Bonsai Garden

Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt

Our very own Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is the home to some of the finest Bonsai in the country. The BGLM, located within the Gardens at Lake Merritt in Oakland’s Lakeside Park, is the only major all-volunteer bonsai garden in the country and houses some of the most important bonsai in the US. Built, staffed, and maintained by volunteers from throughout the Bay Area, it is supported entirely by donations from our visitors and the bonsai community.

For more information, including visiting hours, volunteer opportunities, or to make a donation, please visit our website: https://bonsailakemerritt.com/

The Historic Daimyo Oak Tree

Docents can point out the historic Daimyo oak tree that was presented by the newly opened Japanese government to the US Ambassador to China in the 1860s during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. They can also show you the oldest tree in the collection, estimated to be more than 1,600 years old, and the pine tree featured at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

This permanent collection preserves precious bonsai and suiseki stones by outstanding masters and collectors for everyone’s enjoyment. Nearly 100 superb bonsai are on display at any given time with another 100 in reserve.

The trees and suiseki on display change regularly, so visit often to experience the seasonal changes.