Jade Gardens

It was still TX winter when I attended so I got to enjoy seeing some dormant outside species as well as the exotic creations in the heated rooms. There are itty-​bitty affordable starters and gargantuan old souls that will make you yell «WHOA!» like you’re ten again. There are quite a few pots to choose from in a couple different price ranges. Not much selection of books if you’re thinking about starting out, but the owners were talking with some intense shoppers about what the hobby requires.
I’ll have to go again when I’ve got time to wait my turn or make an appointment to get a little advice from the sensei. If I can make my bonsai as happy as what I saw here, I’ll be thrilled!

This out of the way bonsai haven is really cool. It is definitely worth the time to stop and look at some beautiful plants. Ask to see the bonsai created from Texas natives — really spectacular.

I saw a «for sale» sign. My heart is breaking. I doubt there can be buyers as knowledgable in so many areas of study, and as just plain nice, (who spends two hours chatting about native bonsai with someone who hasn’t spent a dime??) I hope they find a buyer. Super nice folks, I wish them the best. But we will all be deprived of their artwork and presence in Wimberley, sadly.

If you’re in the area and like trees or Japan, go here.
We were on a staycation out of Blanco and bumming around the Hill Country when we saw an ad for this place. We’re not so into the kitschy handcrafted small town touristy store scene, so this was a good Wimberley destination for us.
It’s free to visit and quite the fascinating and bizarre place.
A Wimberley man has spent decades turning all kinds of species into Bonzai trees. It’s astonishing to see what he’s done.
We probably spent an hour or more looking at all the different trees. It was raining and some of the trees were outside, but we didn’t care. The exhibit, for lack of a better word, was enthralling.
Most of the trees are for sale, but we weren’t in the market. Maybe someday. I almost wish the nice man had charged admission, his work was so amazing. So we bought a souvenir shirt, which was ugly, but the only way we could come up with to say thanks for sharing his work with us.