golden statements, 2010, v33, jan/feb

Golden Statements Vol. XXXlll No. 1 1

Golden Statements Volume XXXlll No. 1 Jan/Feb 2010 - Table of Contents

GSBF Communications3 GSBF President’s Message Bob Hilvers4 Newsletter Contest Winners 7 District Competitions 10 Awards, Installation of Officers Pete Camarena35 Calendar of Events Timm Johnson

15 Capital City Bonsai Show Lucy Sakaishi-Judd 16 In the Groove with David Nguy Carol Upston

18 Suiseki Exhibit Michael Jonas

18 Shaner Demo Michael Jonas

19 GSBF Convention Exhibit Michael Jonas

20 Marin Bonsai Club Show Craig Thompson

21 Peter Adams Critique Peter Adams & Michael Jonas 21 Roy Nagatoshi’s Demo Michael Jonas 22 Re-styling a Mojave Beauty Mike Pistello

Color EssaysArticles5 Seasonal Suggestions Marty Mann 6 Grants & Scholarships Cary S. Valentine 8 Bonsai & Suiseki in Italy Kathy Coffman

12 Toko-Kazari Bob Hilvers

14 News

24 Shohin at Huntington Elissa & Gib Hoxie

26 Elbe Conners’ Donation Susanne Barrymore

28 WAP Pavilion update Maria L. Barbosa ‘lyn Stevenson

Operations 2 Golden Statements Policy 2 GSBF Officers & Trustees 4 From the Editor’s Desk 31 List of Advertisers

Capital City Bonsai Show, Page 15

The Clark Center’s Toko-Kazari, Page 12

This California juniper owned by Seiji Shiba was displayed at the 2009 GSBF Convention Exhibit.

More photos from the exhibit are on Pages 18- 19. Photo by Michael Jonas

Front Cover

Bonsai & Suiseki in Italy, Page 8 This Suiseki is a Sicilian Palombino shown by Chiara Padrini

Check out Page 23 to see the traveling guest that came to convention with Seiji Shiba’s tree.

2 Golden Statements Jan/Feb, 2010

Kathleen O’Donnell, [email protected]: 916-448-6727

Marty Mann, Joanie BerkwitzCindy Peterson, [email protected]

7241 E. Rocky Ridge Drive Tucson, AZ 85750 Tel: 520-299-5952

Michael Jonas, [email protected] Tel: 818-776-0813

Timm Johnson, [email protected] Carl Morimoto, [email protected]

Blue Moon Printing, www.blumoonprinting.com Dave McCoy, [email protected]

ADVERTISING - Pricing and Policies: Send ad copy to Advertising Manager by posted deadlines. 1/8 page G 3.65x2.35 inches $30.00 add $5.00 for online color* 1/4 page G 3.65x4.90 inches $60.00 add $10.00 for online color* 1/2 page G Horizontal 7.50x4.90 inches $90.00 add $15.00 for online color* 1/2 page G Vertical 3.65x10.0 inches $90.00 add $15.00 for online color* Full page G 7.50x10.0 inches $160.00 add $20.00 for online color* Back Inside Cover C 7.50x10.0 inches $290.00 Front Inside Cover C 7.50x10.0 inches $320.00 Back Inside Cover 1/2 page C Horizontal 7.50x4.90 inches $155.00 Front Inside Cover 1/2 page C Horizontal 7.50x4.90 inches $170.00 Back Outside Cover C 6.85x5.85 inches $215.00 (G=grayscale C=color) * Display of ads in color online magazine is free with a one-year, six-issue order. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners

CALENDAR OF EVENTS listings must reach the Calendar of Events Manager by posted deadlines. Listing is free. Listing of non-GSBF member club events is on a space available basis at the discretion of the Editor. Non-GSBF clubs within the GSBF boundary may require a listing fee.ARTICLES, announcements and photographs intended for publication in Golden Statements must reach the Editor by deadline (above). Golden Statements reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. It is assumed that any submissions made to Golden Statements may be published both on-line and in print.

TITLES such as Dr. are not used in by-lines. FOREIGN WORDS are used without dia-critic marks or macrons for Japanese. UNSIGNED ARTICLES are by the Editor.

GOLDEN STATE BONSAI FEDERATION, founded in 1978, is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to historical, scientific features and appreciation of the art of bonsai.Visit our web site at: www.gsbf-bonsai.org.

Golden Statements Jan/Feb 2010 Vol.XXXIII No. 1

Deadlines for ads, calendar of events, subscriptions, articles and photo submissions:

Jan/Feb issue deadline= Nov 20 Mar/Apr issue deadline= Jan 20 May/June issue deadline= Mar 20

July/Aug issue deadline= May 20 Sept/Oct issue deadline= July 20 Nov/Dec issue deadline= Sept 20

Editor:

Columnists: Subscription Manager: Advertising Manager: Calendar of Events Manager: Management Advisor: Printer: GS Web Designer:

“Golden State Bonsai Federation,” “GSBF,” and its logo are trademarks of Golden State Bonsai Federation. ©2009 GSBF All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted, copied, or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the Editor. Contributed articles express the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSBF Executive Board or the Editor.

GOLDEN STATEMENTS is published 6 times a year by GSBF. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATE: • Regular bulk mail within the States (US $20) • First Class- US, Canada, Mexico (US $35) • International via Air Mail (US $55)There are two ways to subscribe, take your pick:1) Use the following link to sign up and follow the prompts to pay for a subscription http://www.gsbf-bonsai.org/gsbfmag_subscribe.htmlor, 2) Provide your name, address and telephone number along with a check made out to: Golden Statement Mail to: Cindy Peterson, 7241 E. Rocky Ridge Dr., Tucson, AZ 85750 To avoid duplicate mailings, indicate “Renewal”. For an uninterrupted renewal subscriptions, your check must be received by the deadline listed above that occurs before the expiration date shown on the top line of your address label. Contact the Subscription Manager for subscription requests, address changes and corrections. Print copies of back issues are not available. There are plans to make back issues available for a fee in the future as archived pdfs.

GOLDEN STATE BONSAI FEDERATION OFFICERS

President: Bob Hilvers [email protected] 559-909-10511st Vice President: Gareth Shepherd [email protected] 831-688-96962nd Vice President: Abe Far [email protected] 619-234-3434 Corresponding Secretary: Cary S.Valentine [email protected] 760-445-2548Recording Secretary: Randi Keppeler [email protected] 650-598-0127Treasurer: Elizabeth Likes [email protected] 818-352-3064Comptroller: Mary Rowland [email protected] 707-585-2550Immediate Past Presidents: Ted Matson [email protected] 626-398-8412 Dolly Fassio [email protected] 530-295-0200 BOARD OF TRUSTEES A #1 Kirk Demarest [email protected] 530-680-8528 #2 Leo Martinez [email protected] 530-273-2628B #3 Mike Haley [email protected] 650-962-9336 #4 Linda Soliven [email protected] 925-776-2342C #5 Harold Mitchell [email protected] 559-297-8207 #6 Thomas Leonard [email protected] 831-423-6457D #7 Jack Reynolds [email protected] 760-397-8292 #8 John Van de Wouw [email protected] 310-543-2849E #9 Cary S.Valentine [email protected] 760-445-2548 #10 David Nguy [email protected] 323-223-9125MEMBERS AT LARGE: #11 Steve Valentine 760-445-2548 #12 Lonnie McCormick [email protected] 408-996-2954 #13 Mel Ikeda 714-957-3907 #14 Joe Byrd [email protected] 831-649-5934

