Bonsai tree: Taikan-ten – awesome bonsai

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Taikan-ten – awesome bonsai

I hope it’s been obvious from my recent posts, but in case it isn’t, I’d like to underscore the fact that the great bonsai exhibits in Japan feature some really great trees. The Taikan-ten in Kyoto is the second largest exhibit in Japan and it always includes some outstanding trees. Special displays feature Kokufu and Sakufu prize-winners. These are typically very large and very old bonsai. It can be difficult to keep such trees healthy, let alone move them from one bench to another. Their beauty reflects not only great bonsai skill, but also great caring as their maintenance over long periods of time requires considerable resources.

Although the show isn’t organized by size or variety, I’ve taken license in presenting like groups of trees for dramatic effect. Doing this helps remind me just how many fantastic pines, for instance, the show contained.

I hope you enjoy the photos below, and I’d like to wish you all a happy new year!  I appreciate your readership and engaged comments – they mean a lot to me. To borrow a phrase from Peter Tea, thanks for reading!

Japanese black pine from Mr. Moriyama’s collection

Japanese black pine – work by a Daiju-en graduate

Japanese black pine – from Mr. Moriyama’s collection

Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine displayed at this year’s Gomangoku

Japanese black pine

Semi-cascade Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine on a rock

Cascade Japanese black pine

Japanese white pine from Mr. Moriyama’s collection – one of the trees I helped prepare for the exhibit

Japanese white pine

Japanese white pine – although the pot looks new, it’s likely over 100 years old

Japanese white pine – a great conversation piece

Japanese white pine

Hemlock – a favorite among many Taikan-ten visitors

Formal upright hinoki bonsai

Ezo spruce

Ezo spruce

Needle juniper

Shimpaku

Shimpaku

Shiimpaku

Roughbark Japanese maple

Trident maple – from Mr. Moriyama’s collection

Japanese winterberry – work by a Daiju-en graduate

Japanese maple

Ginkgo

Korean hornbeam

Japanese maple – possibly shishigashira

Japanese flowering quince – ‘Chojubai’

Kadsura

Satsuki azalea

Read more!

Bonsai tree: East Bay Bonsai Society’s 50th Anniversary Bonsai Show

Source: Bonsai Tonight
East Bay Bonsai Society’s 50th Anniversary Bonsai Show

The East Bay Bonsai Society hosted their 50th Anniversary Bonsai Show at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, California, on October 8th and 9th. The show featured a workshop, demonstration and critique by Kathy Shaner, sales and vendor areas, and plenty of bonsai and suiseki. The show program included a history of “The First 50 Years of the East Bay Bonsai Society.” I’ve reproduced it here as it recognizes the considerable effort its members have made over the years to the organization and to the larger bonsai community.

“The East Bay Bonsai Society (EBBS) traces its origins to 1961 when Jack Dutro, seeking people interested in bonsai, placed a guest book at the bonsai display of the California Spring Garden and Home Show. Over a hundred and twenty-five people signed the book and ultimately met with Jack, Harvey and Grace Suzuki, Nelson and Lillian Dennis at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland on Wednesday, October 11, 1961. Jack Dutro’s interest in bonsai began in 1939 when he visited the Japanese Pavilion at the San Francisco and Golden Gate International Exhibition at Treasure Island. Jack served as the first president of EBBS, sharing his knowledge, expertise and love of bonsai with others. Other early pioneers include Harvey Suzuki, who gave the very first bonsai demonstration, Mas Imazumi, John Castle, Jack Weeks, Gene Kremer and William Penn Mott.

Coast live oak

“EBBS membership grew to over 140 during the 1960s and 1970s when its members won numerous awards for design and horticultural excellence at the Garden Show at Oakland’s Dunsmuir House. In 1996, when Jack Dutro was age eighty-seven, the Society lost one of its most cherished members.

Sierra juniper

Korean hornbeam

“The Society sponsored monthly meetings with presentations, demonstrations and workshops lead by experts from the US and abroad, providing education geared to beginners as well as more advanced bonsai enthusiasts, and mentoring by more experienced members, including Ruben G., Bob G., Dennis V., Tim K., Bill C., Randall L., Jim G., Tom C., Chuck G., Alex C. and Inge W. The personal sharing of knowledge was reinforced by publication of a monthly newsletter, edited for many years by Bob C.

San Jose juniper

Sierra juniper

“EBBS continues to sponsor a yearly bonsai exhibit, featuring display of members’ trees, offers an extensive lending library, periodic field trips, a yearly auction in July, a picnic in August and a holiday party in December. Following a decades-old tradition, members decorate bonsai trees for the holiday season and bring them to the holiday party.

Japanese black pine

Dwarf Asian pear ‘Maminashi’

“The East Bay Bonsai Society is a founding member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) which now includes over sixty bonsai clubs. Jack W. and Ron R. represented EBBS at the formative meeting of GSBF in Santa Maria in February 1978, and helped organize the first GSBF convention in November 1978 in Berkeley.

Coast redwood

Satsuki azalea – kazan

“The East Bay Bonsai Society meets at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland on the second Wednesday of each month (except August). The nearby Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is the premier bonsai display garden in northern California, and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Many EBBS members helped fund, build and operate the Garden, notably John N. and Steve F. who were instrumental in the construction phase; Bob and Polly G., Ron R. and Karl Y. who contributed to the docent program; Marie R. and Kay H. who coordinated docent scheduling; Janice D., Linda S. and Rick T. who help maintain the trees; John N., JD L. and many others who serve as docents and support the educational program.

Boston Ivy

Japanese maple

“EBBS members continue to play prominent roles in planning and organizing annual conventions of GSBF, devoting many volunteer hours, and displaying bonsai trees which have won widespread acclaim. None of this would have been possible without the collective efforts of those who initially formed the Society and who contributed so much over the years.”

Suiseki

Suiseki

Suiseki

Suiseki

Read more!

Bonsai tree: Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 28th Annual Show

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 28th Annual Show

The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society held their 28th Annual Show in Santa Rosa, CA, last weekend. Long known as one of the biggest and best bonsai shows in Northern California, REBS again lived up to their reputation. Two demonstrations by Kathy Shaner, a large vendor area, and over 200 bonsai on display drew large crowds to the event. Bonsai were typically displayed in 6′ display areas with accent plants. All trees were well-labeled, and most labels included information about the trees’ age. Some of the numbers indicated a general age – others were quite specific. Here is a selection of some of the large bonsai on display.

Korean hornbeam – 92 years

Shimpaku – 456 years

Shimpaku – 456 years

Mendocino cypress – 106 years

Monterey pine – 51 years

Trident maple – 80 years

Japanese white pine – 50 years

San Jose juniper – 42 years

Cork bark oak – 45 years

Fig – 29 years

Grape – 100 years

Grape, zinfandel – 110 years

Pomegranate

Hornbeam – 73 years

Japanese maple – 40 years

European beech – 34 years

Hawthorn – 39 years

Atlas cedar – 53 years

Japanese maple –

Read more!