On the lush property of their Solana Beach home, Phil Tacktill and Janet Wanerka nurture trees that produce bountiful lemons and limes. On the patio, they have fragrant plumeria flowers and, farther to the back of the yard, delicate arrangements of cactuses. But some of the plant arrangements aren't merely useful or attractive -- some tell stories.

About eight years ago, Tacktill, 76, began learning hon non bo, a Vietnamese art form that combines the natural elements of ocean, mountain and forest. To create a hon non bo arrangement, practitioners often start with a small container, then add rocks, plants and shallow water to mimic the scenery of a seaside mountain. Some arrangements include figurines of men paddling on bamboo rafts, or tiny houses nestled in the rock to imitate hillside dwellings.

"They're landscapes that represent how people remember their homes," said Tacktill, an active member of the San Diego Hon Non Bo Association. He will exhibit a few of his smaller pieces in the association's free show this weekend at Balboa Park. The annual show and sale will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 25 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 26 in Room 101, Casa del Prado.

A longtime bonsai enthusiast, Tacktill started practicing hon non bo under the guidance of Lit Phan, an El Cajon expert who wrote a book titled "Mountains in the Sea: The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo." Hon non bo, writes Phan, means "mountainous island in the sea."

Unlike bonsai, which focuses on trees, hon non bo emphasizes the beauty of the Vietnamese coastline. Also unlike the miniature bonsai, hon non bo vary widely in size; some are small enough to fit in one's hand, while others feature rock formations that are large enough to climb on.

Tacktill said he enjoys the imagination and sense of wonder that is involved with creating the landscapes.

"People say, 'It's a rock,' and I say, 'Well, what do you see in the rock?'"

And although some people like to have constant streams of water flowing through the containers, Tacktill is a strong believer that less is more.

"I'm more zen; I don't need the pump to imagine the water."

A member of the California Bonsai Society and several horticultural clubs in San Diego County, Tacktill said that the hobby has been a great way to meet friends from around the world.

It also brought him to his wife.

Janet Wanerka, 72, was one of Tacktill's students in New York, where Tacktill taught classes on bonsai techniques. They began dating, married and later moved to Southern California, where their mutual interest in plants became even more intense.

Wanerka said she enjoys arranging flowers and creating kusamono, the potted collections of short plants that can accompany bonsai. The excitement she feels about plants dates to a trip she took to the Florida Everglades about 50 years ago.

"Beauty is what you see in a plant," she passionately explained.

In their yard, Wanerka and Tacktill set up an elaborate misting system, a container for collecting rainwater, and a workshop filled with tools, trays, rocks and other items they accumulate in hopes of using them in future creations. Tacktill has taught classes in the backyard, and the couple have led garden tours there.

"It's probably a sickness," Wanerka said, glancing at the hundreds of small plants that cover the backyard, barbecue area and patio. "But it's OK."

Brenda Storey, president of the San Diego Hon Non Bo Association, said she hopes this weekend's exhibit at Balboa Park will inspire others to become involved with horticulture. Various Asian garden techniques will be on display, and members will be available to answer any questions for newcomers. The 10-member group is hoping to develop interest among San Diegans about hon non bo and other forms of tray landscape.

"We like to share our art and teach others," Storey said, adding that some hon non bo materials will be for sale, including rocks, pots, and plants.

Tacktill said that anyone intimidated by the intricate displays should remember that there are limitless possibilities for design. Many of his prized rocks were not imported but collected from deserts near the U.S.-Mexico border; a few of his containers were handcrafted by friends, and he has rescued several of his favorite trees out of neighbors' trash piles.

Rather than restrict himself to a particular family of tree, he uses all kinds -- juniper, cypress, pomegranate, olive, myrtle and others.

"I don't do a craft, I do an art form," Tacktill said. "Rules are for crafts."

Maren Dougherty is a freelance writer.