COMMITTEES

Bonsai Basics: Steve Valentine 760-445-2548Bonsai Online Shopper: Michael Jonas 818-776-0813Circle of Sensei: Mel Ikeda 714-957-3907GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: Gordon Deeg [email protected] 650-341-8494GSBF Collection at the Huntington: Jim Barrett 626-445-4529Convention Briefi ng: Bob Hilvers 559-732-9286Elections: Cary S. Valentine 760-445-2548Giving Campaign: Lauri Feetham 408-274-7073Editor : Kathleen O’Donnell 916-448-6727Grants & Scholarships: Al Keppler [email protected] 559-227-5689Hotline: Joe Byrd 831-649-5934Insurance: Abe Far 619-234-3434GSBF Website Liaison: Joe Byrd [email protected] 831-649-5934Kinshu Award: Membership: Timm Johnson [email protected] 916-362-8147Parliamentarian: Art Tilles [email protected] 530-472-1533Offi cial Documents: Cary S. Valentine 760-445-2548Rules: Art Tilles 530-472-1533Workshops:

BONSAI COLLECTIONS

GSBF Collection at the Huntington Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108 Phone: 626-405-2100

GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, CA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 16176, Oakland, CA 94610-6176 Phone: 510-763-8409


GOLDEN STATE BONSAI FEDERATION OFFICERS

President: Bob Hilvers [email protected] 559-909-10511st Vice President: Gareth Shepherd [email protected] 831-688-96962nd Vice President: Abe Far [email protected] 619-234-3434 Corresponding Secretary: Cary S.Valentine [email protected] 760-445-2548Recording Secretary: Randi Keppeler [email protected] 650-598-0127Treasurer: Elizabeth Likes [email protected] 818-352-3064Comptroller: Mary Rowland [email protected] 707-585-2550Immediate Past Presidents: Ted Matson [email protected] 626-398-8412 Dolly Fassio [email protected] 530-295-0200 BOARD OF TRUSTEES A #1 Kirk Demarest [email protected] 530-680-8528 #2 Leo Martinez [email protected] 530-273-2628B #3 Mike Haley [email protected] 650-962-9336 #4 Linda Soliven [email protected] 925-776-2342C #5 Harold Mitchell [email protected] 559-297-8207 #6 Thomas Leonard [email protected] 831-423-6457D #7 Jack Reynolds [email protected] 760-397-8292 #8 John Van de Wouw [email protected] 310-543-2849E #9 Cary S.Valentine [email protected] 760-445-2548 #10 David Nguy [email protected] 323-223-9125MEMBERS AT LARGE: #11 Steve Valentine 760-445-2548 #12 Lonnie McCormick [email protected] 408-996-2954 #13 Mel Ikeda 714-957-3907 #14 Joe Byrd [email protected] 831-649-5934

COMMITTEES

Bonsai Basics: Steve Valentine 760-445-2548Bonsai Online Shopper: Michael Jonas 818-776-0813Circle of Sensei: Mel Ikeda 714-957-3907GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: Gordon Deeg [email protected] 650-341-8494GSBF Collection at the Huntington: Jim Barrett 626-445-4529Convention Briefi ng: Bob Hilvers 559-732-9286Elections: Cary S. Valentine 760-445-2548Giving Campaign: Lauri Feetham 408-274-7073Editor : Kathleen O’Donnell 916-448-6727Grants & Scholarships: Al Keppler [email protected] 559-227-5689Hotline: Joe Byrd 831-649-5934Insurance: Abe Far 619-234-3434GSBF Website Liaison: Joe Byrd [email protected] 831-649-5934Kinshu Award: Membership: Timm Johnson [email protected] 916-362-8147Parliamentarian: Art Tilles [email protected] 530-472-1533Offi cial Documents: Cary S. Valentine 760-445-2548Rules: Art Tilles 530-472-1533Workshops:

BONSAI COLLECTIONS

GSBF Collection at the Huntington Huntington Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108 Phone: 626-405-2100

GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, CA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 16176, Oakland, CA 94610-6176 Phone: 510-763-8409

Considering that this is my first GSBF President’s Message I’ve been wracking my brain to come up with the perfect words to deliver something profound and inspirational. Truth to tell, I’m not a very profound or inspirational guy. Therefore I was having a bit of trouble. However I finally realized that to find inspiration one needs to

look no further than GSBF itself. When I consider the complex corporation that GSBF has become over the years, I often wonder how we manage to operate at such a high level with only volunteer labor. The answer is that there are some very smart, very dedi-cated, and very talented folks working day in and day out to make it all happen and they are truly inspira-tional. During my tenure as Vice-President I had the good fortune of working with many of these talented people and I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to continue working with them during my term as President.

GSBF is in fact a multifaceted 24/7 operation that requires a level of commitment from the people that make it function that is equal to and often exceeds what is expected in private sector businesses. There are literally scores of very special people that deserve thanks and recognition for all that they do, and in future messages I plan to do just that. Right now I’d like to pay special attention to what I call the crown jewels of GSBF. I am speaking of Golden Statements magazine, the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt and the GSBF Collection at the Huntington. These three divisions of the many different functions that form the GSBF corporation, give voice and visual substance to our mission to educate and offer oppor-tunities for all to experience the art of bonsai. They are the conduits to the rest of the world that allows us to visually showcase the beauty of bonsai and to disseminate information regarding the myriad of op-portunities open to those interested in learning more about bonsai.

Editor Kathleen O’Donnell, and her professional staff at Golden Statements would be the envy of any national magazine publication yet these folks work their miracles, as volunteers, to produce what has become the new face of GSBF. Golden Statements, in its print and electronic versions, has introduced

a whole new generation of bonsai enthusiasts from around the world to the California perspective on bonsai and is helping GSBF re-establish itself as a preeminent bonsai organization.

I am constantly amazed by the dedication and resourcefulness of the folks that manage the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Whenever I’m confronted by what seems to be an insurmountable problem somewhere in GSBF, I take inspiration from the gang at Lake Merritt that a solution will be found. Chairperson Gordon Deeg, curator Kathy Shaner and the Collection at Lake Merritt committee take the insurmountable in stride and constantly find creative solutions to the problems encountered in the daily operation of a world class bonsai exhibit. They deliver a superior bonsai experience to uninitiated visitors and bonsai experts alike, and they do it with enthusi-asm and professionalism. While public bonsai collec-tions across the country teeter on the verge of extinc-tion, the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt continues to thrive. All due to some very smart, talented and dedicated volunteers.

