In May of 2025 I was in Australia to present at their National Bonsai Convention. It was held in Canberra on the grounds of the National Arboretum.
Jennifer Price and myself—the headliners for the weekend—were given a great, personalized tour of the collection by Assistant Curator Sam Thompson.
The Australian national collection has many of the standard Japanese species. But the high number of native bonsai on display made it unique.
Sam Thompson, the Assistant Curator, showed us around.
Japanese Black Pine.
Japanese Maple.
English Elm, Ulmus procera.
A large Box-leaf Privet, Ligustrum undulatum.
Saw Banksia, Banksia serrata. This genus of robust Australian natives are favored for bonsai, which trunk up in a pot.
The longevity of the ornamental seed pods on the Banksias is remarkable—10 years is not uncommon.
Heath Banksia, Banksia ericifolia.
Coast Banksia, Banksia integrifolia. A solid nebari here.
And another native, Slender Burgan, Kunzea phylicoides.
The view from the collection. Sam was fall pruning the pine to the right the day we met. Jennifer and I gave our workshops in the building in the background. What a visit! Thanks for the tour, Sam-