Community Events
Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara
Thursday, March 19 – March 21, 2026
What an incredible day with the Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara!
Jason had the pleasure of working on a beautiful Boxwood while spending the entire day in a hands-on workshop surrounded by an amazing group of enthusiasts and a stunning variety of trees. There’s nothing better than sharing knowledge, creativity, and a passion for bonsai with such a welcoming community.
We thank you so much for the invitation—Jason truly enjoyed every moment and can’t wait to come back again soon!
2026 Bonsai-a-thon at the Huntington
Saturday, February 28 – March 1, 2026, at The Huntington Library: 151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California
Jason spent a great Saturday reconnecting with friends and the bonsai community at the 2026 Bonsai-a-thon at The Huntington.
This year, Jason had the opportunity to work on a beautiful Foemina Juniper during the Huntington’s 2026 Bonsai-a-thon celebration. As always, it was a great time reconnecting with old friends and creating alongside some incredibly talented artists.
Jason is grateful to be part of such a passionate, inspiring community.
2026 Lunar New Year Festival at the Huntington
Thursday, February 20, 2026 - Sunday, February 22, 2026, at The Huntington Library: 151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California
What an incredible weekend at The Huntington in San Marino, CA, celebrating the Lunar New Year—welcoming the Year of the Horse!
Eastern Leaf was proud to sponsor an educational tree styling program alongside the Southern Breeze Tree and Stone Society during their annual exhibition at the Rose Court Pavilion. The entire weekend was filled with stunning trees and breathtaking stones on display.
We would like to give a special thank you to artists Ron Reekers and Manuel Dizon for sharing their expertise and inspiring visitors throughout the event.
We’re grateful to everyone who came out to support the exhibition and celebration—here’s to another amazing year ahead!
Rainbow Bonsai Club on Oahu
Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Rainbow Bonsai Club on Oahu
Jason just got back from an incredible visit to the Rainbow Bonsai Club on Oahu! Jason had the pleasure of leading a juniper demonstration and offering a quick critique session alongside a fantastic group of enthusiasts.
Huge thanks to Pat, Rick, and Jim for organizing such a great day and providing amazing material to work with. In just 1.5 hours, they tackled two major bends along with detailed wiring and pruning—and the final result turned out beautifully.
Jason is grateful for the warm welcome and inspiring company. He is looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!
Visiting Artist: Seth Nelson
Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Join us for an exclusive, hands-on workshop led by certified bonsai professional Seth Nelson, who trained for nearly six years at Aichi-en Bonsai in Nagoya, Japan. Seth, known for his thoughtful, tree-first approach and refined, minimal techniques, will guide you in developing your bonsai with a focus on health, balance, and natural beauty.
Bring your own tree and supplies or purchase materials on-site, and enjoy a relaxed, educational session (with a lunch break at noon). Space is extremely limited to just 8 participants—don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn from a dedicated and inspiring bonsai artist!
2025 Anime Expo Chibi Ontario Convention Center
Saturday, November 11, 2025, at the Ontario Convention Center
Step away from the high-energy excitement of the convention floor and into a peaceful, creative escape. Join us for a one-of-a-kind Bonsai Artistry Workshop where anime inspiration meets the timeless beauty of nature.
Perfect for all skill levels, this workshop is a great way to unwind, connect with fellow fans, and spark your creativity—spaces are limited to 80 participants, so be sure to register early!
Eastern Leaf Community Study Group
Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Jason had an inspiring session with great trees and discussions. We love sharing the art of bonsai—and we’ve created the perfect space for enthusiasts of all levels to learn and grow.
Join Eastern Leaf’s community sessions, where beginners and experienced artists come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and refine their trees. Bring your own bonsai for personalized advice, or simply observe and get inspired by others at work.
Phoenix Bonsai Society Bus Tour
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
The Phoenix Bonsai Society is going on its annual bus tour through beautiful Southern California!
It's a pleasure hosting them on their annual trip. This special trip takes its bonsai members on a journey to some of the region’s bonsai nurseries—perfect for discovering unique trees and rare finds.
A&E Storage Wars Appraisal Shoot
Thursday, October 10, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Had a blast working with the A&E Storage Wars crew!
Jason dove into a unique project, appraising bonsai items discovered in a storage unit—always exciting to uncover hidden gems and share a bit of bonsai expertise along the way. You never know what treasures you’ll find!
