My mother, whose birthday would have been today, loved growing flowers. A self-taught hobby and passion that she became really, really good at. I remember as a child, complete strangers would stop by and ask her if they could have a tour around the yard. My dad would document them throughout the seasons with his modest camera. We would tease him because he would take more pictures of the flowers than the family. I would roll my eyes every time we would come back from the pharmacy with more flower prints.
Fast forward some forty years later. I recently came across a beautiful garden with a stunning variety of amazing bonsai. I felt the need to try my hand at photographing these treasures. The collection is somewhat hidden, located at the Smith-Gilbert Gardens only fifteen minute away. The garden director, Ann Parsons, graciously gave special access to shoot the photos. It took two several hours over the course of two days in unfavorable 90-degree heat this summer, and the help of my wife Krissi and a colleague, Patrick Addy, to get the snaps. I think mom would have liked this place. My Shinrin-Yoku.