I have to admit that I have a special place in my heart for the GSBF Collection at the Huntington and the folks that manage that collection. The bonsai exhibit and surrounding gardens at the Huntington is a magical place for anyone who loves bonsai. Chair-person Jim Barrett, curator Ben Oki and the Hun-tington Collection committee functions more like a family than a group of volunteers. They quietly and efficiently go about the business of showcasing world famous bonsai in a legendary location with an ease and grace that seems to harmonize with the inspira-tional and emotionally comforting aura that is ever present at the Huntington. It takes special people to understand the special nature of a thing and to nur-ture, preserve and present it in a manner that seems to allow the experience simply flow into visitors. GSBF is indeed fortunate to have such people volun-teer to manage the Collection at the Huntington.

Finally I would like to take a line or two to say thank you to one other inspirational person. That would be to say thanks to Ted Matson for leading GSBF through some very challenging times and for putting up with me for two years as his Vice-Presi-dent. I’ll do my best to carry through on the legacy of stewardship that Ted bequeathed to all of us in GSBF. Bob Hilvers

GSBF President’s Message, Bob Hilvers


or use the mail in Subscription/Renewal Form below. Along with your check made out to Golden Statements, please provide your Name: _________________________________________ Address:________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________ E-mail:__________________________________________ Primary Club affiliation:_________________________ Mail to: Cindy Peterson, Subscription Manager 7241 E. Rocky Ridge Drive Tucson, AZ 85750 Subscription Rates for one year (6 issue) • Regular - bulk mail (US $20) • First class in US, Canada, Mexico (US $35) • International via Air Mail (US $55) Please call Cindy at 520-299-5952 with any questions. or email her at: [email protected]

Subscribe to Golden Statements online at http://www.gsbf-bonsai.org/gsbfmag_subscribe.html

So what can you expect in this issue? Many photos chronicle events from the 2009

GSBF Convention in Riverside, CA. In last issue we gave you a tour of District A’s

Sebastopol area in Northern California. In this is-sue you’ll see articles designed to acquaint you with GSBF’s District E, with clubs in Southern California and affiliated clubs located in Tijuana, Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, and in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona

We are also fortunate to have instructive articles such as the one featuring District E Trustee, David Nguy on page 16, and stories that alert you to upcom-ing events you won’t want to miss. The Toko-Kazari competition at the Clark Center in Hanford, CA is just such an event. Our newly elected President and the Curator of the bonsai collection at the Clark Center, Bob Hilvers, does a great job explaining the exhibit’s significance on page 12. Mark your 2010 calendar now so you don’t miss Toko-Kazari on April 17th and 18th, 2010.

From issue to issue as subscribers or advertis-ers rise or fall it is reflected in the page count and amount of color. Subscriptions often take a cycli-cal dip this time of year as some people fall off the roles before they renew again. Therefore, this issue has 8 rather than 12 color pages. But an interesting and sweet phenomenon has taken place that I’d like to share with you. Four of our renewing subscribers wrote checks for $5 more than the cost of a subscrip-tion and noted it was a donation to keep the print magazine going. Wow! Thank you, it feels great to be valued and it could make a difference.

Ellen Kenehea receives her prize Photo: David Whiteside

Judges Michael Jonas, Gay Lynn Goetzke, and Ann

Hultgren reviewed GSBF Club newsletter entries submitted by clubs from every region.

The winners of the 2009 competition were: Nina Ragle for California Aiseki Kai in the large newsletter category, and Ellen Keneshea for Descanso Bonsai Society for the small newsletter classification.

Fred and Dolly Fassio from Enchanted Gardens - El Dorado Bonsai provided the generous prizes. Winners received tool rolls filled with quality stainless steel bonsai tools. To com-

pete in next years competition, GSBF clubs whose dues are current, are invited to send their monthly newsletters to Michael Jonas at [email protected] since Michael will coordinate the competition again next year.

While we can’t promise finding sponsors as generous as the Fassio’s, we hope GSBF club participation in the contest will grow. Here are some of the criteria used when judging the GSBF Newsletter Competition. • Club news content, including coverage of past meet-ings and the upcoming meeting.

• Monthly calendar of club events, including other local clubs and area functions.

• Bonsai articles such as tips and hints in bonsai care and other information on bonsai technique.

• General interest articles, including news about club members.

• General layout, including logo, photos, and other art work.

• Club information, including: 1- Meeting location, date and time, 2- Contact list of club officers and phone numbers, 3- Newsletter editors name and telephone number.

Newsletters are judged in two categories. Large newsletters, with an average of more than 4 pages and small newsletters with averages of 4 pages or less.

Michael Jonas honors Nina Ragle Photo: Pete Camarena

Editor’s Desk by Kathleen O’Donnell 2009 Newsletter Contest


Seasonal Suggestions: Idle Time

by Marty Mann No. 121

January/February 2010

time of brittle branches on most varieties of trees.

See the fine ramification of the branches and the clearly defined lines of the trunk and primary branches. Begin to selectively prune the lengths of the primary branches. Compare the relationships of secondary and tertiary branches in order to establish clean designs that enhance the style and stature of your specimens. It’s a wonderful time to photograph de ciduous trees to build a historical record of the changes that take place as the tree ages. Keep bonsai in a dormant stage as much as possible by controlling water and light conditions that en courages premature growth. Cooler winter nights can contribute a risk of losing early bud development.

Wire may have been applied during winter months when branches were free of foliage and more visible. Be careful of brittle wood. Keep an eye on this new wire during the last weeks of February or early March when new growth begins. The expansion of the woody growth can quickly consume the wire and cause permanent scar damage. Remember to look for faults in the basic design such as crossing branches, bar branches, sharp angular or ladder like branches.

Since the tendency at this time of year (during dormancy) is to ignore normal bonsai care, don’t per-mit yourself to stop the constant process of watching for insect or fungus activities that silently harm the trees. Aphids, in particular, become active as soon as the weather turns slightly warm. Look out for these destructive wingless creatures that damage plants by sucking the juice out of new growth, causing twisting and curling effects.

There are three kinds of aphids-the bright green, the yellowish melon and the reddish brown, almost black variety. The nymphs are usually yellow-green and the adults are dark green. Control is relatively easy with most of the common brands of insecticides. Follow label di rec tions to get the best results.

This article has been extracted from a recently published book called ‘Bonsai Ideas’©. By Marty Mann. Material is not to be copied without publisher or author’s permission.

The holidays have passed and our attention can now be diverted from family fun, travel, visitors and all those great end-of-year activities. It’s time again to look at the calm winter sky, let the trees remain still - and plan ahead for spring

You put most of your trees to bed for a winter rest. It would appear that all you have to do is wait for spring to come. In the world of bonsai “is just isn’t so”.....no Idle Time.

January is the “beginning-of-the-year” month. Bonsai people start with an eager outlook for a new spring season by getting ready in advance and under-standing what can and should be done at this time.

Remember that the soil mixes in your potted trees have been inactive due to the cooler weather of the past few months. The soil bacteria, in its dormant state, have not been providing any nitrogen to these growing plants while they rested.

Now is the time to plan ahead for your supplies of fertilizers. You will be re suming your feeding sched-ules in late February. This is the time to do your clean up chores. Remove all the winter trash around the work area as well as on your potted trees and growing stock. This is the best way to prevent infestation of insects and fungus diseases. Don’t throw any of this late winter trash into your compost heap since it may be infectious. It’s safer to throw it away.

