Bonsai: A Patient Art

With fresh, elegant photography, this stunning volume presents more than sixty living bonsai masterpieces from the renowned collection of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Each patiently nurtured tree is presented at the peak of its seasonal beauty; each embodies the quiet energy and beauty of the art of bonsai.

In an engaging opening essay, the book introduces the practice and philosophy of bonsai, its spiritual resonance, and its horticultural sophistication. Then alongside each tree’s portrait, is a short, thoughtful discussion of the species and style of the tree as well as its individual history and character. Readers will cherish this superbly conceived and designed book while gaining a new appreciation for the living masterpieces that inspired it.

Susumu Nakamura is legendary among bonsai enthusiasts around the world and has served as director of education for the Nippon Bonsai Association and director of Bonsai Clubs International. He lives in Yokohama, Japan. Ivan Watters, curator at the Chicago Botanic Garden, is a bonsai master recognized internationally for his work and teaching. In 1996, he opened the Yasukanai Bonsai Garden, in Morton Grove, IL. He lives in Palatine, IL. Terry Ann R. Neff is widely known for developing books that deal with art and culture. She lives in Tucson, AZ.