Looking for the best bonsai nursery’s in the Midwest.

[Daniel son STL]

I reside out of St. Louis MO. Some time between late March and May I’m going to visit a buddy in Indianapolis. I’m looking to hit some bonsai nurseries on this adventure and I’m willing to make a pretty big loop to hit a few good nurseries. Any recommendations?

So far I’m seeing berea bonsai studio (this one is a little further out but maybe it’s worth drive), twisted nature bonsai. Both of these are in ky. Indianapolis I found circle city bonsai and eagle creek bonsai (both seem very small and special in tropical material which I already have plenty of). In the Chicago area I found bc bonsai.

Anybody have experience with any of these nurseries, or perhaps know of others in the gerneral area?? Maybe none of these nurseries are even worth traveling to....

Possibly take a different trip a little south I got bjorns nursery in Nashville, although I suspect some very expensive material. Also I could hit Brussels bonsai in Memphis which seems the most promising just by going off website pics.

Any experience with Brussels or bjorns nursery?

Thanks again bonsai fellas

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Mark Fields place is in Indiana. Never been, but Mark has great trees, so I would assume his nursery is top notch.

Bonsai by Fields - a source for bonsai products, information, and more Bonsai by Fields - a web resource for all things bonsai

Brussel's is huge and has tons of stuff. It's actually a super cool place to visit and just walk around.

Bjorn's is not exactly ripe with low dollar stuff, but again, it's worth the visit. He is expanding and by spring he might have more material. And you could save up some $$ and buy a great piece there, that's for sure.

 

[penumbra]

Mark Fields place is in Indiana. Never been, but Mark has great trees, so I would assume his nursery is top notch.

Went to this site and first thing up was what is happening in 2018. I am sorry, he may be among the best but a website that is focusing on what happened last year does not seem very encouraging.
I do appreciate your posting it, but I am not likely to return.

 

[Traken]

There's also The Hidden Gardens in the Chicagoland area. They have a lot of nice collected material as well as further along stuff. BC Bonsai has a fun selection of all sorts of stuff. Bear in mind that they're actually based at their home, so depending on when you wish to drop by, you may want to give them a call.

 

[Adair M]

Went to this site and first thing up was what is happening in 2018. I am sorry, he may be among the best but a website that is focusing on what happened last year does not seem very encouraging.
I do appreciate your posting it, but I am not likely to return.

Oh my. Don’t confuse webmaster skills with bonsai master skills!!!

 

[BrianBay9]

Mark Fields is first rate, but small. His place is a back yard operation - good quality, good instruction, but pretty small. Circle City bonsai and Eagle Creek bonsai are also small operations. To my knowledge there is not a large nursery in the Indianapolis area, but if you're passing through I would stop at Mark's.

If your traveling all over you might also check out Bogan's bonsai https://bogansbonsai.com/ near Evansville, IN. Great pot selection.

 

[Cable]

Makes me think we should have a pinned topic on nurseries somewhere

 

[CasAH]

Mark Field has great shohin trees.

Hidden Gardens has western state collected trees picked by Walter Pall.

BC Bonsai has a number of pre Bonsai tropical, deciduous, and evergreen. They also have some land in Paw Paw, IL that have field grown trees. Dig your own on weekends for a good price. Jim helps with a sawzall.

All are good people, just depends on what you are looking for tree wise.

 

[Waldo]

I reside out of St. Louis MO. Some time between late March and May I’m going to visit a buddy in Indianapolis. I’m looking to hit some bonsai nurseries on this adventure and I’m willing to make a pretty big loop to hit a few good nurseries. Any recommendations?

So far I’m seeing berea bonsai studio (this one is a little further out but maybe it’s worth drive), twisted nature bonsai. Both of these are in ky. Indianapolis I found circle city bonsai and eagle creek bonsai (both seem very small and special in tropical material which I already have plenty of). In the Chicago area I found bc bonsai.

Anybody have experience with any of these nurseries, or perhaps know of others in the gerneral area?? Maybe none of these nurseries are even worth traveling to....

Possibly take a different trip a little south I got bjorns nursery in Nashville, although I suspect some very expensive material. Also I could hit Brussels bonsai in Memphis which seems the most promising just by going off website pics.

Any experience with Brussels or bjorns nursery?