Thanks to the team for having Jason—such a fun and memorable experience!
Orange County Bonsai Society Annual Club Show
Sunday, August 24, 2025, hosted by the Cool Japan Center at 4199 Campus Drive, Suite A, in Irvine
It’s been a while since Jason had the pleasure of demonstrating for a local bonsai club—and what a great way to return!
A big thank you to the Orange County Bonsai Society for inviting Jason to be part of your annual show. It’s always an honor to collaborate, share ideas, and design a tree together with such a passionate community.
Check out the before-and-after transformation from the live demonstration link below—Jason loves bringing these trees to life with you!
Santa Anita Bonsai Demo
Saturday, August 13, 2025
Jason had an amazing time with the Santa Anita Bonsai Club for this demo — truly a great group of passionate enthusiasts.
Jason spent the session styling and exploring the elegant, expressive world of Chinese Elm Literati. This style is all about movement, minimalism, and storytelling — transforming ordinary material into something refined, artistic, and full of character.
A big thank you to the Santa Anita Bonsai Club for the warm welcome and for inviting Jason to be part of such a fun and engaging event. Jason is looking forward to the next one!
Visiting Artist: Cesar Ordonez
Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Join us for a special, hands-on workshop with Cesar Ordoñez of CenCal Bonsai—a passionate bonsai artist rooted in Central California and known for his expertise in Olive Yamadori.
After 13 years in agriculture, Cesar followed his passion for bonsai full-time, bringing with him a deep understanding of the land and the trees that thrive in it. His journey began with a single inspiring image and grew through years of dedicated self-study, mentorship, and hands-on experience.
Today, Cesar cultivates his own garden, works with clients, and shares his knowledge through workshops and educational programs—making him an engaging and approachable instructor for all skill levels.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a dedicated artist whose passion for bonsai is as inspiring as it is educational.
2025 Anime Expo in the Los Angeles Convention Center
Friday, July 4, 2025, - Saturday, July 5, 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Eastern Leaf had an incredible weekend at Anime Expo 2025 held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where we introduced the art of bonsai to a sold-out workshop of over 200 participants!
A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers—Ron, Robert, Brandon, Marcel, Rebecca, and Justo—and the dedicated Eastern Leaf team (Juli, Ray, Glen, and Justine) for making this experience possible.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success. We can’t wait to see you again next year!
Eastern Leaf Community Study Group
Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Jason had an amazing session and great inspiration. We love sharing the art of bonsai—and we’ve created the perfect space for enthusiasts of all levels to learn and grow.
Join Eastern Leaf’s community sessions, where beginners and experienced artists come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and refine their trees. Bring your own bonsai for personalized advice, or simply observe and get inspired by others at work.
We recommend bringing your own tools, wire, and raw materials if you have them. Jason will be there to offer guidance, answer questions, and help you take your bonsai to the next level.
Come learn, connect, and grow with the community!
Visiting Artist: Heike Van Gunst
Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Join us for an exclusive, hands-on bonsai workshop with international artist Heike van Gunst, visiting from Hamburg, Germany!
With over 40 years of experience and as chief editor of BONSAI ART Magazine, Heike brings a wealth of knowledge shaped by decades of study, teaching, and global demonstrations—from Europe’s prestigious The Trophy exhibition in Belgium to showcases in China and Australia.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to refine your skills and gain inspiration from artist Heike van Gunst.
Eastern Leaf Community Study Group
Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Eastern Leaf Nursery
Jason had an amazing session and great participation. We love sharing the art of bonsai—and we’ve created the perfect space for enthusiasts of all levels to learn and grow.
Join Eastern Leaf’s community sessions, where beginners and experienced artists come together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and refine their trees. Bring your own bonsai for personalized advice, or simply observe and get inspired by others at work.
We recommend bringing your own tools, wire, and raw materials if you have them. Jason will be there to offer guidance, answer questions, and help you take your bonsai to the next level.
Come learn, connect, and grow with the community!
Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara
Thursday, March 13 – March 15, 2025
Jason had an amazing time with the Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara a couple of weeks ago!
Jason kicked things off Thursday night, working on a beautiful juniper, followed by a full-day workshop on Saturday with an incredible group of enthusiasts. So many fun and unique trees to dive into—it made for a truly memorable experience.
Jason, thank you for the warm welcome and for having him out. Jason is looking forward to the next visit already!
