Our Nursery

It all starts with a journey.

As a young man, Jacques Galinou aspired to a career in agriculture and initially settled on the family farm. Driven by a great curiosity and a deep desire for exploration, he then embarked on numerous journeys, from America to Asia. It was during these travels that he discovered bonsai.

Fueled by a growing passion, he then chose to explore Asia more thoroughly, from China to Japan, passing through Taiwan and Korea. Meeting nursery owners and learning about local techniques, he became initiated into the art of bonsai, a world where time, patience, and precise technique shape unique trees.

In 1985, a pivotal encounter marked his path: that of André Montagne, an agricultural engineer and pioneer in France, the first to cultivate and import bonsai. Jacques became his student. André Montagne would forever remain his mentor, a humble and unassuming man, a living repository of knowledge, to whom he owes everything.

Building on this heritage, Jacques Galinou founded his company as a producer and importer. He initially developed his business by importing bonsai from Asia, primarily for sale in supermarkets, while also cultivating his own trees. However, a realization quickly dawned: amidst the rapid growth of these countries, and through his interactions with numerous nursery owners, he recognized the limitations and complexities of importing certain varieties. A conviction naturally emerged: to sow, plant, and cultivate his own bonsai, thus creating a fully controlled French production. He then made the decision to dedicate himself entirely to production, ending imports altogether.

For over 35 years, each tree has been sown and nurtured with care in our nursery in Lot-et-Garonne.

Today, this story continues to be written as a family affair. His daughter, Valentine, took up the torch at the age of 20 and now runs the company, perpetuating the culture of bonsai with exacting standards and sensitivity, in continuity with the vision of her father who passed on this passion to her.