Bonsai tree: Displaying Your Favorite Bonsai

Enter your favorite bonsai in the 2012 US National Bonsai Exhibition

Have you thought about entering your bonsai in next year‘s US National Bonsai Exhibition? Why not? Not only will it focus your mind on your bonsai, but you’ll no doubt learn something in the process. Not to mention that, if your tree is accepted, it will show up in the 2012 Exhibition Album. And then, there’s always the chance you could win something.

You can contact Bill Valavanis for details: WNV@internationalbonsai.com

Even you if don’t enter, this is a good time to start planning your visit.





2008 & 2010 Exhibition Albums at deep discounts

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Bonsai tree: Golden State Bonsai Federation XXXIII Convention Exhibit

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Golden State Bonsai Federation XXXIII Convention Exhibit

The Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) held their 33rd Annual Convention, “New Faces,” last weekend in Santa Clara, California. As always, the Convention featured a bonsai and suiseki exhibit. Bonsai were displayed in formal arrangements with accents – suiseki displays book-cased the bonsai at opposite ends of the room.

Although the exhibit was not large, it did a good job of representing California bonsai with trees from different parts of the state. I hope in future years the exhibit can grow larger. California is host to many bonsai clubs and has many fine trees, making the GSBF convention an excellent venue for showcasing the state’s collections for bonsai enthusiasts and the general public alike.

For those who couldn’t make it this year, here are photos of the trees in the exhibit.

California juniper

Trident maple

Crabapple

Hinoki

California juniper

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Bonsai tree: Satsuki Art Blooms at the National Museum

The sky blue pot is the perfect compliment to the light pink flowers on this powerful Satsuki Azalea that resides at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington DC. There are a multitude of cultivars in the Satsuki group of azaleas. This one is a ‘Nikko.’ It was donated to the museum by Masayuki Nakamura.
… one of the best and most breathtaking exhibits of blooming satsuki azaleas is taking place at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. It has already started (May 29th) but don’t despair, it runs until June 13th.

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Bonsai tree: Spring bonsai display

Bay Island Bonsai’s annual exhibit is held in January each year. It is a great time to show bonsai, but it’s not always the most colorful time of year. At a recent BIB monthly meeting, we worked on a display that included a Japanese black pine and a Japanese maple. In winter, the maple would be bare. In spring, the foliage is bright green.

Boon setting up a display at a BIB monthly meeting

Or bright red. Boon brought two maples to try with the display, one green and one red.

Green and red Japanese maples

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Bonsai tree: Bonsai balance

There are few concepts more central to bonsai than “balance”. The California buckeye below strikes me as a well-balanced composition. The foliage, ramification, trunk, pot and stand all work well together.

California Buckeye – Aesculus californica

The photos here are from the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show. Like so many good exhibits, it provides ample opportunities for thinking about balance.
The cryptomeria below is a favorite of mine. There are few good examples of the variety around, and only a fraction of these are shohin. When I squint my eyes and focus on the tree’s silhouette, however, I notice that the trunk is surprisingly thin. For the foliage to be balanced with the trunk, I would expect either a thicker trunk or thinner foliage – a subtle point for such a nice specimen.

Cryptomeria japonica

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Bonsai tree: Larch in a sphere

I had a fantastic weekend at this event, I exhibited this Larch in an unusual setting, part of the innovations display. Read more!

Bonsai tree: Shohin Seminar from California

It’s hard to create a good shohin display. With larger trees, we work to find trees, pots, stands, and accents that work well together. With shohin, the same is true but the number of trees can jump to 6 or more. When done well, shohin displays create truly unique experiences. Here are some photos from this year’s California Shohin Seminar, the biennial event held in Santa Nella, CA.

Shohin display

Even in smaller displays it’s hard to get trees that point the right way and complement each other well. The display below does a good job of mixing broadleaf, deciduous, and coniferous bonsai.

