BonsaiSmiths

About Us and Contact Information

Bonsai Smiths is located in Dallas, Texas. We are available by appointment and hope to hear from you soon. Please call or email:

972.754.9883 - or - hello@bonsaismiths.net

About Howard & Sylvia

Howard got interested in bonsai shortly after completing medical school during his residency training in psychiatry. Sylvia, a respiratory therapist by trade, has always been interested in Japanese gardens and artwork and quickly caught the bonsai passion within months of dating Howard. Together, in 1996, they started BonsaiSmiths after spending many weekends on the road visiting bonsai nurseries and aquiring a large number trees. Since joining the Bonsai Society of Dallas, they have held every board position at least once. In 2002, Sylvia, as president of the Bonsai Society, had the pleasure of welcoming Masahiko Kimura to Dallas. The BonsaiSmiths continue to run the annual bonsai display at the Dallas Arboretum and are active in the club endeavors. Howard is the resident club auctioneer and has auctioned trees from Dallas all the way to the West Coast.

In 2001, after searching several years for a bonsai teacher, Howard and Sylvia began serious study with Boon Manakitivipart, and are his first and second intensive student graduates respectively. They continue to study with Boon several times a year and have traveled with him to Japan to study the fantastic Kokufu display. One or both Smiths have attended Boon’s club’s (Bay Island Bonsai) annual exhibit and have assisted with display set up for the past seven years.

Honors include trees placing in the top 100 in the World Bonsai Contest, Best Medium Conifer Display at the BIB exhibit in 2003, Best Conifer at the Lone Star Bonsai Federation Convention in 2007, “Best Damn Bonsai Award” in Dallas 2008, and including client trees, Howard and Sylvia displayed 7 trees plus a shohin display at the 1st Annual National Bonsai Exhibit in Rochester, New York in 2008.