Owen’s start in the green industry was digging trenches for irrigation in the red clay for a few summers in Atlanta, Georgia.  While studying Horticulture at The University of Georgia, a classmate introduced Owen to bonsai and the dream of having a bonsai and garden nursery began. After graduating, Owen worked at Samara Farms in Nashville, TN as the manager for the next 4 years. While there he refined his understanding of horticulture.  The next phase of study was a traditional art apprenticeship under Keiichi Fujikawa, the owner of Kouka-en Nursery in Osaka, Japan.  Three months stints to help his teacher during the following four years helped to understand how refined bonsai change over time.  While there, he also gained experience with a wide variety of species and styles.  Free time was spent learning about bonsai display history, kusamono, and other aspects of plant culture; especially noteworthy gardens. Studying bonsai in Japan was a stepping stone to creating bonsai using not only Asian species, but also to applying those techniques and design principles to American species.  Deciduous trees and broadleaf evergreens have always had the least promotion.  This area of bonsai is where Plant Alchemy will have greatest impact by sharing techniques for their creation and maintenance.