The Story

The story of our Specialty Black Pine collection begins with Jan Budden, born in September of 1948. As a young man, he developed an early love of trees, nature, and art — and while living in Hawaii, he discovered an appreciation for Japanese garden design that stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Early in his career, he apprenticed under Charlie Okata at Okata's garden in Lake Forest Park, Washington. Okata's mentorship acted as a vital bridge, transferring authentic Japanese gardening traditions to the next generation of American landscapers. During this formative apprenticeship, Jan learned the meticulous, multi-decade patience required to cultivate elite specimen trees.

The collection at Jan's Edison, Washington property.

Jan went on to establish his own garden, Rocky Point Gardens, on Camano Island, and later relocated the entire collection to Edison, Washington. From the 1970s through the early 2020s, this is where his most recognized work took shape. During the 1970s and 80s, he acquired more than 150 trees — primarily Japanese Black Pines — many as young starts, along with several mature specimens from Kubota Gardens.

Over the following decades, Jan's collection and craftsmanship earned recognition well beyond Washington State. He exhibited at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show for four consecutive years, winning an award for his designs, and sold trees to collectors around the world. He met the Consulate General of Japan, supplied pines for a number of prestigious projects, and counted the world-renowned nature photographer Art Wolfe among his buyers. Wolfe has a documented, deep-seated passion for Japanese Black Pines and explicitly credits them as anchors of his famous private garden in West Seattle. In 2013, trees from Jan's collection were featured in a Randy Allworth (Allworth Design) installation showcased in Luxe Magazine.

Root-balled and burlapped, ready to make the move.

The story continues around 2017, when one of the current partners, Doug Reimer, first came across Jan's collection. Doug has a background in landscaping and had long admired the distinct, Asian-influenced aesthetic that defines the Pacific Northwest landscape. Captivated by the beauty of Jan's work, Doug and his wife purchased a few trees for their own home to enjoy, developing a close kinship with Jan along the way. In 2022, Jan reached out to Doug: he was preparing to sell his property and move on, given that he was well past the age of retirement. Doug invited his longtime friend and brother-in-law, Benjit, who shares a keen appreciation for specialty landscaping and had also acquired a collection from Jan. And thus, the torch was passed from Jan to our family, entrusting us to keep this beautiful tradition alive.

This marked the beginning of Specialty Black Pines — though we quickly realized we are but humble keepers of these trees. Over the years, we have been learning from them, listening to their growth, and training ourselves in the patient art of pruning. We feel it is a profound privilege to be their guardians, protecting the decades of history shaped into each specimen tree.

On the road to Snohomish, spring 2023.

That first winter, Jan personally walked us through pruning each tree back to its intended form. In the spring of 2023, we moved the collection to its current home in Snohomish, Washington — where they continue to grow and change form as we prepare them for their next destination. Today, our story is one that continues with a deep passion for niwaki. We are honored to carry this legacy forward, preserving Jan's lifelong dedication to the art of sculpted trees and ensuring these living masterpieces thrive for generations to come.