A native of Memphis, Mr. Harris began his nursery career in 1976 at the young age of eleven working part-time for Brussel Martin at his small bonsai nursery in Germantown, Tennessee. Working in the summer, weekends and after school, Joe helped Brussel's Bonsai Nursery grow into the largest importer and grower of bonsai in North America, now based just outside of Memphis in Olive Branch, Mississippi.

From 1986 to 1990, Joe took a break from his duties at Brussel's, and began a four year apprenticeship in Japan at the Kanuma Shizen Bonsai Koen (Kanuma Nature and Bonsai Park) under the watchful eye of bonsai master Makoto Kashimoto. There he learned bonsai design, cultural care and business practices. Joe is now an internationally recognized authority on the art of bonsai, traveling throughout the United States and abroad conducting demonstrations and workshops on bonsai design and cultural care techniques. Even though his forte is Japanese five-needle pine (Pinus paiviflora) bonsai, he is best known for his expertise in applying bonsai techniques to Satsuki azalea.

In late 1996, Joe accepted a job offer from Iseli Nursery, Inc. in Boring, Oregon, where he had been a pruning consultant for several years. Iseli is a wholesale grower of rare and beautiful dwarf conifers, Japanese maples and other select ornamental trees and shrubs. Joe now manages the Japanese maple and Matsunami-en Bonsai® divisions, as well as the pine section of their Living Art® division.

Professional affiliations: Nippon Bonsai Association