Spring time and maple leaves.... #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #maplebonsai #acerpalmatum #spring

Attended a fabulous club event at the Olympia bonsai club last night with guest speaker @daviddegroot_ ... We brought along the Hornbeam and stand as part of the program. David did a wonderful job demonstrating seasonal display options with the tree. What a exhilarating experience to have such a fabulous artist play around with showing off one of our trees. I've also included a picture of the tree in fall colors so folks can imagine it in that season as well. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #bonsaidisplay #tokonoma #bonsaiclub

Ohhh now that's fabulous ... . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen

A great way to end the year ... with the help of a friend and student we gave Medusa her second round of styling... this bizarre collected mountain hemlock has been a wonderful challenge to take on ... raw material purchased at the 2023 @psbabonsai spring sale. Moving the tree forward closer to it's future as a bonsai. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #mountainhemlock #yamadori

Alaskan yellow cedar after some fall clean up. A good number of years put into creating this after I collected it. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #callitropsisnootkatensis #yellowcedar #nativebonsai

Korean Hornbeam fall color kicked in ! getting that 🔥 on ! #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #fall #fallcolors #carpinuscoreana

Kotohime catching that autumn fire 🔥... #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #fallcolor #fallcolors #bonsaifall #fall #japanesemaple

It appears that fall is here for sure. Trident maple that we've been working on for several years now. That base keeps getting better and better. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #bonsaifall #trident #tridentmaple #fallcolors #fall

Shohin sized Acer Ginnala (amur maple) ... she dropped all her leaves in a small storm. Before clean up pruning tho not too much to do this year. Very old tree that has been getting serious shohin treatment the last few years. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #maplebonsai #shohin

The leaves turned and fell on this katsura before we could get a decent picture this year ... but it is developing quite nicely and a bit more gnarly than most. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #katsura #katsuratree

Just a small carrying box for the Ponderosa we donated to be auctions at @pacificbonsaimuseum 's Branch Out event tomorrow! Because we don't do halfway here at Issho-en... Hope to see you there tomorrow !!! #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen

it's pretty certain that fall is indeed here at Issho-en.... #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #fallcolors #fallcolor #acerginnala #maplebonsai

How to make a really large pot look tiny ... jam an even bigger tree in it. Pot: Sara Rayner #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #bonsaipots

mukdenia rossii 'crimson fans' ... in a Jim Gremel bag pot ... absolutely beautiful in the spring rains. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #mukdeniarossii #shitakusa #kusamono

Spring time with the Kotohime ... . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #acerpalmatum #japanesemaple #japanesemaplebonsai

Getting ready for the PSBA Bonsai Spring Market tomorrow at the UW Horticultural Center! See you tomorrow! #isshoen #bonsailife #ericridgewaybonsai #rockinhair #happywife

Had a great time with the Olympia Bonsai Club, starting a multi-year project last night. #isshoen #bonsai #bonsailife #ericridgewaybonsai #olympiabonsaiclub

Japanese Black Pine https://isshoenbonsai.com/an-old-jbp-finds-itself Check out the new blog post. #bonsai #bonsailife #japaneseblackpine #isshoen #womenartists #japanesebonsaipot #blogpost

Japanese larch finally repotted!! Baby it's cold outside 🤣 #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaitrees #isshoen #larix #womenartists

Getting ready for the cold!

It's that time of year again ... love these beauties !!! #isshoen #bonsai #bonsailife #chojubaibonsai

Prepping for Nationals starts now. 🥰 Victrinia's Mountain Hemlock was accepted and got a new pot. #isshoen #bonsai #bonsailife #usnbe

Just enjoying the results of the work.

Brushed and ready to weather

Charring freshly carved juniper wood.