It’s the best season to study plant designs. Spend some serious time with each of your trees by a care-ful review of the branch structures, the trunk lines and their placement and relationship. In the case of deciduous trees, you can see them clearly without the disguise of a blanket of leaves that hide their faults and problem areas. Remember the basic bonsai design principals of crossing branches, bars, angles, eleva-tions, relation ships to the trunk movement and the important points that distinguish your tree’s quality from just any other bonsai. Your study may disclose the need to re-wire and reposition various branches. Do so with great care since the dormant season is a

Golden Statements invites people with bonsai knowledge or adventures to contribute articles. Unfortunately we can’t compensate writers or photographers so making the contribution has to be its own reward. If interested please send articles and photos to: [email protected]

Seasonal Suggestions


GSBF Grants & Scholarships• Bonsai Teachers Development Program: • GSBF Plant -A-Seed Program

Article by Cary S. Valentine with Maria Barbosa

As a District E Trustee, a rewarding part of my job is finding qualified applicants for the various grants that GSBF has to offer. San Diego Bonsai club’s won-derful education department made my task of finding several qualified individuals very easy.

The two individuals that were selected are Gary Jones and Andy Amos. Having worked with each of them for several years now, I know they well deserve the recognition. I have watched them grow, learn, and help others in our bonsai club.

Gary Jones recipient of The Bonsai Teachers Development Program Grant

Gary Jones, has been in San Diego Bonsai Club for 12 years. In this time he has grown and

participated in our club in many ways. He has provided demonstra-tions at the Del Mar Fair, for Garden Clubs and Scout Troops, and helped out in many ways at our club’s Spring and Fall Bonsai Shows. Gary has also volunteered and helped with the construction of the new SDBC Bonsai Pavilion located at the Wild Animal Park. He has worked with one of our member, Bill Murphy, giving many demonstrations on Tecate Cypresses. Additionally, Gary has participated in many monthly SDBC work-shop programs. These programs which focused on educating club members, included Jim Gremmel’s raffia and

twisting of stock material, Fred Miyahara’s grafting experience, and Doug Phillips’ olives over a board. Gary also works at Fred Miyahara’s place with Kenji

Miyata four times a year. Gary completed the Mas Takanashi grant in which he worked one-on-one with mentors of our SDBC learning the basics of bonsai. He is the Vice-President of Education for SDBC and is responsible for setting up the club’s monthly classes for beginners and intermediate members, using dif-ferent trees and materials to stimulate their interest and desire to know more about the art and culture of bonsai. The SDBC and I can always count on Gary to help out and mentor. He has learned so much and will learn even more by getting the GSBF Bonsai Teachers Development Program grant. I know he will give back to the clubs ten-fold.

Andy Aman recipient of a Plant -A-Seed Grant

The second GSBF award went to a wonderful young man named Andy Aman, whose interest in bonsai just keeps growing. As we all know, it is the younger kids that we must get interested in bonsai to keep this wonderful living art growing. Andy is our youngest San Diego Bonsai Club member at 13 years

of age. Before find-ing SDBC, Andy searched out bonsai books at his local library and book stores. So you can imagine how thrilled he was when his mother found the SDBC. Now he takes advantage of

the club’s vast library and checks bonsai books out reading them cover to cover. This is a young man who would rather read bonsai books than play video games!

Andy has taken the SDBC beginners class and now regularly takes our monthly intermediate classes. He also participates in club outings, such as olive digs. His mom has told me he is an “A” student in Junior High School , and won a second place ribbon in the 2008 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair,

and in 2009, won a first place ribbon.

I have added Andy’s thank you letter as he wanted it sent on to GSBF, as you can see he is very thankful for his Plant-a-Seed grant.

Gary Jones receiving his check

Andy Aman receiving his check from GSBF Trustee Cary Sullivan

Gary assisting others in a workshop

Andy styling workshop material into bonsai

Special from GSBF’s District E


“Thank you very much GSBF for giving me the Plant-a-Seed grant. The money I received will go into paying for raffle tickets that help the club raise money for the bonsai pavilion at the Wild Animal Park. I have been fortunate to have won many pots and plants from the drawing. The grant will also be used for my tuition into intermediate workshops where you get a tree along with instruction on what to do with it. I appreciate the help other club members give me, such as lending a tool or giving me valuable advice. Since I got the grant I was thinking about more advanced trees that I could try new things on such as jining. I look forward to working with other club members and learning more about Bonsai.

Thank you again, Andy Aman”

As you all can see, these awards were a great investment in GSBF’s future, and the future of bonsai in general. For more information on Grants from GSBF, go to the GSBF website under Education or contact Al Keppler, Program Chairman, [email protected] or call him at 559-227-5689

GSBF Convention Coverage District Styling Competition Photos by Michael Jonas

District D Team

District E Team

District A Team

District C Team

District B Team

A: Vince Owyoung, Gary Judd, Scott ChaddB: John Thompson, Gerry Fields, Peter TeaC: Ann Erb, Al Keppler, Bob Hilvers D: Travis Goldstein, John Wang, Marcus Juniel E: Mel Ikeda, Tak Shimazu, David Nguy, Peter Macasieb

The Entries:

The boxwood ma-terial presented to the teams for the styling competition wasn’t grown as bonsai stock. In reality it was free material found in the gutter, a fact that helped provide the teams with the classic challenge of making the best out of what they were handed.

The competition was lively, and at one point the audience started breaking into cheering sections for their repre-sentative districts. For example, Lucy Judd a re-tired coach, led District ‘A’ supporters in a cheer that included performing ‘the wave’ seen at sport-ing events.

Districts A & E out-did themselves by repot-ting their trees. District E took it even further, dressing their tree with moss and displaying it on a stand.

The winning entry came from District E’s team led by David Nguy, whose trees have been on the cover of past issues of Golden Statements, and who is featured in an article on page 16.

While competition was spirited it was all in good fun. The trees were auctioned off to the highest bidders.

District D’s finished tree

District E’s finished tree

District C’s finished tree

District B’s finished tree

District A’s finished tree


potatoes. Over dinner, Carlos, Ricardo and Chiara discussed different viewpoints on aesthetics of suise-ki. They discussed thoughts about Chinese stones and the book Worlds within Worlds: The Richard Rosenblum Collection of Chinese Scholar Rocks by Robert D. Mowry.

The next day, our last day in Tuscany, we spent basking in the hot springs at the Saturnia spa, out-doors in the sunshine. Later we toured the Etruscan tombs at Sovana, then had lunch in San Martin sul Fiora at a tavern. The lunch included gnocchi, as well as prosciutto. The olive oil came from olives grown by the proprietors, and the procsciutto from the pigs they raised. Before heading to Civitavecchia to catch the ferry for Sicily, we strolled in Pitagliano and bought some white wine. This medieval town is perched high on a mountain with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

After an overnight trip on the ferry, the Tenacia, we landed in Palermo, Sicily. Highlights included viewing the mosaics at the Cathedral of Monreal, eat-ing gelato in the coastal town of Cefalu, touring Mi-ano brothers nursery near TorraGrotte with its mag-nificent bonsai stock, followed by eating pastries and granitas. Later we visited Dominico “ Mimmo”Abate’s private collection of stones, and left our stones with him for the show. His stone (below) was judged best stone at the show.

