Where East Meets West: Native Trees and Japanese Techniques

Three Google searches. That is all it took. Next thing I know, I am driving three days to get to Denver to spend my summer working as the Bonsai and Shofu-en Japanese Garden Intern. My internship at Denver Botanic Gardens was a busy one – two mentors, three projects and four other interns to embark on other activities with – but it taught me a lot, and this knowledge will stay with me for the entirety of my horticultural career.  

Half of my summer was spent in the Bonsai Pavilion, working with bonsai legend of the West (according to my second Google search), Larry Jackel. He taught me the know-how of all things bonsai, such as pruning, wiring, styling and more. With Larry, I had two projects: photograph and document all the bonsai in the collection and upload them into the Gardens’ database for record-keeping, and to somehow style my first bonsai tree. I also helped “reset” the pavilion (moving trees around, putting new ones on show). I created an Excel spreadsheet to document the pots in the collection. My bonsai tree project included unwiring, rewiring, and restyling a much bigger tree that has been in development for the past few years.

The other half of my summer was spent in the Shofu-en Japanese Garden, this time working with former Gardens bonsai intern-turned-curator (that was found in my third Google search), Henry Basile. With Henry, I had one simple project: to photograph and document all of the Ponderosa pines in the Japanese Garden. Instead of recording these in the official database, I created what will be used as a tree worksheet, a logbook of any maintenance, tie-downs and any other grower notes on the tree. On days when I was not doing project work, I was in the Japanese Garden with Henry helping needle, prune or give haircuts to whichever tree was our chosen subject for the day.

This internship has provided invaluable hands-on experience to supplement my college education. Over the summer I had the opportunity to attend plant family classes and workshops and explore on field trips around Colorful Colorado with my fellow interns. I ignited a new bonsai passion, joining the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society and racking the brains of experienced artists. Most importantly, I gained a new perspective from my mentors: “You may not stay in bonsai, but you will always look at trees differently.” I have already seen this to be true. This has reassured me that I am on the right path with a career in public horticulture. 

This article was contributed by Hunter Fosko, a senior at Auburn University majoring in horticulture with an emphasis in landscaping, while working to acquire a certificate in public horticulture. After graduating in May, she hopes to continue exploring the world of horticulture through a career path in botanic gardens or in state or national parks.