So-Cal Bonsai destinations, advice.

Messages
2,728
Reaction score
8,328
Location
SE Michigan
USDA Zone
6a
The wife and I are vacationing in Southern California soon, flying out May 28th and staying until June 9th. Any nurseries or bonsai shops you can recommend? We are going to San Diego, Yosemite, & Santa Monica area & we've never been to any of those locations. I saw Nuccios was not that far away from our Santa Monica location, any advice on Bonsai stops or must see destinations?
 
You should check out The Huntington Library, and see their Bonsai and Penjing displays. California Bonsai Studio has good pre-bonsai material for sale, and my sensei David Nguy is a little over an hour away from there, but he has an amazing collection and pretty much everything you could want for sale.
 
Non bonsai related but Balboa park in San Diego is great. Tons of stuff to do between the zoo and museums, I'd definitely spend a little time there (I love the aviation museum). Also, while in SD, find yourself a good California burrito, best in the world. If you are beach people there are tons of options. Ocean beach is the hippy beach, you'll always find people in drum circles or twirling fire. Cool vibe and very laid back little downtown area. Pacific Beach and Mission beach are more touristy but a nice little boardwalk to walk up and down. And if you want something quieter head up to La Jolla or Del Mar. Also, if time permits and you're a baseball fan there is no better park than Petco.

Also, I'm sure you've been warned but expect traffic. The drive from SD To Santa Monica could take as little as 2 hours or as much as 4-5 depending on time of day.

As far as bonsai, @Ruddigger hit the main ones. Huntington Library is beautiful and you could easily spend a whole day there between all of the non-bonsai gardens and bonsai/penjing displays.

Are you looking to buy some significant trees while you are out here? I'll second Ruddigger, David Nguy's trees are unreal, his junipers are incredible.
 
Non bonsai related but Balboa park in San Diego is great. Tons of stuff to do between the zoo and museums, I'd definitely spend a little time there (I love the aviation museum). Also, while in SD, find yourself a good California burrito, best in the world. If you are beach people there are tons of options. Ocean beach is the hippy beach, you'll always find people in drum circles or twirling fire. Cool vibe and very laid back little downtown area. Pacific Beach and Mission beach are more touristy but a nice little boardwalk to walk up and down. And if you want something quieter head up to La Jolla or Del Mar. Also, if time permits and you're a baseball fan there is no better park than Petco.

Also, I'm sure you've been warned but expect traffic. The drive from SD To Santa Monica could take as little as 2 hours or as much as 4-5 depending on time of day.

As far as bonsai, @Ruddigger hit the main ones. Huntington Library is beautiful and you could easily spend a whole day there between all of the non-bonsai gardens and bonsai/penjing displays.

Are you looking to buy some significant trees while you are out here? I'll second Ruddigger, David Nguy's trees are unreal, his junipers are incredible.
Good advice thanks! I'm "looking", but only buying if it's "doable" :) We are planning to go to the Zoo and I saw this.

"Bonsai Pavilion was opened at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly The Wild Animal Park) above the first pavilion and four times larger. The new features included a waterfall, three bridges, and a meandering stream in a tranquil, secured setting. This allows for more bonsai exhibits as well as an expanded work area."

I did hear the traffic is awful and I have been to Orange county for two weeks (training for work) back in 2009, so it's been awhile, but I still remember the six lane freeways.
 
Good advice thanks! I'm "looking", but only buying if it's "doable" :) We are planning to go to the Zoo and I saw this.

"Bonsai Pavilion was opened at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly The Wild Animal Park) above the first pavilion and four times larger. The new features included a waterfall, three bridges, and a meandering stream in a tranquil, secured setting. This allows for more bonsai exhibits as well as an expanded work area."

I did hear the traffic is awful and I have been to Orange county for two weeks (training for work) back in 2009, so it's been awhile, but I still remember the six lane freeways.
Ah yes, the wonderful 6 lane freeways of Southern California, always under construction too!

You may or may not already know this but the Safari Park is different from the San Diego Zoo. The Safari Park is north of San Diego by about 30-40 minutes and the Zoo is just outside of downtown. I haven't been to the safari park but I've heard it's great.
 
I think Yamaguchi Bonsai nursery is one of the nurseries in Sawtelle that Nao is talking about. I have a friend who went there while he was out there on business and picked up a very nice styled juniper. Can't get that kind of thing on the east coast. A trip though the Yelp review pictures and you can see a lot of their bonsai...
 
Good advice thanks! I'm "looking", but only buying if it's "doable" :) We are planning to go to the Zoo and I saw this.

"Bonsai Pavilion was opened at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly The Wild Animal Park) above the first pavilion and four times larger. The new features included a waterfall, three bridges, and a meandering stream in a tranquil, secured setting. This allows for more bonsai exhibits as well as an expanded work area."

I did hear the traffic is awful and I have been to Orange county for two weeks (training for work) back in 2009, so it's been awhile, but I still remember the six lane freeways.
 
You should check out The Huntington Library, and see their Bonsai and Penjing displays. California Bonsai Studio has good pre-bonsai material for sale, and my sensei David Nguy is a little over an hour away from there, but he has an amazing collection and pretty much everything you could want for sale.
Nice. That's both of these are not to far away from our Santa Monica stay. I saw California Bonsai Studio on my google searches but wasn't sure if it was worth the drive. Now I know it is. Thanks
 
I think Yamaguchi Bonsai nursery is one of the nurseries in Sawtelle that Nao is talking about. I have a friend who went there while he was out there on business and picked up a very nice styled juniper. Can't get that kind of thing on the east coast. A trip though the Yelp review pictures and you can see a lot of their bonsai...
Eat lunch/dinner in Sawtelle in Los Angeles and check out the little Japanese nurseries there, a couple have decent bonsai on display. I used to live in walking distance
Well thanks to both of you. I see a lot of google maps in my future. :)
 
Ah yes, the wonderful 6 lane freeways of Southern California, always under construction too!

You may or may not already know this but the Safari Park is different from the San Diego Zoo. The Safari Park is north of San Diego by about 30-40 minutes and the Zoo is just outside of downtown. I haven't been to the safari park but I've heard it's great.
No. I did not know that. I was looking at the Safari Park and almost booked a tour yesterday. I have a lot of looking to do still. Thank you both!
 
Chikugo en just brings trees to the curb if you know what you want to buy, and Kimura is relocated and is no longer open to the public, except for certain special days.
 
My fave is Leo Carrillo State Beach, just up the coast from Malibu.

There are tide pools and a cave to explore and the sunsets are spectacular.
I was driving north to northeast of Malibu once a few years ago. Well east of Thousand Oaks….toward the Hidden Hills area. Over the hills and through the rocky wooded areas for several miles and landed in a community, a culture group really, that seemed stuck in time…or they literally banded together and stayed in one timeline. I landed in what could best be described as a hippie community from the 1960s. Complete with the loose cotton shirts, beads, rope belts, worn leather sandals, headbands, music playing, relaxed…and….wow man, are you from the city? It looked like they just left Woodstock and created a town. I wish I could remember the location name. Definitely fit the title of a blast from the past. Time stood still there.
 
Back
Top Bottom