The Kelsey Museum presents “Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum—The Bonsai,” a Flash Talk Take-Over given by Carmen Leskoviansky, collections and natural areas specialist at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA), on June 2, 2023.

The Bonsai and Penjing Garden at MBGNA turns 10 this year and welcomes additional specimens to its ranks of nationally and internationally renowned trees. These little trees tell big stories—of their own, of their artists, and those imagined by viewers. They celebrate relationships and commitment. Our centenarians demonstrate generations of care before they became our guests. Little trees bring people together worldwide as we admire and learn from the trees and each other. This Flash Talk explores how this collection has grown and changed over time and the relevance of bonsai in an academic institution now and moving forward.

Carmen Leskoviansky has a degree in horticulture from Michigan State University. She has worked at MBGNA since 2009 and cared for the bonsai collection since 2011. Carmen is currently studying bonsai as an apprentice with Michael Hagedorn of Crategus Bonsai in Portland, Oregon.

Kelsey Museum Flash Talks are 15-minute Zoom lectures by Kelsey curators, staff members, researchers, graduate students, or guests talking about their recent research or current projects. Each presentation is followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. Flash Talks are free and open to all visitors. They take place at noon on the first Friday of every month.