Working on Vic's big Tsukumo Cypress today with friends. Stay tuned.. this is going to be exciting! . . . . #americanbonsai #bonsaiart #bonsaiwork #isshoen #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaitree

Mugo Pine Valley Cushion pre-bonsai from twenty gallon can to this pot over the last 5+ years. Totally worth the effort. . . . . #bonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaiart #isshoen #bonsailife #bonsaitrees #bonsaitree #bonsaiwork #mugopine #mugobonsai #pinusmugo

A few glamour shots before the fall color comes off. An old tree developing slowly. She'll get a bit of a trim and be ready for next year. . . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #fallcolor #fallcolors #koreanhornbeam #carpinuscoreana

On our return trip from the @pacificbonsaiexpo. We stopped off to check out the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #gnarlybonsai #deadwood

A few obligatory photos from the @pacificbonsaiexpo ... thank you to @bonsaitonight and @ericschraderbonsai, as well as all the volunteers that made the show possible. A truly spectacular event. Bravo! ... We are already looking forward to the 2024 event !

On our way to @pacificbonsaiexpo !! See you all there ! . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen

The Trident maple in its full glory ... . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #tridentmaple #tridentmaplebonsai #acerbuergerianum #fallcolor #fallcolors #epic

Fall foliage from a student's Hornbeam. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #fallcolor #fallcolors #carpinuscoreana #carpinusbonsai #koreanhornbeam

A relatively young Ginkgo grouping ... created from a former planting we acquired last year. We replanted to a bit more interesting grove structure earlier this spring. With strong fertilization and good sun the tree has started to fill in well and create lots of side branching. We should be able to move into a bit more appropriate and shallower container in the coming years. Looking forward to this planting for many years to come. #bonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaiart #isshoen #bonsailife #bonsaitrees #bonsaitree #bonsaiwork #fallcolors #fallcolor #Ginkgo #ginkgobonsai #ginkgo

Pretty sure we finally hit peak color on the multi trunk connected root Japanese maple. I know folks get excited about all the cultivars, but plain Acer P may just be the truly most exciting of them all. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #acerpalmatum #japanesemaple #japanesemaplebonsai #fallcolor #fallcolors

It's definitely starting to get that fall look around here. #bonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaiart #isshoen #bonsailife #bonsaitrees #bonsaitree #bonsaiwork #fallcolors #fallcolor #Ginkgo #ginkgo #ginkotree #ginkgoleaves #ginkgobonsai

Close up of the turtleback Trident (acer buergerianum). Showing a little bit of fall color coming on. Still a bit more basal flare to clean up from under the moss. Every year this tree gets better and better. Here you can see the huge wound that was completely covered over in the last 8 yrs or so. Pretty impressive. #bonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaiart #isshoen #bonsailife #bonsaitrees #bonsaitree #bonsaiwork #tridentmaple #tridentmaples #tridentmaplebonsai #acerbuergerianum #fallcolors #fallcolors #fallcolor

A day at @elandangardensbonsai working on a Western Red Cedar and hanging out with our teacher, what could be better. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #iconic #isshoen #westernredcedar #thujaplicata #cedar #cedarbonsai

Spent some time yesterday working on a ponderosa we've had hanging around now for quite sometime. We purchased the tree at an area nursery that sometimes has interesting and even collected material. Much of the last few years have been spent working on helping it regain its vigor and building strength. Now that is is healthy and continuing to back-bud, Eric worked on the tree yesterday afternoon to create its initial styling. We think it's a pretty good improvement, and that the tree will have quite an awesome future. #bonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaiart #isshoen #bonsailife #bonsaitrees #bonsaiwork #bonsaitree #ponderosa #ponderosapine #pinusponderosa #Iconic

Absolutely loving the fall color on this Bradford pear. This tree was once originally grown as a laboratory specimen at the University of Oregon. Eventually it and several other pears ended up for sale. We purchased this tree for its gnarled roots and flaky bark, which has matured really well in the last few years. Every year the color is striking, some years going entirely dark red and others picking up this more bronze golden glow. Pretty sure we are up for some interesting styling this year to start it on its true journey finally. While the species is often considered invasive and there are even bounties on them, in a bonsai pot it is actually quite a splendid way to enjoy them. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #callerypear #pyruscalleryana #bradfordpear #deciduousbonsai #fallcolor #fallcolors

