Dusty Brown- Bonsai Hobbyist- (and Pro-Photog)!

I am completely fascinated by the Japanese Art of Bonsai- and when I wanted to include it in this episode of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom"- I was looking for someone that could help educate, enlighten and share their own personal passion about Bonsai. I always find that talking to someone whose interest- turned into hobby- and then turned into passion (or even obsession) ... it's fun- and it can help - because we learn by doing- and that includes making mistakes.My "other Mom" - Dorothy- always encouraged me to jump in- and make mistakes- and thus LEARN- because as long as we learn from our mistakes- they are truly "Never mistakes at all" ... they are the process for learning.I've demonstrated several times at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World in Orlando- and they ALWAYS have a tremendous collection that they put on display... and there is a local Bonsai chapter that hosts a booth in the Festival Center- and I can spend hours looking at the different Bonsai trees...I've always wanted to learn more ... and I remembered that my Photographer Friend Dusty Brown- had several Bonsai trees and we had spoke about his trees and his hobby. Dusty and I worked together for many years - Dusty is an accomplished Photographer- and he worked at local studio that photographed Flowers and Flower Arrangements for the John Henry Company- where I worked as the Creative Flower Director on their book publications for years.Learn more about Dusty and his photography - on his website- "Dusty Brown- your Life - your Style" Since then- we both headed different ways- but our lives continued to intersect- and Dusty did Senior Pictures for my Niece Grace (you've seen her on the show)... which were amazing! So I gave Dusty a call- and he was happy to help out and share his expertise. I was so excited to have him come on the show- and he brought some his Bonsai Trees- and really got me inspired to start my own collection...You can see from my "collection" - that I'm still a beginner- but I'm started- and I'm making mistakes- and I'm learning - by doing- and that is how we become inspired and empowered. Thanks Dusty!Dusty sent me some updates of a few of the plants he brought on the show- and also one that was unable to come along that day to the studio... I love how Dusty dove into the process in this segment- and how he wasn't afraid to prune, trim or cut away at the trees- and also how he fully embraces the calming - Zen like process of Bonsai.You can watch Dusty and I in action- on "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom"- Episode 5 -Traditional Japanese Flower Art- at this link!