Coming Soon: The Bonsai Show: Wood & Stone
January 10–March 30, 2025
Step into a miniature world of timeless beauty where stones become mountains, and intricately crafted trees evoke ancient forests. Experience the serene beauty of bonsai this winter with 20 works by artisans from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society and a display of suiseki viewing stones.
Suiseki, naturally shaped ‘water stones’ displayed on wooden stands, evoke mountains and natural scenes, perfectly complementing the bonsai. This Japanese art form, meaning ‘planted in a container,’ creates miniature replicas of full-grown trees through careful pruning and shaping.
From tiny shohin bonsai to larger specimens, you’ll see Asian and California-native trees like pines, elms, and redwoods. Enjoy tea, rake a Zen rock garden, join bonsai demonstrations, or try haiku in the redwood forest. Visit our calendar for details.
With support from:
Public Programs
Introduction to Suiseki Stones with Jerry Braswell
Discover the Japanese art of suiseki, where natural stones evoke landscapes, mountains, and vast natural forms through their unique shapes, textures, and colors. This program explores suiseki’s essential qualities and display traditions, guiding participants in cultivating an appreciation for the artistry and depth within each stone. Jerry Braswell is a California woodworker who specializes in crafting bonsai and suiseki stands.
Saturday, January 11, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Winter Wonders in Miniature: A Bonsai Photo Walk
Join professional photographer Daniel Perales for a Winter Bonsai Photo Walk on select Fridays. Capture the serene beauty of bonsai in miniature and explore their full-size counterparts in the Garden. This seasonal program covers photography techniques—composition, lighting, and highlighting winter’s unique details—helping you create powerful visual stories.
Friday, January 17, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Haiku in Motion: A Zen Inspired Guided Meditation Hike
Take a soul-nourishing journey blending nature, mindfulness, and artistry. This unique experience combines a meditative hike to the Garden’s highest point with the tranquil essence of bonsai and the simplicity of haiku. Along the way, pause for moments of zen, mindful breathing, and scenic reflection. Embrace the harmony of nature as you find your center and immerse yourself in the art of living poetry.
This program is held outdoors. Please dress accordingly and bring water.
January 18, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
$35 per person | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Sonoma Yoga is rooted in community and growing with you. Over 20 years, they have built a dynamic team of yoga, fitness, and meditation guides to help expand your practice. Registration is through Sonoma Yoga’s website.
Register Here
Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
Immerse yourself in the serene art of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, guided by Sensei Eiko Mouri of the Omotesenke tradition in collaboration with the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. Through mindful practice and deep presence, participants will experience the calming beauty and grace of each moment, savoring the ritual’s elegance and the spirit of harmony.
Sunday, January 26, 2025, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
$15 for members, $30 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Japanese Zen Meditation
Discover balance and inner peace through Zen meditation with the Abbot Rev. Nyoze Kwong of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. This practice invites you to nurture the well-being of your mind, body, and spirit—perfect for practitioners of all levels. Following the session, enjoy gyocha tea and traditional sweets as you reflect on your meditation experience and deepen your sense of calm.
Sunday, February 2, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
$15 for members, $30 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Winter Wonders in Miniature: A Bonsai Photo Walk
Join professional photographer Daniel Perales for a Winter Bonsai Photo Walk on select Fridays. Capture the serene beauty of bonsai in miniature and explore their full-size counterparts in the Garden. This seasonal program covers photography techniques—composition, lighting, and highlighting winter’s unique details—helping you create powerful visual stories.
Friday, February 7, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Repotting Bonsai with Alan Murakami
Witness the artistry of bonsai up close as Alan Murakami from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society demonstrates the intricate process of repotting these miniature marvels.
Saturday, February 8, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Botanical Briefing
Special guest lecture with Aaron Hughes, Horticulture Curator of Asian Gardens, The Huntington
Applying Kyoto: A curated garden tour of Kyoto, Japan, and how it relates to the American landscape
For the past 15 years, The Huntington’s botanical gardens have worked closely with garden teams from Kyoto, Japan to develop and refine their existing gardens, which were originally built in 1911. In the fall of 2024, Horticulture Curator of Asian Gardens, Aaron Hughes, visited mentors in Japan for a guided tour of various gardens, temples, shrines, and cultural sites in and around the Kyoto region. This presentation is an in depth look at Hughes’ visit and examines how exactly it applies to the American landscape.
Aaron Hughes began his professional plant career 10 years ago at The US National Arboretum’s Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. During this time, various relationships with gardens in Aichi Prefecture were made, and eventually an invitation was extended to try 3 months of study in Japan to determine suitability. Upon receiving approval, he decided to pursue a five-year apprenticeship under 4th generation bonsai master Junichiro Tanaka, of Aichi-en Bonsai Nursery in Nagoya, Japan. After receiving certification in 2022 from the Nippon Bonsai Association, Hughes returned to the states where he has served as Horticulture Curator for Asian Gardens at The Huntington in San Marino, California.
Friday, February 28, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Curator’s Seasonal Winter Walk
Take a deep dive into this season’s botanical highlights with the Garden’s Curator of Living Collections, Michael Wenzel. This walk will highlight some rarely seen conifers, early bloomers, and some full-size species represented in The Bonsai Show.
Saturday March 1, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Winter Wonders in Miniature: A Bonsai Photo Walk
Join professional photographer Daniel Perales for a Winter Bonsai Photo Walk on select Fridays. Capture the serene beauty of bonsai in miniature and explore their full-size counterparts in the Garden. This seasonal program covers photography techniques—composition, lighting, and highlighting winter’s unique details—helping you create powerful visual stories.
Friday, March 7, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Styling a Juniper with Ivan Lukrich
Step into the fascinating world of bonsai styling as Ivan Lukrich from the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society showcases the art of transforming a tree into a living masterpiece in miniature.
Saturday, March 8, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Haiku in Motion: A Zen Inspired Guided Meditation Hike
Take a soul-nourishing journey blending nature, mindfulness, and artistry. This unique experience combines a meditative hike to the Garden’s highest point with the tranquil essence of bonsai and the simplicity of haiku. Along the way, pause for moments of zen, mindful breathing, and scenic reflection. Embrace the harmony of nature as you find your center and immerse yourself in the art of living poetry.
This program is held outdoors. Please dress accordingly and bring water.
March 15, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
$35 per person | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Sonoma Yoga is rooted in community and growing with you. Over 20 years, they have built a dynamic team of yoga, fitness, and meditation guides to help expand your practice. Registration is through Sonoma Yoga’s website.
Register Here
Spring Equinox Sound Bath
Celebrate the renewal of spring with a serene sound bath in a tranquil garden setting inspired by Zen traditions. Participants will be immersed in soothing sounds that harmonize with the landscape, inviting balance, relaxation, and inner peace. This special equinox gathering honors new beginnings, grounding us in the present and fostering a deep connection with the season’s unfolding energy.
Friday, March 21, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
$15 for members, $30 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.
Register Here
Collecting For Bonsai with George Haas
Join us for a demonstration on sourcing and collecting trees for bonsai presented by George Haas of the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society. Discover the unique challenges and rewards of finding raw material in urban settings and in the untamed wilderness.
Saturday, March 22, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Free for members, $15 for non-members | Includes Garden admission. Please check in at the Garden’s Welcome Center.