2025 Bonsai-a-thon at the Huntington
Sunday, February 23, 2025, at The Huntington Library: 151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California
Jason spent a great Sunday reconnecting with friends and the bonsai community at the 2025 Bonsai-a-thon at The Huntington.
This year, Jason showcased a San Jose Juniper that’s been carefully grown and developed over the past 10 years at Eastern Leaf Nursery. With consistent pruning to build trunk strength, major deadwood and shari work in spring 2023, and a hard cutback last year to promote fresh, vigorous foliage, the tree was finally ready for its 2025 spring styling debut.
By the afternoon, this one-of-a-kind piece found its way to a new home at auction—an exciting next chapter for a tree with so much history and care behind it.
Jason is grateful to be part of such a passionate and inspiring community.
Visiting Artist: Kris Springer
Sunday, February 16, 2025. 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
We are pleased to announce a special BYOT Sunday workshop featuring bonsai artist Kris Springer with Black Dodge Bonsai. Kris Springer is a passionate collector and artist who specializes in Larch and Yamadori bonsai. With a particular fondness for American Larch and Eastern White Cedar, he has a deep appreciation for the raw beauty of trees that come from wild environments. Although he favors these species, Kris collects a wide variety of bonsai material, each tree offering its own unique potential. His journey into the world of bonsai began under the mentorship of bonsai artist Nick Lenz, a training that shaped his unconventional yet deeply insightful approach to the art form.
What sets Kris apart in the bonsai world is his willingness to break the traditional rules of bonsai. Rather than adhering strictly to conventional styles, he embraces a more fluid and expressive approach, allowing the natural features of the tree to shine through. By incorporating accent pieces and gently molding the trees, Kris enhances the inherent beauty of each specimen, ensuring that the final piece tells a story of both nature and artistry. His work celebrates the raw, untamed qualities of the trees while also showcasing his skill in guiding them into a harmonious, living piece of art.
Our store is open for shopping during the event.
Lunar New Year Festival at the Huntington
Southern Breeze Bonsai Society : Educational Stylings by Jason Chan and Eastern Leaf
Saturday, Feb 1 - Sunday, Feb 2
Celebrate the lunar new year and welcome the Year of the Snake at The Huntington. This family-friendly event features lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, music, art and craft demonstrations, and more.
Anime Expo Chibi - Ontario, CA
Sunday, Sunday,November 9, 2024. Ontario Convention Center
Bonsai Workshop Details:
Date and Time: November 9, 2024, from 1:30PM - 3:00PM
Location: Ontario Convention Center, Ballroom B
Workshop: Bonsai Artistry
What to Expect:
Hands-On Experience: Learn the ancient art of bonsai from expert instructors who will guide you through each step of creating your own miniature masterpiece. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, this workshop is designed for all skill levels! Anime Meets Nature: Explore how the intricate beauty of bonsai aligns with the imaginative world of anime. Get inspired by your favorite anime themes and characters as you craft your bonsai tree. Take Home Your Creation: Leave the workshop with a beautiful bonsai that you nurtured yourself—a perfect keepsake from the expo!
Visiting Artist: Elle Nieti-Brodnick
Sunday, Sunday, November 17, 2024. 10:00am - 3:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
We are pleased to announce a special Sunday workshop featuring bonsai Artist Elle Nieto-Brodnick, originally from Agno, Pangasinan. Elle stumbled upon her deep-seated love for the intricate art of bonsai and the nurturing process during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic while actively working in healthcare. Her journey commenced with immersing herself in online videos and attending enlightening lectures, which eventually paved the way for her to participate in enriching workshops and educational sessions conducted by esteemed individuals such as Todd Schlafer, Andy Smith, Owen Reich, and Will Baddeley. In her initial years of honing her craft under the guidance of Bjorn Bjorholm and
Mauro Stemberger, she exhibited unwavering dedication as a student, consistently enhancing and refining her skills.
Presently, she imparts her knowledge by teaching novice to intermediate bonsai enthusiasts at The Hidden Gardens alongside her peers, steadily progressing towards establishing herself as a promising bonsai artist in the making.
Our store is open for shopping during the event.
