Jin & Tonic: A Fresh Bonsai Blog from New England Bonsai Gardens

If you’ve been part of the New England Bonsai Gardens (NEBG) family for a while, the name Jin & Tonic might sound familiar.

It was once the title of a printed newsletter created by the original owners, Hitoshi & Teddi—a clever play on words tying together bonsai deadwood techniques (jin) and something a little more refreshing (tonic). 

I’ve always loved that name. It perfectly captures what I want this blog to be: not a technical manual on wiring branches or creating the perfect foliage pads—you know that’s not me.

That’s not to say future posts here won’t dip into styling, but if they do, it won’t be me writing them. 

Instead, my goal is to share the personal side of running a bonsai nursery. The good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly—the behind-the-scenes stories most people never get to hear.  

Why Start a Blog Now? 

For years, people have asked me about the hidden side of NEBG: 

• How do you source your bonsai trees? 

• What on earth made you want to buy a bonsai nursery? 

• What’s your favorite bonsai? 

• And my personal favorite: Why won’t you sell me that tree? 

I’ve got a book’s worth of stories, but between greenhouse maintenance, USDA permits, Financial spreadsheets, and answering customer questions, writing always fell to the bottom of the list. 

This year, I decided it’s time to change that. Bonsai is booming, and curiosity about the “business side” of bonsai is higher than ever. People keep asking me to make TikToks, but truthfully—I have no idea what I’m doing there, and production quality matters.

Writing feels like a better fit.

With this blog, I hope you’ll find something entertaining to read, learn something new, and maybe even see bonsai from a whole new angle. 

What You Can Expect 

I’m not a bonsai professional, and I won’t pretend to be. You won’t find in-depth styling tutorials written by me—there are incredible artists who already do that far better than I ever could. 

Instead, Jin & Tonic will focus on the side of bonsai you rarely hear about: 

• Business & Bonsai – the highs, lows, and occasional headaches of running a nursery in today’s market. 

• Sourcing Stories – how (and where) we track down trees, plus a few adventures along the way. 

• Tools & Supplies – cutting through the myths and marketing. From Akadama to bonsai tools, I’ll share what actually matters in 2025—not what was true 30 years ago. 

• Personal Favorites – the species that always make me smile… and the ones that test every ounce of my patience. 

• Soil Talk – I keep saying I’ll work up the courage to write this one. After seeing thousands of trees over the last eight years, I have opinions—and they might surprise you. 

• Behind the Greenhouses – from winter boarding in Massachusetts to fighting humidity in Florida, the unglamorous truth about keeping thousands of trees alive. 

Think of it as bonsai with a business twist—and hopefully a splash of humor.  

Let’s Keep It a Conversation 

My hope is that Jin & Tonic sparks conversations. Maybe you’ll learn something new, maybe you’ll disagree with me, or maybe you’ll share your own bonsai stories in the comments. Either way, this blog isn’t meant to be a lecture—it’s meant to be shared. 

Grab your favorite drink (mine’s a Captain & Coke), and let’s dig into the world of bonsai—one story at a time. 

P.S. That incredible Jin & Tonic logo you see at the top? It was created by local artist Cory Thibault (https://www.instagram.com/imcory2/). We originally asked him to design a series of stickers for us (more on that in a future post). Cory is incredibly talented, and you’ll be seeing a lot more of his work at the nursery soon—in the form of pottery. Thanks, Cory! 

About the Author 

I’m Ashley Carrier—dad to two incredible kids (Leah & Shane), entrepreneur always chasing new ideas, and someone who probably cracks too many jokes. I also happen to own New England Bonsai Gardens and Bonsai Outlet. Don’t get me wrong though—I’m not the magician styling those incredible trees. I’m just the guy who is lucky enough to help share them with the world.