Small Trees, Big Rewards: Bonsai at Lotusland

Ernie Witham first planted the seed for a bonsai section in the Lotusland Japanese Garden more than six years ago, when he began volunteering with Terri Clay, the lead gardener. “Whenever we were out there pruning, I would talk about how great it would be if there was bonsai.” After major renovations to the garden finished in 2019, the perfect space appeared: an unoccupied corner nestled behind the pavilion, a wooden, temple-like structure that sits at the highest point in the garden. The time was finally right to bring bonsai to Lotusland.

As a longtime member of the Santa Barbara Bonsai Club, Witham had a vested interest in promoting the bonsai cause. The club hosts meetings and workshops at Bethany Congregational Church and has about 40 people, who range from age 14 to an “active” 86. During the pandemic, the club struggled to hold its bonsai workshops and lessons over Zoom, a mode unconducive to such a precise and technical art. At the same time, interest in bonsai skyrocketed as people picked up niche arts and skills to fill their newfound time. 

Jeff Sczechowski, the club president, hopes to build on this momentum and expose a wider range of people to the Japanese art form. “We’re focused on growing and diversifying the club — anyone can do bonsai.”