Visiting Artist: Lili Tello Ortiz
Sunday, Sunday, July 21, 2024. 10:00am - 3:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
We are pleased to announce a special Sunday workshop featuring bonsai Artist Lili Tello Ortiz from Colombia. Lili is a highly esteemed Latin American bonsai artist who has gained recognition through her international demonstrations. With a background in medicine, she pursued her passion for bonsai alongside her medical career. Her debut event was the Black Scissors in China, where she showcased her skills on a Juniper. She started bonsai as a hobby, educating herself by watching videos; she then got together with a group of people in her local area once a month to work on trees. As her passion increased, she started working on trees more often. She decided to post her bonsai on social media. People loved her work, and she started to get recognition, which led her to do demos internationally. Lili prioritizes understanding the species she works with to ensure the well-being of the trees before focusing on the design aspect.
Our store is open for shopping during the event.
Visiting Artist: Kaya Mooney
Sunday, May 19, 2024. 10:00am - 3:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
We are excited to announce a special Sunday workshop featuring bonsai artist Kaya Mooney. Kaya is a 27-year-old American who is passionate about bonsai and studied in Japan for five years. He had the opportunity to travel to Osaka, Japan, where he apprenticed under the renowned bonsai Master Keichii Fujikawa, allowing him to immerse himself in bonsai cultivation, care, and design.
Kaya’s dedication and passion for bonsai can be seen through his work. He is due to receive a certification as a bonsai professional from the Nippon Bonsai Association this May, which is a great personal achievement. With this certification, he is now positioned to become a dedicated teacher within the American bonsai community, sharing his knowledge and inspiring others.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from a skilled and knowledgeable bonsai artist like Kaya Mooney.
Join us for this exciting workshop! Click here to sign up.
Our store is open for shopping during the event.
Visiting Artist: Michael Ryan Bell
Sunday, February 18, 2023. 10:00am - 12:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
Come see visiting artist Michael Ryan Bell, who specializes in pottery history. In 2008, Michael Ryan Bell began digging into his bonsai journey; by 2010, he bought his first quality container. In his attempt to acquire information about this pot and others, he discovered a lack of information available in English. This catapulted him on his quest to create an pot artisan database featuring artist profiles and biographies to raise awareness to people in the bonsai community of the standards of appreciation, awareness, and selection of quality bonsai containers. At this time, there are more bonsai-specific pottery artist marks on the japanesebonsaipots.net database than any single publication, available in different languages and still growing. His knowledge and passion has allowed him to lectured at the National Bonsai Exhibitions in America and the United Kingdom, the Golden State Bonsai convention as a co-headliner, and nearly 100 clubs and organizations, and also serves on the board for the American Bonsai Society. If you are interested in joining the workshop, click the link below.
Our store is open for shopping during the event.
Visiting Kusamono Artist: Young Choe
Thursday, February 22, 2023. 10:00am - 3:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
Come see visiting artist Young Choe, who specializes in kusamono. Kusamono is the art of potted accent arrangements featuring wild grasses and flowers displayed in unique pots or trays to suggest a season or a place to accompany bonsai. The artist Young Choe studied traditional art in Korea before moving to the United States and earning her BS in horticulture. She was active in volunteering at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, bringing her knowledge of horticulture and art together to create kusamono. Her passion for the arts took her to Japan to study with the master kusamono artist, Keiko Yamane. With her knowledge and experience, she enjoys conducting workshops and lectures globally to share her knowledge and passion. She will be conducting a hands on workshop to create a kusamono from start to finish. If you are interested in joining the workshop, click the link below.
Our store is open for shopping during the event.
Visiting Bonsai Artist: Hugo Zamora from Mexico City
Sunday, November 19, 2023. 10:00am - 3:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
Come see visiting artist Hugo Zamora from Mexico City, with Kodama Bonsai.
Hugo studied in Tokyo under the Japanese Bonsai master Kunio Kobayashi; after completing his apprenticeship, he continues to travel to Japan to work at the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum. He is a well-traveled artist visiting over 20 countries, sharing his unique perspective on bonsai and styling through judging, curating private collections, demonstrations, and workshops.
His travels have allowed him to obtain a broader understanding of different species. He will be available for questions. If you are interested in joining the workshop, click the link below.
Southern Breeze Bonsai Society: Demonstration Jason Chan
Saturday, November 4, 2023. 9:30am - 12:00pm, Eastern Leaf Nursery
Please join us for an exciting live bonsai styling event at the new Eastern Leaf bonsai nursery on Saturday, November 4th at 9:30 a.m. Bonsai artist Jason Chan will conduct the demonstration. After the demonstration, the tree will be raffled off. Our store is open for shopping during the event.