Mimmo was our guide the next day as we hiked in the moun-tains. The beech trees at high el-evation grew like clump style bonsai, and there was a twist-ed crabapple

tree with jin from the harsh winters. Under the beech forest bloomed tiny pink and white cyclamen. In the creek bed, Chiara pointed out the likely rock strata that would yield good palombino for suiseki. We saw wild boar, and a herd of goats with their bells. Lunch at a restaurant next to a cow pasture in the middle of nowhere---included a mushroom timbale appetizer, selection of local pasta including mushroom fettucine, eggplant involtini, and a pistachio lasagna that was delicious. Since there were 5 of us we ordered all 5 desserts and tasted all of them—blueberries with ice cream, chocolate flan, ricotta cheesecake, pistachio flan, and almond flan!

After our last morning of stone hunting in the

by Kathy Coffman

This year Chiara Padrini’s Suiseki class headed to Tuscany for 3 days and Sicily for 5 days to search for stones and view private stone collections. Some of us also participated in the Messina Bonsai Club’s first interregional exhibition of bonsai and international suiseki in Roccavaldina.

For those of you that think you can not afford to go do this, bear in mind that the stone farmhouse where we stayed in Tuscany charged 55 Euros per night, about $75 for the room including breakfast and a 4 course dinner! The Bed and Breakfast in Sic-ily cost 30 Euros per night, about $45 that included room, breakfast and a light dinner –either salad with a selection of cheese, or horno baked pizza with fresh porcini mushrooms picked that day, and homemade gelato in many flavors !

On the first day of hiking in Tuscany, we were treated to a lunch cooked for the class out in the woods by our local guide, Claudio Patalucchi, his wife Maria and friend Franco. This 4 course meal lasted from 1 pm until 4 pm, and included pasta, beef, pork ribs and sausages, with potato fries laced with sage and rosemary cooked over an open fire. We finished with Vin Santo and some special corn meal cookies from Valchiusella, Ms. Padrini’s village in northern Italy. We found some nice stones, and the lunch was a big hit with the class. The stones were blue-grey or even green-gray palombino limestone.

The second day in Tuscany we hiked the hills of a sheep ranch, and found many nice stones. Carlos Galli was our guide, and showed us his private collection of stones-one shaped like a rooster, the meaning of his name. Our biggest surprise was the ladies of the family on the ranch cooking lunch for us, including rigatoni with tomato sauce, pork steak, sausage and the Tuscan bread with pecorino cheese and home-made raspberry jam. Dessert was cake with chocolate frosting, and coffee with a splash of grappa, of course!

Back at the farmhouse, Ms. Padrini gave an informal slide show and discussion on the display of suiseki. Later we watched as friends of the propri-etor, Ricardo, flew their hunting falcon before dinner. That night we feasted on pasta with eggplant, roasted chicken, and lamb grilled in the Sardinian style with

Bonsai and Suiseki in Italy


mountains, we went to the show opening at an old convent in the afternoon. The stones and trees were very high quality. The winning tree was a massive old olive with driftwood, owned by Muccio Antonino di Avola, and the runner up was a cork bark oak with leaves as small as my thumbnail, shown by Sebana Ac-cetta di Barcellona. One hollow tree bonsai was hung with green olives.

The Messina Bonsai Club treated us to dinner nearby. We feasted on the seafood Sicily is famous for including a whole table of appetizers: shrimp,

scallops, calamari, sardines, and octopus, sweet and sour egg-plant, as well as many other local specialties, such as grilled sword-fish. They wondered if we came for the hiking, the stones or the food!

The stones were very high quality, and the stone Chiara Padrini exhibited was from Sicily, with more gentle contours than stones from further north in Tuscany or Liguria.

So, for those con-sidering whether to take a trip with Chiara Padrini, by all means go-you will not regret it. She is a marvelous host and knowledge-able teacher, scouts all locations personally and carefully attends to all the details to ensure a memorable visit.

In fact if you are feeling regretful that you missed out, consider going with Chiara Padrini on the BCI VIP Tour to

Olive (oleaster) Muccio Antonino di Avola

Cork Oak ( quercus suber) Sebano Accetta di Barcellona

Sicilian Palombino Chiara Padrini

China next fall, September 30-October 12th, visiting Guangzhou, Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Yangzhou, Beijing and Tianjin. For information: [email protected]

The group tour includes 6 exhibitions: Chencun the World of Flowers - bonsai/suiseki exhibitions, Nanjing Bonsai Club exhibition, an Exhibition in Yi-xing Pot Museum with visit to the pot factory, Bonsai Museum in Yangzhou with exhibition and demonstra-tion, Stone Culture Art Center in Beijing for viewing stone appreciation and BCI Exhibition and conven-tion 2010 in Tianjin with bonsai/suiseki exhibition!

There will also be sightseeing such as the Forbid-den City and the Great Wall, as well as the Summer Palace and boat cruises on the Qinhuai River and Slender West Lake, along with lectures. Estimated tour cost is around 1300 Euro, or roughly $1700, not including airfare to China. Considering what is included, this is an amazing value. Prior to this trip there will be a Bonsai tour to Vietnam September 26 –29th, organized by Chiara Padrini with Bonsaitour Vietnam Ltd.

Telperion Farms Dedicated to growing trees specially for bonsai

Featuring field-grown material:

• Japanese Black Pine • Scots Pine

• Shimpaku • Japanese Larch

• Maples • Chinese Elms

• Crabapples • Quince

• Imported Specimen Satsuki and 90 varieties of satsuki whips in development

Over 50 other species of trees available

We are a full-service bonsai resource offering pots, tools, soils & wire. Kanuma, aksdama, yamagoke, black lava rock.

Open to the public by appointment only

(503) 859-3697 (503) 881-1147

www.telperionfarms.com [email protected]


photos courtesy of Pete Camarena

GSBF President Ted Matson took op-portunity to recognize what in many cases were lifetime achievements of people like Bob Gould, Joe James, and Marty Mann. Along with Mel Ikeda he further honored the con-tributions of bonsai teachers who joined the esteemed ranks of GSBF’s Circle of Sensei. Ted thanked his Convention Co-Chair Mary Forbes and welcomed incoming GSBF Presi-dent Bob Hilvers. While Seiji Shiba presided over the installation of the 2010 GSBF Board.

Bob Gould Circle of Sensei, Fred Miyahara, Mel Ikeda and Mas Ishii. with Ted Matson. Honoree Jimmy Inadomi, was unable to attend.

Joe James Marty Mann

Abe Far, Al Keppler, Scott Chadd, Mary Rowland were thanked for service Ted presented Bonsai Basics Teacher Certifications to Hozy McCarter, Elsie Andrade, and David Meyer.

