Aged to perfection, this episode features Michael Ryan Bell, a professional chef and one of the leading bonsai pot appraisers in America and beyond. We take a deep dive into bonsai pottery—from identifying quality and understanding value to breaking down essential Japanese terminology. Along the way, Michael shares stories from life on the road as a bonsai appraiser and in the kitchen, along with reflections on plants, craft, and the experiences that shape both. It’s a rare glimpse into the world behind the pots and the culinary arts.

The video version is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coming soon.

Show notes, relevant pictures, and links are ⁠⁠⁠coming soon.

See you in the next episode!

Guest Info:

Michael Ryan Bell can be found on his website here: https://japanesebonsaipots.net/about/

Sponsor Info:

This episode is sponsored by our co-host via the Kevin Faris moving sale of bonsai pottery, tools, and trees. View these items at In Vivo Bonsai of Columbus, Ohio, USA in-person, or online (shipping available) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠invivobonsai.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.InVivoBonsai.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and navigate to the consignment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pottery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ pages.

Mailbag submissions/Community:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW BT DISCORD Chat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BT Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the Pod:

Anytime you listen, subscribe, rate us, or share us with friends, you help keep us motivated to keep making episodes for you all! If you want to take it to the next level, you can also help keep the podcast going by donating to us through Spotify subscriptions or by sponsoring an episode (contact us directly for that). All donations go back into the podcast such as for our web hosting, recording gear expenses, etc.

Podcast Info:

The Bonsai Time Podcast is hosted, edited, & produced by Kevin Faris, Ryan Huston, & Kelly Lui. We expect to post new interviews and reflections monthly! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and our email [email protected].

Submit questions or pictures for future Bonsai Brainstorm episodes to our email, social media DMs, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Audio editing of this episode and music are by MIDICANCER. Find more music by them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SoundCloud⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BandCamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Host info:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a former bonsai apprentice of Elandan Gardens and current operator of In Vivo Bonsai nursery and educational operation in Columbus, OH. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kevin ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a bonsai practitioner/teacher now living in Massachusetts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a newer bonsai artist volunteering and studying especially in the Los Angeles area.

More Bonsai Projects by Ryan:

Read more about bonsai on his blog and learn more about his educational services ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find Ryan's online-available bonsai products, seeds, tools, etc. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Each seed kit sold comes with my full 10-year bonsai-from-seed guide.

Find Ryan on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠as well if you need more bonsai in your feed.

Also, check out some of my video editing work for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Puget Sound Bonsai Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Columbus Bonsai Society⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s demonstration archives.