T H E T R I B U T E D I S P L A Y
Experience the legacy of some of the incredible artists who came before us.
Explore their displays proudly showcased at the North American Bonsai Pottery Competition.
Explore their displays proudly showcased at the North American Bonsai Pottery Competition.
L I T T L E G I F T S
O F L A S T I N G F R I E N D S H I P
A S T O R Y O F N I C K A N D P A U L I N E
By Brandon Herwick
O F L A S T I N G F R I E N D S H I P
A S T O R Y O F N I C K A N D P A U L I N E
By Brandon Herwick
Nick Lenz would often leave little ceramics he had made in and around Pauline Muth’s trees when he visited to lead bonsai workshops at her nursery, PFM Bonsai, in West Charlton, NY. These included all sorts of ceramic creatures—critters, baby doll heads, and cephalopods—born of Nick’s mind, creativity, and kiln. Over time, this became a fun annual tradition.
One year, after Nick’s visit, Pauline went out to her garden in search of the gift he had left among her trees and began to think he must have stopped. She looked and looked but couldn’t find any creatures. The year passed as spring and summer gave way to fall. Then, one autumn day, after the larch needles had turned golden yellow and dropped, Pauline spotted it—hanging on a branch in one of her large larch forests was a little ceramic snake. He hadn’t forgotten.
When friends visited, Pauline would often hide these little creatures around the garden for others to enjoy discovering. She continued Nick’s tradition in her own way by hiding “hitchhikers,” as Mark Arpag calls them, in his trees when he visited and taught at her studio and garden.
One year, after Nick’s visit, Pauline went out to her garden in search of the gift he had left among her trees and began to think he must have stopped. She looked and looked but couldn’t find any creatures. The year passed as spring and summer gave way to fall. Then, one autumn day, after the larch needles had turned golden yellow and dropped, Pauline spotted it—hanging on a branch in one of her large larch forests was a little ceramic snake. He hadn’t forgotten.
When friends visited, Pauline would often hide these little creatures around the garden for others to enjoy discovering. She continued Nick’s tradition in her own way by hiding “hitchhikers,” as Mark Arpag calls them, in his trees when he visited and taught at her studio and garden.
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This story captures the wonder, friendship, and joy we can all find in bonsai. Whether your garden holds ancient specimens or simple, healthy seedlings and saplings, the experience is the same—we engage with bonsai, shape the stories we and our trees tell, and nurture friendships, communities, and trees along the way.
T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
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D I S C O V E R P O T T E R S I S P R O U D T O S P O N S O R T H E 2 0 2 5 N O R T H A M E R I C A N B O N S A I P O T T E R Y C O M P E T I T I O N