Seiji Shiba introduces the newly installed GSBF board Steve Valentine, Gareth Shepherd, Bob Hilvers, Abe Far, Elizabeth Likes, Ted Matson, Mary Rowland, Kirk Demarest, Mike Haley, Linda Soliven, David Nguy, Lonnie McCormick, Mel Ikeda Cary Sullivan (blocked from view)- Seiji Shiba.

Ted thanks Convention Co-Chair Mary Forbes

Ted Matson welcomes incoming GSBF President, Bob Hilvers

GSBF Awards Dinner


Toko-Kazari Competition Curator’s Introduction by Bob Hilvers

In order for us to fully appreciate any art form it must be presented in a manner that allows us to completely perceive every aspect of the beauty that it has to offer. The art of bonsai employs this precept to a greater degree than perhaps any other art. Properly designed and well crafted bonsai are a marvel in the study of minimalism. The very shape and characteristics of individual bonsai provide the subtle clues that allow our imagination to conger a mind’s-eye vision of nature unfolding. Spreading roots firmly gripping the earth supporting thick trunks that rise to an expansive canopy of branches gives the image of a hale and hearty monarch of the forest. Long dead and broken branches on twisted and scarred trunks with sparse foliage tell the tale of a life spent battling the elements on a windy, storm battered shore. Rot-hollowed trunks speak of ruinous old age, struggling in the twilight of life. All these images and more provide us with a window on the infinite processes of nature. However a bonsai, no matter how evocative its image, cannot be fully appreciated until it is properly displayed. It has been proposed that the most beautiful bonsai in the world planted in an old tin can would not generate the level of appreciation that a lesser tree planted in a proper bonsai container would. This, of course, is an accurate observation and speaks volumes about the importance of how bonsai are displayed.

As the art of bonsai evolved, so did the manner of displaying them. We can determine from pictorial records that early versions of bonsai were kept and displayed in gardens and court yards. It is believed that the purpose for these early bonsai was primarily decorative, but it is also known that a spiritual

significance was attached to trees collected from the wild and then grown in containers. During the later portion of the Tokugawa or Edo period (1603-1867) poets and artist-scholars, also known as Literati, used their bonsai as objects of meditation. In the early 1900’s bonsai began to be displayed in the tokonoma (an alcove in the wall of traditional Japanese homes used for the display of objects of spiritual significance, and art or family heirlooms). As time passed, bonsai began to be appreciated for their individual beauty as well as their spiritual value. Trees became the central object in the tokonoma and subsidiary objects such as scrolls and small plantings were added to emphasize

the beauty of the bonsai. As the popularity of bonsai grew, additional methods of display and exhibition were developed.

Large public exhibitions that permit the viewing of literally hundreds of trees became a practical approach to accommodate the large numbers of people that wished to experience the beauty of bonsai. However, in exhibit hall presentations with row upon row of bonsai the individual story of each tree is somewhat diluted. Only in a tokonoma can bonsai realize the greatest potential for reflecting the diversity of nature and achieve the broadest scope of aesthetic expression.

Only in a tokonoma can the concept of harmonious compositional display enhanced by seasonal, spiritual and emotional themes provide a richer visual experience than the tree alone. A tokonoma display draws the individual viewer, though they may be surrounded by a throng of others, into the scene. It provides infinity in a defined space wherein we can lose ourselves in the moment of the experience. Tokonoma displays of bonsai are in fact, vignettes of the spirituality of nature and therefore life itself. They are wordless poems, voiceless songs; that transform the individual objects used in their creation into living pictures of beauty that resonate in our hearts and


mind. They allow us to experience the wonderment of possibilities, that beckon to us from the faintly perceived edge of our imagination.

Indeed the arrangement of objects exhibited in a tokonoma has become an art unto itself. The school of Keido, “the way of looking at things”, provides us with the principles of creating a display in a limited space, as seen from a Japanese perspective. Combining suiseki (unaltered naturally formed stones that suggest landscape features and other subjects such as boats, huts, and animals) or bonsai, with scrolls of calligraphy or paintings, and Shitakusa (small container-plantings of grasses and other native plants used as accents), Keido offers a method of translating long standing cultural ideals and spiritual concepts of nature into simple depictions of beauty. Yet they are also deeply evocative. They entice the viewer to contemplation with layer upon subtle layer of profound and elegant themes.

As with all human experience artistic creativity, cultural perceptions and aesthetic values change and evolve with time and proliferation. The art of bonsai and bonsai display have transcended cultural origins and are now practiced worldwide. Cultural concepts aside, the inherent universal appeal of bonsai, and bonsai display is that it affords the opportunity to embrace the beauty, mystery and drama of the natural world presented to us through the creative vision of the artist in a very direct way. The items used to create bonsai displays are not abstract representations or impressionistic images. They are actual living entities and natural artifacts. They permit a closer and more tangible experience than two dimensional representations or sculptures created by using manufactured materials.

The uniquely Eastern approach of using natural objects, such as bonsai and suiseki to evoke, express, and communicate entices us to interpret what we perceive in a very personal, interactive and of course, cultural way. While it is true that individuals are most definitely influenced by their respective cultures, it is also true that certain concepts and values are universal. Only the means of expressing them differ. When aesthetic forms originating in one culture are adopted and then practiced by another, the results are often insipid and uninspiring. A period of adaptation, experimentation, intellectual and aesthetic growth must take place for the traditional form of expression to find resonance in a different culture. The Toko-Kazari exhibition of bonsai,

presented in tokonoma displays at the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, is a tentative step toward exploring and promoting an understanding of the possibilities available to the creative minds involved in the global bonsai experience. It is an opportunity to present a method of bonsai display unfamiliar to Western culture. Doing so provides the opportunity to experience new aesthetic concepts while enjoying unexpected beauty. Additionally it gives artists the opportunity to expand their aesthetic abilities and incorporate new cultural ideas that perhaps result in something different from a traditional cultural interpretation.

The Clark Center is pleased that the first Toko-Kazari provided aesthetic delight to visitors, challenged artists to explore an unfamiliar art form and presented the possibilities of aesthetic expression that lie within the art of tokonoma display. The next Toko-Kazari to be held

on April 17-18 of 2010 promises to offer additional opportunities to continue to explore the art of bonsai display, and enjoy unexpected beauty.

photos courtesy of The Clark Center

To get involved in the next Kazari, contact Bob Hilvers at 559-582-4915

or [email protected]


People to Watch:

Others to thank:

People we’ll miss:

Scott Chadd and Bolet Salvador with Lotus Bonsai Nursery and Gardens just received information that good friend and Bonsai Bouzu, Takahiro Mori, who has been visit-ing the United States to work on their Bonsai,

and that of their clients for the last four years, has been appointed as one of the docent/bonsai stylists to work in the newly opened Omiya Village Bonsai Museum.

This is a premier location for nationally recognized Bonsai in Japan, and it will be a great honor for Taka to be able to work and care for these masterpiece Bonsai.

For this reason Taka’s visit in 2010 is suspended. As those of you who have worked with Taka know, he is a kind and gentle, highly skilled Bonsai artist.

This opportunity is a recognition of the talent that many of us have had the privilege to view, first hand. He hopes that everyone understands that he has accepted this appointment in order to continue improving his already considerable Bonsai skills. He sees this, as we do, as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” that he could not pass up.

