Todd Schlafer - First Branch Bonsai

Todd Schlafer - First Branch Bonsai Collected trees for landscape and Bonsai

04/08/2026

This spring has been one of the most rewarding repotting seasons I can remember at First Branch.

We’ve been busy in the grind of getting trees into fresh bonsai soil, but last weekend stood out. We worked on two trees I was a bit nervous about: both were being moved into their first bonsai containers.

Before committing to a design angle, I chose to repot first. I wanted to see what the roots were doing before locking anything in, because no matter how good a design looks, the root structure has to support it. Thankfully, it worked out exactly as I’d hoped.

The Ponderosa is one I already have a clear vision for. Getting it into a proper bonsai container was an important next step toward realizing that design.

Both trees will be living in my personal collection and show garden, so keep an eye out, you’ll be seeing more of them.

03/26/2026

The Kokufu 2026, pt. 2
Seeing these impactful trees in person gives you a much clearer understanding of proportion, density, and detail. Concepts that don't fully translate into photos.

The Kokufu was a reminder of that, and I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to be there for both shows this year.

The initial styling applied to last year’s 90-degree angle repot of a Birdsnest spruce in Minnesota.For this design, we ...
03/15/2026

The initial styling applied to last year’s 90-degree angle repot of a Birdsnest spruce in Minnesota.

For this design, we moved the branch that ran straight up after the new planting angle. There was discussion about using smaller branches for the apex, but if we could lift a thicker branch higher, it would make for a stronger design.

The branches were extremely brittle, with deadwood running along the underside of some of them. To move the branch used for the upper section, we removed the deadwood and part of the live section to make it flexible enough.

We then added wire spines and raffia, and used a piece of rebar for leverage to lift the apical section. All the other structural branches also required raffia to move due to their brittleness.

We’re not out of the woods yet, and aftercare needs to be SPOT on. The design is intentionally loose for now because of the tree’s growth habit and two-dimensional structure. There were many weak interior branches. We didn’t fine-wire every branch at this stage of development.

02/25/2026

This February, I made my first journey to Japan for the 100th anniversary of the Kokufu.
Among trees shaped across generations, I found myself reflecting on how this practice has quietly shaped me too. In patience, perspective and devotion to the long view.

One last piece of work as I head to the Kokufu…One Seed juniper, container by Sara Rayner.Very minimal wiring this time ...
02/08/2026

One last piece of work as I head to the Kokufu…

One Seed juniper, container by Sara Rayner.

Very minimal wiring this time due to its advanced refinement. Most of the work was directional pruning, using the strong, upright new growth to guide the structure.

A Douglas Fir I collected and then entrusted to the careful care of Mark Mills for many years. I originally designed the...
01/30/2026

A Douglas Fir I collected and then entrusted to the careful care of Mark Mills for many years. I originally designed the tree, and re-acquired it in 2024.

The most recent work was wired by my apprentice, Francesco. I made a few small adjustments and removed select branches to bring it to this stage.


01/25/2026

On a recent trip to Texas, I ran a demo for the Houston Bonsai Society, led a club workshop, and spent time with two study groups at Timeless Trees. I set the structure and made wedge cuts on landscape tree trunks for a Japanese garden, repotted a couple of trees, and cleaned up these ashe junipers for Ken Schindler. 
And yes, I ate a lot of BBQ.



Douglas fir, collected by Steve Varland.In this second working, we removed excess length and were able to begin alternat...
01/13/2026

Douglas fir, collected by Steve Varland.

In this second working, we removed excess length and were able to begin alternating branches due to the abundance of healthy tertiary growth. As trees continue to refine, they allow for more compact decisions when forming branch pads.

From now until spring, any tree worked on will need to remain in the greenhouse to support recovery through the dormant season.

Recent Colorado Blue Spruce bonsai work. Both of these trees are part of Erik Killian’s collection and underwent cleanin...
01/05/2026

Recent Colorado Blue Spruce bonsai work.

Both of these trees are part of Erik Killian’s collection and underwent cleaning this winter.

To clean, we removed excess length and weak branches, then rewired them to fine-tune the ramification of tertiary growth on these well-established trees.

A Ponderosa Pine collected by Mark Mills, freshly restyled in the workshop. I acquired this ponderosa last year, and sta...
12/29/2025

A Ponderosa Pine collected by Mark Mills, freshly restyled in the workshop. I acquired this ponderosa last year, and stared at it since, wondering what would be the best front. The former front was workable, but I knew there had to be a better use of a twisted section that presented straight just below the foliage because of the limits of its viewing angle.

I pulled the tree into the workshop and began cleaning. I paused and left, and when I walked back in, the new front of the tree was turned straight toward me. I knew this was the front I had been searching for. I love the added movement in the trunk just under the foliage as your eyes move up the composition.

Rocky Mountain Juniper, collected by Mark Mills, styled at First Branch. I originally designed this tree in 2018, when i...
12/19/2025

Rocky Mountain Juniper, collected by Mark Mills, styled at First Branch.

I originally designed this tree in 2018, when it was part of his collection. When I repotted it in spring into this Gyouzan container, the movement and interaction between the live vein and the deadwood felt more engaging from this side. The original back is now presented as the front.

I was able to acquire the tree from him last year and took cuttings from the foliage to test propagation. The foliage is notably more compact, making it well-suited for grafting onto other Rocky Mountain Junipers with finer growth.

12/03/2025

Garden days with my apprentice as we move through fall work: deciduous clean-ups, live veins, wiring. Vegas was the last trip of the year, so winter is for the show garden, new benches, and the occasional nap.

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