Topics covered: Canna-bonsai (cannabis bonsai) and other psychedelic bonsai species, tips to avoid forcing the ego on our creative endeavors, and the role of bonsai cultivation as a journey of self-discovery and mindfulness.
Plantsman and bonsai pro, Owen Reich, joins Justin Cooke, J Gordon Curtis, and Rowan Zeoli to discuss what he’s learned from his close relationship with nature. First discovering the art form while studying Horticulture at The University of Georgia, Owen has spent decades of his life studying the needs of trees and plants.
Along the way, we’ll hear of his traditional apprenticeship in Japan, incredible achievements, and devastating losses. Owen joins J in person for this conversation, which Rowan insists feels like a deep meditation (she’s not wrong).
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Check out Owen’s work and current projects on his website
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Further Reading | Topics Discussed:
The Book of Tea: A Japanese Harmony of Art, Culture, and the Simple Life (1906) by Okakura Kakuzō (Book PDF)
Photos from the 2023 Kokufu-ten bonsai exhibit in Japan (Bonsainut.com)
Other bonsai professionals discussed include Eisei-en Bonsai (Bjorn Bjorholm), Bonsai Mirai (Ryan Neil), and Michael Hagedorn (Youtube)
#12: Roots & Revelations: The Art of Bonsai with Owen Reich 🌳