Ahead of his talk at the Garden Museum on Tuesday 7 May, we caught up with landscape designer Luis Vallejo to find out more about his longtime passion for bonsai and life immersed in nature:
What was your journey to becoming a garden designer?
On my journey, growing up in a family of nurserymen was pivotal, playing beneath my father’s maple trees in the nursery, walking through the countryside, and witnessing the changing seasons.
When did you discover your passion for Bonsai, and what do you love about them?
In 1969, my father, a nurseryman, brought home some Bonsai books from a trip to the USA:
Ishizuki Bonsai Ezo Matsu by Saburo Katoh, Practical Bonsai for Beginners by Kenji Murata, and Bonsai-Saikei by Toshio Kawamoto. I was captivated by the enchanting art of recreating nature on a smaller scale and began experimenting with Bonsai using trees from the nursery, such as maple, pine, Chamaecyparis, and junipers.
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Can you tell us about how you developed your collection at the Museo del Bonsái?
At first, via the BCI magazine, I got in touch with Bonsai enthusiasts from the UK, Germany, and Spain. I began my collection and school in 1982.
In the spring of 1987, I had an unexpected visit at my home/school/workshop from then-president Felipe González. He invited me to the gardens of the Moncloa Palace to advise him on his new hobby, cultivating trees as bonsais. With the former president, I had the chance to travel across Spain in search of specimens. Then came trips to Japan, where I met the great Bonsai masters. In 1987, I undertook the garden project for the exhibition of the Bonsai collection, workshops, and greenhouses.
In 1995, I designed a garden and Bonsai museum for the municipality of Alcobendas. The museum houses and displays my collection of around 200 trees, some native to Spain and others from Japan. These are trees cultivated or acquired by me over more than 40 years. In 1996, President Felipe González donated the collection of 110 bonsais to the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid.
Do you have a favourite bonsai variety, or one that has been particularly challenging to nurture?
Beeches are trees that recur in my collection and remind me of places and experiences. In my book The Wind Among the Leaves, I discuss my memories of walking through beech forests. Walking through the Irati rainforest in Navarra, in late winter, with the marcescent leaves now covering the ground and reflecting the fading light of dusk, evokes an indescribable feeling.
Also, the collection includes European and Spanish maple trees as well as those of Japanese origin. Though the collection is very diverse.
What’s a surprising fact or common misconception about bonsai?
A surprising revelation about bonsai, which often evokes wonder, is that its practice, deeply associated with the delicacy and antiquity of Japanese culture, actually traces its roots to the lands of China centuries ago.
On the other hand, a common misconception about bonsai is to consider them as a particular botanical species. In reality, any tree or shrub can be shaped into a bonsai. It is the skill of the artist cultivator to understand the unique essence of each species and transform it into a living artwork that makes the world of bonsai so enriching and diverse.
In this journey of contemplation and care, I find inspiration in Japanese haikus, those brief poems that capture the essence of nature in just a few lines. Just as each bonsai has its own story and character, each haiku evokes an image.
Wondrous
to see the Milky Way
through the cracks
Issa
Do you have a garden of your own, can you tell us about it?
My studio garden. It’s a “No landscape architect!” garden, emphasizing belonging to the place and its use, as I always apply in all my projects. In the 2500m² garden of my studio and workshop, there are about seven century-old holm oaks, rockroses, and my stones, on which I’m working in a wild and unordered manner. Through the holm oaks, you can see the mountains belonging to the Sierra de Madrid.
The garden of my house is simpler, with a more specific purpose. It features a pool made of granite in a colour I call Deep Blue Sea. There are stone pine trees, which were already there, and I’ve introduced a lot of shrubbery like mastic tree, Lentisk, and hedges of bushy olive trees with gray-toned leaves. I also have a beech grove, interspersing three water stones which produce a melodious and soothing sound. Both gardens are structured on various levels.
What does a typical day in the life look like for you?
Lately, I’ve been incorporating a routine into my life that involves getting up early to walk. Depending on where I am, if I’m traveling, I usually opt to walk along the seaside, while if I’m at home, I tend to stroll through a nearby park.
When I’m not traveling, which happens very often, I usually go to the studio to work on my projects. However, I always try to dedicate at least one day a week to my bonsai garden.
Do you have any advice for young people interested in garden design?
For those young people who feel drawn to garden design, I would advise them to deeply immerse themselves in nature. Just like with the art of bonsai, garden design requires a profound understanding of nature, studying the patterns of geography, colors, simplicity, and the imperfect beauty that characterizes nature itself. Garden design is a journey of discovery and growth that endures over time.
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What are your favourite gardens or places to visit for inspiration?
For me, the Imperial Villa in Kyoto is inspiring. Also, the Alhambra in Granada and the Patio of Mezquita of Cordoba. I could also include in this list the garden of the master’s workshop-house on Shikoku Island.
Are you working on any exciting new projects you can tell us about?
I’m working on several projects in various estates across Spain, as well as private gardens in Provence, Saint Tropez. Additionally, I have a project in the city of Agadir, which is a Masterplan for a resort with over 100 villas and the design of the promenade. I’m also involved in other hotel projects in Morocco and continuously making improvements and completing the Royal Mansour Marrakech.
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