Profile of Dave Lowman

Iowa Bonsai Association

Where does one begin to write a profile about Dave? At the beginning or the end—The end is the beginning.

“I deeply believe connection with nature is important to everyone.” Dave lives just such a life. Surrounded by timber and farmland, you will find Dave and his wife Sue still living in the home where he was raised. It was possibly while exploring the wooded area around his home as a boy that he discovered, “If one observes plants and especially wild animals you notice they assert their being and live completely without self doubt. They quite simply, yet profoundly, live in a state of natural grace. When one is able to connect with nature, some of this unconditional self acceptance rubs off on us and we are healed and blessed.”

This is Dave’s mission. To live and share a life surrounded by nature. So, he started in the training of bonsai? No, not yet. Long before the desire to train bonsai manifested, he would ponder the pruning of trees to create certain effects such as espalier and ‘scaffold’ structure for fruit trees and branch selection for grape training. Now?

No now, he is off to Iowa State University to major in Agricultural Business, minor in Horticulture, and explore the art of pottery. It is around this time that Dave realizes he has always had a picture of bonsai in the back of his mind. “For me, bonsai is a perfect combination to combine my love for art and plants.” It is at that moment Dave became, as Luther Burbank would say “A Partner of Nature”.

In 1982 Dave started a retail bonsai nursery and greenhouse. Shortly after, he began teaching and sharing his knowledge and natural insight with others. Dave has conducted workshops, classes, and demos for his private students; the Iowa Bonsai Association, of which he is currently Vice President; the 1992 MABA Convention at Des Moines, Iowa; and a few television appearances through out the years.In the past three years Dave, and his wife Sue, have been working on establishing a retreat type setting to their studio/greenhouse and home, DaSu Studio; AKA Dave & Sue’s Aquarium & Greenhouse, to enhance their student’s experience of the art of bonsai. When Dave is not creating at home, you may find him traveling to conduct workshops and demos for others at their locations or set up at a bonsai show somewhere. Be sure to stop and share a moment if you spot him.

When asked what he is presently working on Dave says, “Flying in the face of the admonition that, (Rules ultimately make us fools), I am putting together a codification of styling and pruning tips designed to help enthusiasts create and style ‘gallery’ quality trees. It is also my hope, as is the goal of any Zen inspired art form, that we all have epiphanies into the sublime wonder, profundity, and integrity of our trees. Remember this comes when we stop evaluating and just appreciate.”

Asked if he has favorite a style, he is hard pressed for an answer; “Maybe the weeping ghost style, maybe, for how does one choose”.

Contact Dave via e-mail: lowman@netins.net or phone: 515-769-2446.