Thanks again bonsai fellas

If you are visiting BC bonsai, you should definitely visit Hidden Gardens in Willowbrook. They have an amazing collection of bonsai. More than anyplace I have seen. If you are familiar with Walter Pall, he visits there twice year from Germany. If you are not you should google Walter. He has an amazing web-site, not to mention collection of trees.

 

[bwaynef]

Went to this site and first thing up was what is happening in 2018. I am sorry, he may be among the best but a website that is focusing on what happened last year does not seem very encouraging.
I do appreciate your posting it, but I am not likely to return.

He demo'd and vended at the National Shohin Show this summer, if that speaks to his skill.

The corollary to that: I can make a pretty nice website, but Bill Valavanis isn't asking me to lead a demo at his shows.

 

[Adair M]

He demo'd and vended at the National Shohin Show this summer, if that speaks to his skill.

The corollary to that: I can make a pretty nice website, but Bill Valavanis isn't asking me to lead a demo at his shows.

He also won a major award, I can’t remember exactly which one, but he had a nice tree.

 

[Cable]

If you are visiting BC bonsai, you should definitely visit Hidden Gardens in Willowbrook. They have an amazing collection of bonsai. More than anyplace I have seen. If you are familiar with Walter Pall, he visits there twice year from Germany. If you are not you should google Walter. He has an amazing web-site, not to mention collection of trees.

@Walter Pall? That name sounds familiar.

 

[bwaynef]

He also won a major award, I can’t remember exactly which one, but he had a nice tree.

Oh yeah! I don't think he won an award for them, but he had a couple ginkgo that were pretty stellar as well,.

 

[Daniel son STL]

Ummmm yeah I’m familiar with Walter Paul, he’s all over this site!

Thanks for the responses everyone!!

I think I’ll most likely stop at bogan bonsai on the way in. Definitely try to hit up mark fields. May or may not stop at circle city bonsai while I visit my friend in Indianapolis. Then head north to bc bonsai and hidden gardens.

Taking the annual family trip to gulf shores about a month later so gonna hopefully stop by Eisei-en on the way back (already sent them an email to try and set up a appointment, just waiting on response). Wife was totally down for the detour bc it’s in Nashville, plenty of entertainment! Then B-line west straight to Memphis to visit Brussels. Will be a fun cpl Trips!

Q’s
-dose anybody know the best way to get ahold of mark fields??

-how much denaro would you take to bjorns place in hopes of something nice?? Haven’t killed a tree in quit some time and I’ve got some real decent material..... but I would like something older.

 

[BrianBay9]

Just PM'd you with Mark's contact info

 

[Forsoothe!]

Midwest is a pretty big generality, and St. Louis is far afield from Michigan, but if you happen to lean near Toledo, The Flower Market in Dundee, MI is a good source for bonsai materials. Kurt & Lita Smith have the best bonsai nursery in Michigan and every Saturday has something going on that you can participate in, or just hang out and watch.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Went to this site and first thing up was what is happening in 2018. I am sorry, he may be among the best but a website that is focusing on what happened last year does not seem very encouraging.
I do appreciate your posting it, but I am not likely to return.

 

[Silentrunning]

Midwest is a pretty big generality, and St. Louis is far afield from Michigan, but if you happen to lean near Toledo, The Flower Market in Dundee, MI is a good source for bonsai materials. Kurt & Lita Smith have the best bonsai nursery in Michigan and every Saturday has something going on that you can participate in, or just hang out and watch.

I agree! This is one of my favorite places to visit.

 

[Daniel son STL]

Unfortunately my nearest bonsai nursery, about 45 min away is closing up. They had workshops on Saturdays as well. They still have pots and landscaping trees to get rid of, but not a single potted tree. They expect to be completely closed by end of year. And go figure my local club had its annual auction (which usually brings in pretty nice material) the day after I had surgery. I was about to send the wife to take pics and bid on trees for me. Oh well, a little road trip will be fun!

 

[Cable]

Midwest is a pretty big generality, and St. Louis is far afield from Michigan, but if you happen to lean near Toledo, The Flower Market in Dundee, MI is a good source for bonsai materials. Kurt & Lita Smith have the best bonsai nursery in Michigan and every Saturday has something going on that you can participate in, or just hang out and watch.

Absolutely. I visited them last year and it was great! They also came to the Cleveland Club's show, along with Ken's World of Bonsai.