By Bill Brady
Mark Lundquist got introduced to, and fell in love with, bonsai trees while working in Taiwan in the 1990s. Years later, living in St. Anthony Park, he began growing and trimming his own tiny trees, working with his wife, Melissa, to transform their Chelmsford Street backyard into a Japanese garden. Now, he and his business partners are teaching others how to engage in this ancient Asian art form.
Lundquist, 61, is retiring from a 39-year career in banking to join with partners Dave Weiss and Allen Bernard in forming Triple Root Bonsai, with the goal of offering high-quality bonsai trees and top-tier instruction on how to keep them flourishing.
One recent Sunday, about 30 mostly beginner bonsai buffs huddled around tables at Gerten’s Garden Center in Inver Grove Heights, snipping away at juniper sprouts while the team from Triple Root gave instruction. It was one of several workshops they’ve scheduled this summer, most of which have sold out.
“When you get home, keep these in the shade for two to three weeks,” shouted Weiss from the front of the tent, as Lundquist distributed aftercare sheets to the attendees. “Then, slowly introduce them to sunshine. Don’t overdo it. And water every day—they are planted in well-draining soil.”
Weiss, a teacher by trade, was the first of the three partners to make a business out of his bonsai passion, offering classes and launching a YouTube channel called “Bonsai Acres.” It wasn’t long before demand for his services got so great that he approached Lundquist and Bernard, both of whom he knew from the Minnesota Bonsai Society, about joining him.
“That’s how Triple Root Bonsai was born,” said Lundquist. “We became an LLC on March 26. We’re set to do 15 workshops this year, with a goal of 25-30 in future years.”
Attendees at the Gerten’s workshop ranged from longtime enthusiasts to folks that got dragged in by their spouses, but all appeared to enjoy it.
“She talked me into it,” said Jeff Nath of Mendota Heights, sitting next to his wife, Katie. “I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s fun.”
Across the table sat Jessica Yang of Frogtown “I’ve always loved the art of bonsai,” she said. “I love gardening and I shop out here a lot. So when I saw the sign for the class I signed up. This is a juniper class, but people do it with maples, azaleas and all kinds of other plants.”
Bonsai is a Japanese word that translates to something like “small tree in a pot.” It doesn’t refer to any specific type of tree. Indeed, Lundquist noted, “You can bonsify—is that a word?—practically anything that has a woody trunk. It’s cool to watch the transformation as you start with just plain tree stock and turn it into something distinctive.”
The next workshops in the Bugle’s coverage area are July 12 at Dogwood Coffee’s Northeast location on Tyler Street and July 26 at its café on University Avenue and Emerald Street. Signup information will be posted at triplerootbonsai.com.
Bill Brady is a copy editor and writer for the Bugle.
