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A Bonsai Side Quest

by TreeMakers & Montane Bonsai

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Latest episodes

46. Professional Procrastination is Patience

March 9, 2026 · 1 hr 33 min

After another long gap between episodes, Hugh and Jarryd sit down for a much-needed catch-up. They talk about Jarryd’s studio build-out, Hugh’s ongoing garden excavation, recent gallery events and collaborations, and what’s been happening…
45. The Not Gross Grose Valley

December 29, 2025 · 44 min

In this outdoor, in-the-wild recording of A Bonsai Side Quest, Hugh and Jarryd come to you perched from a sandstone outcrop in the Blue Mountains, with beer cans in hand. They discuss the views and the species you can't see (become a…
44. Hooned it up the Mountains in Copper Foil Hats

November 13, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

For this episode, Jarryd visits Hugh at Tree Makers Bonsai Studio in the Blue Mountains after completing some BSA events in Sydney. They catch up on their activities of the past month and discuss Jarryd's demo Nothofagus styling (with some…
43. Where the Hell Have we Been

October 10, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min

After a long hiatus, we return and apologise for our absence! Winter has kept Hugh and Jarryd busy behind the scenes: learning, refining, and evolving as their practices and businesses grow. Jarryd’s been deep in the work, tending the…
42. Growing in Our Own Repotting Filth

July 16, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min

In this episode, Hugh and Jarryd share their upcoming repotting season anticipation, preparation work, and woes from mistakes past. They dig into the nitty-gritty of soil substrates, chopsticks, moss, and much more. Love the podcast?…

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41. Trees That Have Soul

July 1, 2025 · 1 hr 45 min

Hugh is back from a client trip 'across the ditch', making trees in some of New Zealand’s top bonsai garages, and Jarryd is deep in proud dad bonsai mode, with students studying at his garden. In this episode full of catch-ups and…
40. Top 20 Natives Finale: the Hottest Specimens of Australia

June 15, 2025 · 1 hr 48 min

In this episode, Jarryd and Hugh finally accomplish the long-awaited finale of the top 20 Australian native species for bonsai. Sample side quests include: life updates, snow, and hot tips on paperbark species bark removal. Hugh's picks…
39. Recap on the AABC: All About Big Convos

May 27, 2025 · 1 hr 48 min

This week on A Bonsai Side-Quest, Hugh and Jarryd battle the sniffles and post-convention burnout as they hunker down at home, firewood chopped and fireplaces burning in the changing season. Still recovering from what they dub “convention…
38. The Gondwana Project with Harry Lush

May 19, 2025 · 42 min

In this episode of A Bonsai Side-Quest, Jarryd and Hugh welcome Harry Lush—a passionate advocate for Australian native species and a dedicated bonsai enthusiast. Together, the guys all take a deep dive into the Nothofagus genus, exploring…
37. Australia's Top 20 Native Species - Part 4 & Still Going ...

May 12, 2025 · 60 min

In continuation of the much-loved and never-ending series of "Australia's Top 20 Native Species" the boys come back to cover all of 2 epic species this round. Of course, they start with a delightful side-quest of bird watching and a recent…
36. Solid Stomps - Returning from our Honeymoon

May 3, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min

They're back! After some time off the radar, the guys return with big news and bigger stories. Hugh tied the knot, and not long after, he and Jarryd disappeared off the grid for a private honeymoon hike (not with Hugh's wife, just the two…
35. Australia’s Top 20 Natives - Part 3

April 6, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min

In this continuation of Australia’s top 20 natives for bonsai discussion, the guys only manage to cover 3 more (with a minimum of 5 side-quest species features)... Jarryd’s picks: Huon pine, Woolly Tea Tree Hugh:’s picks: Coastal Tea…

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About the show

Hugh R. Grant of TreeMakers Design and Jarryd Bailey of Montane Bonsai have long been best friends, brought together by a shared passion for bonsai and the wilderness, AKA the bush. With a lens of self-humor, the two reflect on Australian bonsai and what it means to be bonsai professionals… sorta.