Earlier this year we purchased a really awesome Cedrus Atlantica from our friend Richard Green ... recently Eric gave it it's first refinement styling. Over the next few years it should continue to improve and show off the beautiful foundation work started by Richard. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #cedrus #cedrusatlantica #blueatlascedar

Katsura in fall color ... it comes on fast and is usually one of the first to turn. Has a sweet smell to the air as well ... Last year was its first styling and we are looking forward to it improving over the years. We are surprised to not see them used very often as bonsai. But a small number if them can be seen here and there. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #cercidiphyllum #cercidiphyllumjaponicum

Victrinia and Young Choe recently collaborated on a really awesome #kusamono workshop. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #kusamonobonsai #kusamonoart

Katsura starting to turn slowly.. An interesting bonsai that is not utilized as much as it should be. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #katsura #cottoncandytree #cercidiphyllum

Bougies finally showing flowers ... . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #bouganvillea #bougie #bougiebonsai

Student dropped by for study group makeup day. Bonus @arcadiavalleybonsai was in town and hung out with us. We all ended up teaming up on this hinoki... or as @theladysabine likes to call it "three men and a baby ..... tree" . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #hinoki #hinokicypress #hinokibonsai

Corkbark black pine growing strong .... . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #pinusthunbergii #corkbark #blackpine

yellow cedar deadwood !! upcoming work . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #nootkatensis #yellowcedar #cedar

Cork bark black pine growing strong !! ♥️ That bark ! . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #corkbarkpine #pinusthumbergii #gnarly #blackpine #blackpinebonsai

Bougainvillea ... flowers are fushia purple 💜 ... This amazing tree actually traveled as a gigantic cutting all the way from Hawaii (yes that means no soil, no roots). It was an engagement present from our beloved friend, family and teacher Daniel Robinson (who collected it) of @elandangardensbonsai. This particular tree even has a couple great stories of working on it all together, but I'll save those for another day. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #bougainvillea

Earlier this week, we were able to take some time to work on a project that has been a few years in the making. We have been waiting for quite some time for this RMJ (rocky mountain juniper) to get healthy and strong. With that happening this year and successfully repotting into something more sane. We took to getting some style. This project, which was always intended to be a working collaboration between the two of us started out much earlier with the pot selection. And now in the styling phase I (Eric) took on the task of laying out the basic structure for this tree and working with it to create its overall definition and direction. After I set the structure Victrinia took on the task of wiring the pads and setting the fine details to sharpen and realize the design we were after. We think it turned out pretty nice and look forward to working to continue filling out its structure and rebuilding that density "in all the right places". #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #rockymountainjuniper #scopulorum #juniperbonsai

Eric grooming the Alaskan Yellow Cedar he sent to USNBE 2021. Every year it gets more beautiful. Pot by MC2 . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #nootkatensis #yellowcedar #usnbe

A little bonsai, "beer" and BBQ .... proper beer was also consumed, don't worry. Today was the first meeting of one of our study groups. Everyone had a blast and of course the BBQ was amazing! Bonsai work was deadheading the azaleas that finally finished blooming and working on some juniper and giving an elm an identity. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #beer #bbq

Ponderosa Pine from @theladysabine 's US National Bonsai Exhibition display last September. The display featured the work of female artists in all aspects of bonsai, from the tree styling to the pottery used to house the tree and accent to the hand carved stand the tree was displayed on. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #ponderosa #yamadori #womendobonsai #bonsaidisplay

Work starting on this soon !! love that deadwood :) . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #nootkatensis #yellowcedar #yamadori #deadwood

A quick video from earlier in the year when we were prepping for shows. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #bonsaishow #tsukomo #azalea #azaleabonsai

Ponderosa from #ponderosaday shopping with @westseattlebonsai and @niwakinursery ... . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #ponderosa #yamadori #deadwood

first Ume harvest of the year ... harvesting while still a little green this year as it's been cold and wet for so long. From field growing ume for bonsai ... might as well enjoy the fruit too. If you've never had umeboshi you are missing out. They are also used to flavor plum wine. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #ume #umeboshi #umeshu

