Serrata, Blue Mountain Pine, Banksia Ericifolia 

Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

In this special episode of A Bonsai Side Quest, Hugh and Jarryd share their top 10 local native species for bonsai with plentiful insight of their experiences working with each. Of course, many side-quests derail them leading to only unveiling the first 7 in this episode. 

Jarryd's picks: Tasmanian Pencil Pine, Nothofagus gunnii, Diselma archeri, and Nothofagus cunninghamii

Hugh's Picks: Black She-Oak, Kunzea Ambigua, and Port Jackson Fig

Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

Looking at the onset of the autumn season, Jarryd and Hugh share their grievances of a hot summer and heat exhausted trees as well as their aspirations for styling as the heat reduces. Both are keen to jump into design season and their respective large styling projects. Repenting for their wiring sins and reflecting on overly-harsh self critique, they discuss the trials and tribulations of styling special trees. Lastly, they highlight work that you should partake on your garden at this time of year. 

Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

In the peaking heat of summer, the guys whinge about hot winds, thirsty trees, and the need for tie downs and shade structures. Jarryd updates us on the fate of the previously discussed ancient Huon pine in Tasmania. The two delve into the topic of eco-tourism and the duality of needing to protect wild spaces and ancient trees while also making them more known in order to spark the passion to protect them. Now roughly one year into podcasting, Hugh and Jarryd reflect and thank their listeners for supporting them on this podcasting journey.

Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest

Backyard Bonsai Blokes - https://open.spotify.com/show/0erfxLIGe3yEXFdDElGtr7

Bonsai Stuff - https://open.spotify.com/show/7inx5PPtBH8iF49UMWVyk3

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

While not wholly sure of the outcome of the Tassie wildfires, Jarryd and Hugh mourn for the potential loss of a deeply significant Huon pine in the Hammond River Grove. A tree they once visited on a hike together, they share the essence of the tree's presence and the value its age offered. Moving into lighter topics, they cover the early turnover to autumn this year, their partners, Hugh's upcoming wedding, and the wonderful successes of recent teaching experiences.

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

As gardens evolve, the guys hash out continued earthworks and landscaping desires in their respective spaces to offer optimal tree viewing in their landscapes. As always, Hugh and Jarryd first catch up over a meteorological chat, discussing the increased rain in their zones offering time to accomplish non-watering related work in the summer. They touch on the edgy subject of summer repots with specific species. 

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

A much-delayed New Year's episode with Hugh and Jarryd covers their intentions, aspirations, and focus for the coming year (which we are now 1/12 into). Jarryd shares recent garden hardscaping triumphs and mysterious, epic hikes. Hugh shares about biodiversity in his new garden and plans for greater productivity within his practice and garden. They speak of the importance of time allocated for pursuing personal practice in the coming year. 

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/ 

In this episode, the guys dig into the unique world of Australian plant hardiness zones; they discuss the layout of Australian climatic zones in comparison to the northern hemisphere. This is discussed with the consideration of specialised care for species based on an individual practitioner's location. Hugh and Jarryd also catch up on holiday plans, the weather challenges of the week, and work life balance before diving into the Australian National Botanic Gardens map and what that means as a bonsai practitioner and grower - 

https://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/research/hort.research/zones.html

Hugh Grant - Tree Makers Design https://treemakers.com.au/ 

Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

For this episode, Jarryd and Hugh are joined by John Keely, who is in town visiting Hugh's garden in the Blue Mountains. They chat about the Canberra bonsai scene, Keely's launch into his bonsai journey, greenhouses, and natives collection. Keely highlights where we often all start—with a stick in a pot. 

Hugh returns from his Queensland trip and recaps his work at Tondoon Botanic Gardens, which leads to discussions of the upkeep of refinement work, the concept of state-recognized public bonsai collections, and a side quest of species gossip.  

Drinking beers, the guys share stories of watching storms on weather apps for possible watering relief. Surrounded by the sounds of a hot summer's cicadas, Hugh and Jarryd go into an in-depth exploration of Australian bonsai as a greater understanding of cultural representation. With ceramics, compositions, artistic styles, and an epic history lesson side-quest, they probe a deeper understanding of the art form of their country. 