Scott and Bolet told Taka that they would inform his followers here in the U.S. of this new direction his life is taking. Scott and Bolet say that Taka will return; and when that happens he will make our trees even more beautiful and dramatic. They plan to stay in touch with Taka and keep us posted on his progress.

Taka Mori

Joanie Berkwitz, Craig Berkwitz and Tara Cobb shown here working the Registration Desk. A big thank you to the numerous folks who helped in any capacity with the convention. Photo: Pete Camarena

Mortimer J. Lowy: A Kind Man of Many Talents

Mortimer, Mort to everyone who knew him, was a multi-talented person who was always intellectually active, even up to moment that he died in his home while doing a crossword puzzle. Mort died peacefully after a

short illness. Born on November 15, 1920, Mort lived to be 88 years of age. He passed on Thursday, November 12th and would have turned 89 on the following Sunday, which was the day of his funeral. Mort served as a GSBF Trustee for District D, was a board member for the GSBF Collection at the Huntington and was a docent, working with long time friend, Ben Oki, on the Collection.

Mort was a long time member of Sansui-Kai of Southern California, Descanso Bonsai Society, Ko Yu Kai shohin club and was a member of a couple of Satsuki Bonsai clubs.

Mort was born in Chicago and as a child of five, Mort was offered a scholarship to study the piano, but due to a freak accident with a washing machine, Mort lost several fingers of his left hand. This might have slowed most people down, but not Mort. He next was offered a scholarship to study the trumpet, then attend-ed college on a scholastic scholarship and was graduated an aeronautical engineer. During that same time he met and married his beloved wife, Sunny, to whom he was married for 64 years. Though Sunny died last year, Mort continued to be active in the bonsai community.

Mort moved to Los Angeles in 1946 and during the 15 years that he worked for Douglas Aircraft, as head of the structural research department, he led a team that did the first feasibility research into glide re-entry, which formed the basis of the technology used for the space shuttle.

At the funeral a grandchild spoke, saying that Mort always had a ready answer to any question he had. The bonsai community will miss Mort, his knowledge, his enthusiasm and his likeable presence.

Michael Jonas

Mort Lowy


Hornbeam, Walt Brainerd Shohin display, Ann Hultgren

Azalea, Walt Brainerd

Japanese Maple, Gary and Lucy Judd

Japanese Maple, Timm Johnson

Lantana, Ron Krause Ilex Serrata (Burgundy Lace), Ken Okimura

Hornbeam, Gary Soler

Hime Kazan (Satsuki), Walt Brainerd

Akemi No Tsuki (Satsuki on a rock), Walt Brainerd

California juniper, Vince Owyoung

Shimpaku juniper on Murphys Stone, Ron Shimizu

Olive, Vince Owyoung

Persimmon w/accent, Gary and Lucy Judd

Pomegranate w/accent, Gary and Lucy Judd

Bald Cypress, Kay Kadoya

Shohin Black Pine, Gary and Lucy Judd

Boxwood, Timm Johnson

Ginkgo, Walt Brainerd

Capital City Bonsai ShowA Fundraiser for GSBF

Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt

photos by Lucy Sakaishi-Judd

Threadleaf False Cypress, Timm Johnson

White Pine, Gary and Lucy Judd


David Nguy’s In the Groove with California JuniperArticle and Photos by Carol Upston

David Nguy and his lovely wife June are serious bonsai artists and generous supporters of the GSBF and the bonsai community in general.

In recent years David has been demonstrating a technique he began developing about 7 years ago which could be very useful to those of us grappling with the styling of California junipers.

Many of us have collected or acquired California junipers which, although healthy are lacking interesting move-ment. David Nguy has developed and demon-strated a useful technique for radically but safely changing the form of these trees by separating the upper trunk from the dead wood, hollowing out and thinning the live vein and inserting a large wire inside the trunk to enable it to be bent extremely but safely. In the example tree, there is nice move-ment in the base of the trunk but then a long straight zone that David would like to separate and bend to improve the design.

The juniper to be bent must be healthy and adapted to being in a pot. David begins by carefully studying and revealing the live vein(s) Caution: the cambium layer on Califor-nia junipers is very thin and it’s easy to remove just a little too much bark and damage or remove areas of the cambium inadvertently.

He studies the live vein carefully and slowly removes fine strips of outer bark if necessary, using a small chisel. It’s imperative to be able to see the exact size and posi-tion of the live vein.

David begins by separating the live vein from the dead wood.

Please note that he has several people assisting him by supporting the separated upper trunk and keeping

the lower trunk base from moving around and dam-aging the roots. Wooden blocks are also used to hold apart the split.

If you’re doing this yourself, you must tie or wire the tree firmly in the pot and support the sepa-rated upper trunk another way.

Using a large root cut-ter, the living vein along with a thin layer of dead wood is split from the main area of dead wood. Important: David always includes a protective layer of dead wood attached to the live vein as he splits it to protect it. This will be gradually removed later.

As he splits the live vein from the trunk he uses blocks of wood and his helpers’ hands to keep the split open and to help support the newly floppy live part of the trunk.

The live vein can be split with a root cutter, chisel, wedges, or a reciprocating type of power saw, just be very careful to stay away from the live material.

In the Groove at this point, the dead wood and heartwood behind the live vein must be

A California Juniper before any work has begun

David Nguy

David begins to split the live vein from the dead wood.

The trunk splitting.

Using a small rotary tool with a thin bit, David removes the remaining dead wood carefully from the live vein.

David carefully begins to carve out a groove inside the upper trunk where he will insert the interior wire.

The finished groove.

The No. 6 aluminum wire has been laid into the groove.

With the wire in the groove, David begins to reinforce the main trunk at the point where the live vein separates from it.



thinned to be flexible and hollowed out to accept a reinforcing wire.

Using a small rotary carving tool alternating with branch cutters, David carefully removes the dead wood still attached to the live vein.

He switches to a larger rotary tool with a small round burr bit to thin and hollow out from the back of the live vein. The split is kept open with wood blocks or extra hands. This process continues until the live vein is thin enough to bend and the groove along its length is deep enough to easily accept a piece of no. 6 wire. The wood on the interior of the live vein should be no more than 3/8 inch thick.

This tree has a forking trunk vein and David thins and carves a groove into both of the forks although he may eventually keep only one.

Carefully he lays a length of no. 6 aluminum wire into the carved groove. On the main trunk at the base of the split, David wraps nursery tape tightly around the trunk to keep that area from damage during bending. Beginning in this same area, large bunches of clean wet raffia are wrapped very thickly and tightly around the main trunk, through the split and up the entire length of the thinned upper trunk, encasing the

The large hanks of wet, clean raffia are wound around the main trunk, through the branch split and up the separated upper trunk.

Bunches of raffia are added in as needed and the whole upper trunk is wrapped thickly and very tightly.

Wire is attached around the main trunk and wrapped up the branch. At the same time, David is beginning to flex, stretch and bend the upper trunk.

Continuing to bend

a second wire has been added and the final bending is done.

A design decision is made and David removes one of the forks from the end of the upper trunk.

internal wire within the groove.