Finally killed this branch ... it's been many years in the making. Many of you may have heard us talk about the idea that you can always remove branches as you go, and that sometimes we grow branches for years with the intent of jining them. Today is an example of that, I've been styling this branch for several years from just a tiny sprig ... I didn't always know I would end up jinning it ... but it's always nice to have the option. You can see how removing the foliage has helped improve the directionality of the tree. In time I will reduce the extension on the left to help move the apex to the right and improve the trees directionality. Pot by: Sara Rayner . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #yellowcedar #chamaecyparisnootkatensis #deadwood #cypress # nootkatensis #gnarly #gnarlybranches

dwarf wisteria leafed out and looking sexy ... pot: Sara Rayner . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #wisteria #wisteriabonsai #cascadebonsai

Anyone else have a bonsai lightsaber ? . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #bonsailightsaber

Second flush of growth on the Katsura bonsai (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) ... . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #katsurabonsai #katsura

Catching the dragon by its tail. Finishing up the structural setting for the first pass on this collected Yellow Cedar (chamaecyparis nootkatensis). This tree was collected about 8-10 yrs ago or so, finally getting around to styling it. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen

Yesterday we visited the garden of our friend Richard Green for the first time. What a wonderful and exciting place, we are so thankful for the opportunity. Fantastic material all masterfully created over decades. As with any of our outings there was sure to be sawdust and die-grinders! We even got a chance to discuss a piece of material, we were fortunate enough to be able to acquire (blue Atlas in the last pic). Getting to discuss material with those that have known it since "It was this big" is a special and important moment (savor those moments!). Thank you again Richard! #bonsai #bonsaiart #bonsailife #bonsaiwork #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #gardenvisit #gardentour #bonsaiheros

Two people, 5hrs and thousands of azalea ovaries later. The Hino Crimson is finally cleaned up and ready to start getting ready for next year's show. #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #hinocrimson #azalea #floweringbonsai

Spent some time today carving an old stump on this juniper as I put the final touches on it. Preparing for the annual #psba auction where it will be available for you to take home. Grown at #telperionfarms, junipers like this don't come up often. Come down to the Pacific Bonsai Museum June 4th, enjoy the fun and bid bid bid !!! . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #bonsaiauction #telperion #juniperbonsai #juniper #bonsaicarving

subalpine fir detail ... . . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #subalpinefir #bonsaidetail

Details are everything ... . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #details #deadwood #bonsaidesign

A couple small accents, all chilling out in the shade house. It's the small things that can give tons of joy some days. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #kusamono #shitakusa #bonsaiaccent

Finally the large iris cristata is blooming! The others haven't yet followed suit, hopefully they will follow along shortly. It may even finally start to get warm. . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #aroundthegarden #iriscristata #kusamono #shitakusa

Getting set up for the #psba spring show at #bonsaifest taking place at the Pacific Bonsai Museum ... come by and enjoy the festivities! . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #japaneselarch #larixkaempferi #bonsaishow #bonsaidisplay

One of the most blinding sights of spring !! Hino Crimson doing it's hino thang!! Potted into this dark mokko just this year to really show off that flower power!! . . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #isshoen #azalea #azaleabonsai #hinocrimson #flowerpower

Larch that will be up for auction later this year at the upcoming PSBA yearly event. Come join and get those bidding juices flowing. . . . #bonsai #bonsailife #bonsaiart #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #bonsailovers #bonsaiauction #americanbonsai #isshoen

Spring is finally getting sprung up here ... dwarf iris starting to bloom ... . . . . . . #bonsai #bonsaitrees #bonsailife #bonsaiart #kusamono #shitakusa #iris #isshoen #americanbonsai #accentplant

Something you don't see everyday ... salmon chojubai. From an old batch at #telperionfarms ... I think Chris pulled them up as failures but I HAD to have one. This clump was amongst the thicket of branches in the small pot. I've had them growing in a pot about this size now for about 15 years or so. . . . . . #bonsai #bonsaiart #bonsailife #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #americanbonsai #chojubai #chaenomelesjaponica #isshoen