This episode is filled with discussions around the topic of broadleaf-evergreen collecting including notions around aftercare and a smattering of scientific names with questionable pronunciations. The guys share what they have been up to with recent journeys in the Capertee Valley and Arthur Range, which eventually spirals into the true side-quest: lobsters, shrimp, and yabbie distinction. 

Tree Makers Design https://treemakers.com.au/ 

Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ 

The push and pull of spring work is in full swing for Jarryd and Hugh in their gardens. Using watering and fertilising as the throttle, and pinching and pruning to put on the breaks. They also discuss intentional bark pealing on some Australian species, growth management directing refinement, and the success of the advancements of Australian bonsai. 

After a long hiatus of what was supposed to be a weekly podcast… Hugh and Jarryd return! Appreciating a rainy spring and entering the growth season, they cover garden updates. Hugh recaps the Canberra Club show and good timed catching up with Grant Bowie and Sam Thompson. The guys share nostalgia for the late AusBonsai market and share news and excitement for both the upcoming 2025 AABC Convention in Canberra and the 2025 Bonsai Open. They reflect on how bonsai shows, much like trees, take time to develop and mature, and how the maturation process improves any subject - tree or bonsai show alike. 

Support Australian Bonsai events with us!

Link to register to the AABC National Bonsai Convention - Canberra 2025 (early bird rego ends 31/10/24) https://www.canberrabonsai.club/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=139:2025-aabc-bonsai-convention-3&catid=87&Itemid=2374

In this episode Hugh, Jarryd, and Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai catchup together to discuss everything bonsai. They each explore how they represent their native landscape through bonsai and discuss the deep, often challenging journey of finding meaning through this art form. With insights into the evolving culture of bonsai in Australia, this conversation offers a rich dive into bonsai culture in Australia currently. This is a thoughtful and engaging discussion with these three passionate bonsai professionals from different sides of the world. 

This podcast episode is a collaboration with Asymmetry by Bonsai Mirai. 

After a little hiatus, Hugh shares his big news - Treemakers is moving to a permanent location! With a recent visit from Jarryd, the boys began breaking ground on the new garden, building out a future space for the expansion of Australian bonsai. Exhausted by repotting season and the simultaneous big move, the two share excitement, but also physical drain from this demanding season.

In this episode, our guest Annie Huang tells us about Budlife, a seasonal magazine which focuses on the culture and communities surrounding plants. An eloquent and fascinating person, Annie shares her story and the origins of her publication and how it relates to bonsai. A side-quest of an episode itself, Annie interviews both Hugh and Jarryd on the origins of the podcast, and the plans and purpose of its future. They discuss the definition of bonsai as art, engaging in social media as bonsai practitioners, and how we present bonsai in formal settings. More often than not, in a metaphor or painting, bonsai is trying to keep the canvas on the easel more than actually painting. 

You you can find out about Budlife magazine on instagram at @budlifemagazine and via their website at www.budlifemagazine.com

As Hugh returns from New Zealand, the boys catch up on their recent going-ons and the shift in seasonal work. With the vast array of native New Zealand species on Hugh's mind, the two chat about New Zealands "wildling" collecting, and local species opportunities from the island neighbour. Hybridisation and grafting opportunities in Nothfagus gunnii come to mind as they discuss the viability of this allusive species. Now in the midst of repotting, the two look towards the vast array of projects to get underway. As the clock ticks, the time narrows for spring work as deciduous trees already begin to push their first flush. 

Unpruned beards and unpruned tree roots await Hugh and Jarryd in their gardens while they push through the craze of winter and the beginning of the repotting season. In this episode, the discussion of sustainability is raised around technique, design of the tree and the long term handling of roots. They discuss there experience in determining when, and more importantly when not to do, while catering to species specifics and the development of each tree. The two share the triumph of watching trees evolve into refinement, and the balance of sustainably taking care of their human selves while tending to their trees.