Elandan Gardens is
located just off Highway 16 near Port Orchard, Washington.
The six-acre site that is now Elandan Gardens was once only a
landfill created on the shores of the Puget Sound in the
1930's. In 1993, the Robinson family brought in 30,000 cubic
yards of sandy fill dirt and 800 tons of boulders to begin the
creation of these impressive gardens.
Owner Dan
Robinson has been called, "the Picasso of Bonsai" as well as,
"the Father of The American School of Bonsai". Today Elandan
Gardens provides a spectacular display of flora as well as silvery
dead wood, lichen-covered stone, waterfalls, and a pond. This
setting provides the perfect backdrop for Dan's world-renowned
bonsai collection.
During my visits, Elandan Gardens has never failed to exceed
expectations:
- Each bonsai tree is a living object lesson that overcoming
adverse conditions can result in stunning beauty.
- Dan is not afraid to challenge traditions in the pursuit of
artistic creation. He even introduced the use of power tools
to the art of Bonsai.
- Although he clearly has a vision and plenty to do, Dan is
always willing to take a moment to speak with you personally and
answer your questions.
Dan has a passion for nature and the art of bonsai. That
passion had its genesis in Korea almost five decades ago when he
began collecting Black Pine seeds. Elandan Gardens shows us what
can result when one shares one's passion with the world.