ABOUT OKAMI GARDENS BONSAI

Okami Gardens is a small Bonsai nursery that began in my back yard as a hobby.  We are located in southern New Jersey just 15 minutes outside Atlantic City in Egg Harbor Township.  I am committed to selling only quality Bonsai. I have many trees in bonsai pots and many more in mica or training pots.  Take a Virtual Tour of the nursery to see our displays and some sample trees.

I am very proud of the work that goes into every tree.  I will not sell a tree before it is ready to be displayed or trained. Pines from the field are grown in a pot for a full year before I will sell them. I grow most trees in nursery containers to develop good roots.  I also have some trees grown in the field.  All of our trees are outdoor varieties.  We have both traditional species and some native trees.

We board trees, except in the winter.  Great for when you go on vacation.  I am available to give demonstrations and/or lectures to local Garden Clubs or Schools.  See our other Services that are available.

I love having visitors!  Okami Gardens does not have regular hours and is open by appointment only.  If you want to visit Okami Gardens, E-mail me for directions and a good time to drop by.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Brian Gershuny.   Born in 1957,  I am originally from The Bronx, NY.  I moved to Southern New Jersey in 1978 after receiving a BS in Biology from CCNY.

My interest in Bonsai goes back to my childhood when I saw my first Bonsai in a friend’s apartment.  As a child, I always loved growing plants and wanted to be a farmer when I grew up.(note: I never grew up!)  Over the years I have tried to grow bonsai trees.  Having no information available to me, I killed many trees in the process. In 1985 I came across John Naka’s book, Bonsai Techniques I at the library.  The tree next tree lived and I was hooked.  My collection grew exponentially.

I worked with experts, developing my skills, knowledge and my eye (as I call it).  I have had some of the best teachers.  Today, so many sources of information are available to new people.  There are books, video tapes, the Internet and knowledgeable people in person.  Nothing matches the hands on type of learning, though.

I have worked with and learned much from Steve Pilacik, Michael Persiano and am currently a student of Master Chase Rosade.  I try to spend at least a week or two at his studio each year as an apprentice.  I have lectured, given demonstrations and been on radio shows talking about Bonsai.  I hope to someday make Bonsai my full time profession.  Bonsai, for me, is more than a hobby.  It is my art form and my meditation.  I hope it can be as much to you, too.

I hope this site is informative and helps you enjoy Bonsai as much as I do.  Please do not hesitate to e-mail me if you have any questions about Bonsai or my nursery.