HIstory
The Bonsai Life was created by Aaron Skinner. Aaron has been studying and building gardens his whole life. His early education and research in organic agriculture lead to his exposure to bonsai. He studied with James Doyle in PA before transitioning horticultural specialties to ornamental installations with a focus on Asian aesthetics and bonsai. As the bonsai training developed, Aaron began to apply bonsai pruning techniques to landscape trees (as he worked in the landscape industry) and developed a unique, horticulturally sustainable, and highly desirable style that allowed mature trees to thrive in confined urban and sub-urban gardens.
During this work, Aaron traveled extensively in Europe, Australia, Central America and Africa. During these trips he focused on understanding garden aesthetics and how they relate to other cultural manifestations, such as religious activity, social interactions, and environmental compassion. These experiences fed a catalog of memories which now inspire these great elements of the horticultural world to find themselves embodied in the special spaces created by The Bonsai Life.
With over 20 years of experience in all aspects of construction Aaron and The Bonsai Life team are well prepared for any sized project. Aaron was the assistant Project Manger and Head Gardener of the Seattle Chinese Garden during construction. He has also managed multiple other multi-million dollar landscape construction projects as well as helping countless other homeowners and property managers with their landscape needs.
There is not any element big or small we can not do.
Aaron Skinner at Seattle Chinese Garden
Process
Working with partners is key to ensuring the vision of a project can come to life. We utilize specialists in all fields including masonry and stone work, fine plant nurseries, and artisan suppliers all from around the world. Pulling together theses resources can be logistically challenging, and overwhelmingly rewarding when you have a dedicated partner in The Bonsai Life to ensure all components come together effectively to create something life changing.
Firstly, Aaron will listen to your needs as a client. Based on this listening and initial communication process, Aaron can grasp your preferred aesthetics and get a sense of specific utilitarian expectations for the space. We can then develop a concrete layout and pallets of materials which we share in image boards; and ultimately we develop a 3D model of the space for your approval.
Based on the 3D model we can get right to work with the excavation, utility, and drainage issues needed for a fully functional landscape from the ground up. We focus on soil building, ecologies, and health as we build. We focus on usability, sensational interactions (color, fragrance) in the design. And we focus on quality in the execution.
Whether you need a single small courtyard outside your office window to bring you more peace; or an estate management plan to meet a variety of aesthetic and utilitarian needs; we can make it all happen for you with a transparent, comforting process.