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PODCAST

A Bonsai Side Quest

TreeMakers & Montane Bonsai

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.

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All Episodes

72:01

44. Hooned it up the Mountains in Copper Foil Hats

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/11/13

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 bloodshed), collecting trips, the opening of the Tondoon Botanic Gardens Bonsai collection, weather updates, the seasonal challenges, hardscaping maintenance, and wire materials. Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee'

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74:50

43. Where the Hell Have we Been

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/10/10

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 Niwaki pines at MONA, surviving spider attacks, pencil pine forest cleanups, and travelling for the GAB event in Western Australia. Hugh’s been also immersed in Niwaki pruning, teaching an intensive rock planting course, creating with students, including a long

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01:21:20

42. Growing in Our Own Repotting Filth

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/07/16

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? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Are you stocked up on soils for the repotting season? See our premium substrates from Tree Makers - https://treemakers.com.au/store-all/substrates Hugh Grant - Tree Makers

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01:45:17

41. Trees That Have Soul

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/07/01

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 predictable detours, the two reflect on a surprising truth: bonsai isn't as patient as it's made out to be; it’s actually quite busy. After several rounds of beer, the conversation finally lands on the key question: what defines a tree as having "soul"?Love the podcast

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01:48:20

40. Top 20 Natives Finale: the Hottest Specimens of...

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/06/15

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 - Banksia Integrifolia, Melaleuca Nodosa Jarryd's picks - Melaleuca Virens, runner up - Sassafras Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers

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01:47:33

39. Recap on the AABC: All About Big Convos

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/05/27

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 COVID,” the duo digs into all things Canberra 2025 AABC—covering standout trees, winning displays, demonstrations, and display conventions. It’s a cosy, congested, and comprehensive recap you won’t want to miss.2026 AABC Convention -

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41:45

38. The Gondwana Project with Harry Lush

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/05/19

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 its ecological significance, traits, and aesthetics.Additionally, Harry introduces his non-profit organisation 'The Gondwana Project', which aims to conduct research, bio-banking, education, and conservation projects, all aiming to understand, protect, and spread

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59:30

37. Australia's Top 20 Native Species - Part 4 &...

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/05/12

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 Nothofagus Cunninghamii styling demo.Hugh's pick - Banksia marginata Jarryd's pick - Podocarpus lawrencei Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers

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01:07:05

36. Solid Stomps - Returning from our Honeymoon

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/05/03

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 boys). Now reunited post-bucks party, they're catching up on everything from Jarryd’s time at the Bonsai by the Beach event, to dramatic new angle repots, and the standout moments from their annual autumn hike in the Tasmanian wilderness.Love the podcast? You

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01:23:50

35. Australia’s Top 20 Natives - Part 3

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/04/06

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 Tree Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/ Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media

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01:46:27

34. Australia's Top 20 Greatest Natives Hits Continued

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/03/26

In this episode, the guys spinulosa’d around, only getting to 5 more out of the top 20’s greatest hits of native species with many informational species side-quests. In continuation of Jarryd and Hugh's top 10 picks for bonsai material, here are the selections of this round: Jarryd - Strawberry Pine, Varnished Gum Hugh - Banksia Serrata, Blue Mountain Pine, Banksia Ericifolia Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant -

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01:39:39

33. Australia's Top 20 - But Only 7 of Them

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/03/16

In this special episode of A Bonsai Side Quest, Hugh and Jarryd share their top 10 local native species for bonsai with plentiful insight of their experiences working with each. Of course, many side-quests derail them leading to only unveiling the first 7 in this episode. Jarryd's picks: Tasmanian Pencil Pine, Nothofagus gunnii, Diselma archeri, and Nothofagus cunninghamii Hugh's Picks: Black She-Oak, Kunzea Ambigua, and Port Jackson Fig Love the podcast? You can support us here and

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51:57

32. Two Steps forward, then Seven Steps Forward.

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/03/09

Looking at the onset of the autumn season, Jarryd and Hugh share their grievances of a hot summer and heat exhausted trees as well as their aspirations for styling as the heat reduces. Both are keen to jump into design season and their respective large styling projects. Repenting for their wiring sins and reflecting on overly-harsh self critique, they discuss the trials and tribulations of styling special trees. Lastly, they highlight work that you should partake on your garden at this time of

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46:15

31. Trees that are Loved to Death

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/03/03

In the peaking heat of summer, the guys whinge about hot winds, thirsty trees, and the need for tie downs and shade structures. Jarryd updates us on the fate of the previously discussed ancient Huon pine in Tasmania. The two delve into the topic of eco-tourism and the duality of needing to protect wild spaces and ancient trees while also making them more known in order to spark the passion to protect them. Now roughly one year into podcasting, Hugh and Jarryd reflect and thank their listeners for

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01:05:48

30. If a Tree Burns in a Forest, Can You Hear it?

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/02/16

While not wholly sure of the outcome of the Tassie wildfires, Jarryd and Hugh mourn for the potential loss of a deeply significant Huon pine in the Hammond River Grove. A tree they once visited on a hike together, they share the essence of the tree's presence and the value its age offered. Moving into lighter topics, they cover the early turnover to autumn this year, their partners, Hugh's upcoming wedding, and the wonderful successes of recent teaching experiences.Hugh Grant - Tree Makers

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01:00:20

29. Garden Bedrocks Linked to Hell

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/02/09

As gardens evolve, the guys hash out continued earthworks and landscaping desires in their respective spaces to offer optimal tree viewing in their landscapes. As always, Hugh and Jarryd first catch up over a meteorological chat, discussing the increased rain in their zones offering time to accomplish non-watering related work in the summer. They touch on the edgy subject of summer repots with specific species. Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai

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01:04:13

28. A Month Late to New Year’s

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/02/02

A much-delayed New Year's episode with Hugh and Jarryd covers their intentions, aspirations, and focus for the coming year (which we are now 1/12 into). Jarryd shares recent garden hardscaping triumphs and mysterious, epic hikes. Hugh shares about biodiversity in his new garden and plans for greater productivity within his practice and garden. They speak of the importance of time allocated for pursuing personal practice in the coming year. Hugh Grant - Tree Makers

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01:32:34

27. My Hardiness is Temperate and Mild

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2025/01/05

In this episode, the guys dig into the unique world of Australian plant hardiness zones; they discuss the layout of Australian climatic zones in comparison to the northern hemisphere. This is discussed with the consideration of specialised care for species based on an individual practitioner's location. Hugh and Jarryd also catch up on holiday plans, the weather challenges of the week, and work life balance before diving into the Australian National Botanic Gardens map and what that means as a

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53:31

26. From Stick in a Pot to Something Hot with John Keely

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2024/12/23

For this episode, Jarryd and Hugh are joined by John Keely, who is in town visiting Hugh's garden in the Blue Mountains. They chat about the Canberra bonsai scene, Keely's launch into his bonsai journey, greenhouses, and natives collection. Keely highlights where we often all start—with a stick in a pot.

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01:41:41

25. What Foliage have you Stroked this Week

A Bonsai Side Quest ·

2024/12/10

Hugh returns from his Queensland trip and recaps his work at Tondoon Botanic Gardens, which leads to discussions of the upkeep of refinement work, the concept of state-recognized public bonsai collections, and a side quest of species gossip.

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