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Bonsai tree: Representation of accent plant

Last month’s California Shohin Seminar was a delight. Plenty of workshops, demonstrations, and vendors, plus a great exhibit of shohin bonsai. One display element that caught my attention was an accent plant – a wonderful mix of overflowing foliage on a relatively large slab.

Accent plant

I believe this accent would make a great compliment to many bonsai displays. I was curious which tree the accent was paired with when I noticed that the accent complemented not a tree but a scroll. Or the scroll complemented the accent – it’s hard to say which. Needless to say, the two work well together.

Accent/scroll display

I appreciate that the exhibit featured several less traditional displays like the one above and I look forward to seeing more of the like in the future. Read more!

Repotting a bonsai: Western juniper

While preparing a Western juniper for exhibition, I became curious as to why the tree was planted so far to one side of the pot. I was somehow concerned because I couldn’t show the tree as it appeared below.

Western juniper

My worry was that all of the roots came from a single spot at the far end of the pot. After removing the tree from pot, I have found out that the roots were healthy.

Western juniper roots – note new growth in December

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BIB’s Annual Bonsai Exhibit

I lifted this sinuous Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) off a great gallery at Bonsai Tonight from the 2010 Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit. Though I can’t tell for sure, it looks like at least five full twists in the trunk.

Here’s another heavy-trunked bunjin. It’s a Sierra juniper, also known as Western juniper. It and it’s close cousin, the California juniper are becoming favorites of bonsai enthusiasts here and abroad.

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Organizing a bonsai show

Step-by-step instructions for organizing a bonsai exhibit, bonsai sold separately.
1. Get a truck for the supplies.

One truck packed – Boon’s happy

2. Get another truck for the trees.

John and I carefully pack the truck

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BIB exhibition – conifers

Bonsai exhibitions are my best opportunity to simply enjoy the trees. During BIB’s annual exhibition, I make time to wander the hall as if I were a visitor. I study bark and branch placement, moss-work, accents, and display.
One of the first things that strikes me about a tree is its balance, or “baransu,” as Yasuo Mitsuya would say. The shimpaku below has it in spades. Dense and green foliage, wonderful course to fine ramification, and a silhouette that’s as Japanese in character.

Shimpaku

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Shohin exhibition

Shohin has a fun place in the bonsai world. One of the best events in shohin world that I know about is the biannual event held by the California Shohin Society in Santa Nella, CA. The next one is a week away – visit Shohin Seminar 2010 for details.
One of my favorite unproductive discussion topics focuses on the maintenance of large or small bonsai. Unfortunately I can not reproduce even the tenor of the greatest expounding on the topic I have witnessed, but if you’re curious, find Guy Guidry after dinner at your local bonsai convention and fire away.

Here are some photos of shohin on display at Bay Island Bonsai’s 11th annual exhibit.

Japanese Maple

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California Juniper Gallery

California juniper by Ernie Kuo. This tree was collected by Sam Uyeno in 1985 and later purchased by Mr. Kuo. Height 79cm in a Chinese pot. Read more!

Taikan Bonsai Museum - exhibition

Found this picture of bonsai exhibition, from Taikan Bonsai Museum. Such an amazing exhibition, so beautiful art expressions. I wish I had such a bonsai collection in my hometown, in my home.


Taikan Bonsai Museum

I find, however, that I remain inspired by the lighter side of bonsai as well.



A Wind Day,The Fastest Bonsai in the West

Happy New Year guys! Read more!

Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit Coming Soon

The same photo and info apears on Bay Island Bonsai’s site. If you are anywhere near the Bay Area, you might want to check the Exhibit out. Meanwhile if you know anything about this remarkable tree, please let me know. Read more!

The 2-nd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Coming soon!
The first U.S.A. National Bonsai Exhibition in 2008 was a striking success and the second will no doubt take another large step towards bringing the North American bonsai comunity together and placing it on the world bonsai map.

For details visit International Bonsai’s website or go directly to the Exhibition’s site.



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Bonsai Trees Video

Video montage of some beautiful Bonsai Trees.

Duration : 0:3:56

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