A large wire is secured at the base of the split and David starts to wind the wire up the upper trunk. Important: As he wires, he is flexing the branch and beginning to coax it into its new position. By the time the wire reaches the top the branch is at least halfway to its new position.

A second wire is applied and at the same time the bend is completed. The newly curved trunk is wired to the main trunk to keep it in place.

When the trunk has reached it’s new position it is kept in place with a loop of wire attaching it to the lower trunk.

Although David has had almost no losses of trees after doing this, he emphasizes that after-care is very important. He keeps bent trees under observation in a shaded area for at least two weeks before moving them into the sun.

When the tree has set in its new position – usually after one year – David unwraps the bent area and removes the interior wire. Continue to support the bent trunk with a tie wire as it heals and the

Finished front pictured above cambium grows to cover the groove.

David hopes that many people will use this bending technique to create bonsai designs that would be otherwise impossible and to utilize fully the wonderful asset of California Junipers.

Finished back


GSBF Convention 2009 Suiseki

Exhibit Photos by Michael Jonas To see more suiseki from the exhibit go to: http://www.aisekikai.com/resources/november+newsletter+09.pdf

Kathy Shaner, Foemina Juniper Demo at Convention Photos by Michael Jonas

Hanne Povlsen Bruce McGinnis Hanne Povlsen Hanne Povlsen

Hanne Povlsen Larry Ragle

Larry Ragle

Paul Vasina

Paul Vasina Larry Ragle

The work begins. The apex and stubs are jinned. Greg Goh applies wire.

Sensing the internal cracking of the branch.

Bamboo here to hold the new branch position.

Refinement continues. The results are exquisite.


A detailed sheet on trees appears on page 30.

California juniper David Nguy

far right

Twisted pomegranate Jim Barrett

right

Brazilian pepper Gary Lai

Silverberry Marybel Balendonck

White pine Gary Judd

Sierra juniper John Wang

Blue Atlas cedar Ann Erb

California juniper Harry Hirao

Shimpaku juniper Roy Nagatoshi

Pine Boon Manakitivipart

Olive Ted Matson

California juniper Paul DeRose

Live oak Katsumi Kinoshita

Chinese elm Scott Chadd

Olive Leila Kusumi

GSBF Convention 2009 Exhibit

Photos by Michael Jonas

California juniper The Clark Center

Redwood Bob Shimon

Manzanita Lindsay Shiba

Virginia creeper Kathy Benson

Prostrata juniper Hank Sugimoto

Seiji Shiba’s CA juniper appears on the cover


Marin Bonsai Club Show

Asian PearCalifornia juniper

Olive

Larch

Chinese wisteria Gingko

Japanese black pine

English hawthorn Japanese maple

Itoigawa juniper

Pyracantha

Photos by Craig Thompson

Beech

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Peter Adams Seminar Convention 2009 Photos by Michael Jonas

GSBF 2009 Convention Headliner Roy Nagatoshi creates harmony photos by Michael Jonas

Roy's completed demo tree is a CA juniper that was grafted with Kishu Shimpaku about 20 years ago. Roy doesn't remember whether his father, Shigeru (Shig) Nagatoshi, or he, did the grafting. At the convention Roy styled it with two potential fronts.

It was potted in a stately, antique, rectangular Chinese pot and was auctioned at the Saturday night dinner.

Roy’s grafted Shimpaku will become a beautiful show tree for its new owner.

During his seminar, Peter Adams talked about taking trees to the next stage of development and used his wonderful ability to illustrate the future development of each tree with his drawings and extensive horticultural commentary. This involved some successful outcomes and sometimes hilarious pitfalls, resulted in a lot of laughter and shared knowledge.

Mario Pineda’s big Japanese Black Pine had received great care for years, but needed some lightening particularly in the upper parts. Peter stressed how this was done by shortening the terminals and then by lightly removing some foliage to en-courage inner budding. After a typical area was treated, the difference was obvious and provided a viable platform for future development. Peter recommended that the tree not be stripped back, which would have slowed down the next generation of development. The tree came out look-ing pretty close to the rough sketch. The recommended replacement, in an unglazed rectangle pot with a “kiln-smoke” finish in red and black oxides, was discussed at length.

Bob Hilvers’ delightful little Gowen Cypress had great charisma and all the at-traction of a wild tree. It was quite an old tree and various options were discussed before this graphic solution was suggested, which featured this fabulous little round pot shown in the drawing.

Peter Adams November 2009


The California Juniper featured in this article was dug from the Mojave Desert nearly twenty years ago and is well acclimated to life as a bonsai. The tree was in the care of Sensei John Uchida at Grove Way Bonsai Nursery until my friend and client purchased it three years ago. Recently, I was tasked with its com-plete re-styling.

When I initial-ly reviewed the tree, I learned that the Califor-nia Juniper was over three hun-dred years old, healthy and well established, so I could confident-ly recommend a re-styling. While taking the whole tree into consid-eration, styling will begin with focused atten-tion to these specifics areas: carving and cleaning dead-wood, live-vein cleaning, prun-ing and wiring.

The owner of this tree had not done any styling on it, so it basi-cally sat and grew happily in his yard for three years. Although this tree was very healthy, it lacked refine-ment. My goal was to work each area listed above to give the tree a complete overhaul and bring out the

beauty hidden within this spe-cial tree. I began by cleaning the deadwood using a combination of hand chisels and electric tools. The more dead-wood work you can do by hand the better the

end result will be.

After completing the deadwood carving and cleaning, I began deciding which branches to cut and which to leave. When making these very important decisions, one must consider scale. That is the length, thickness and taper of the tree and its branches, in relation to the total size of the bonsai. This is a fairly large tree approximately 36 inches in height and nearly 40 inches wide. Most of the branches had good natural taper, however several were too long as a re-sult of it being left to grow freely for too long without being pinched.

I began by removing a very large branch from the left side of the tree. It is nearly impossible to tell where the branch used to be because it was made into Shari and Jin. I removed this large branch to the left for several reasons. The tree has a natural flow from left to right. This branch was too thick to bend and flowed in the opposite direction of the rest of the tree. The branch also had no taper and took nearly a 90-degree angle towards the front of the tree. These are not good qualities for branches to have. Lastly, the top of this branch was dead even with the top of the other branch essentially giving the feeling of a double apex, which did not work with this tree.

After the large branch was removed, the tree re-ally opened up and I could immediately tell the deci-sion to remove the branch was the correct one. I then went through the whole tree and began to prune the small branches. All the while envisioning a tree that was much more compact and elegant. After pruning, I wired every branch using annealed copper wire. In my opinion, copper wire should be the only wire used on

Mike Pistello refining the tree

Re-styling a Mojave Beautyby Mike Pistello

The re-styled tree


Junipers. Aluminum is too soft and does not hold the branches in position.

After every branch was wired, I began moving branches into position. When styling branches, make sure you provide each branch with movement, that is side to side and up and down. Straight branches are ugly branches. Also, keep in mind the future of the tree as they are alive and will grow. You should always have branch pads in mind. Also consider open space when setting branches. Open space is very important when styling a tree with deadwood because that dead-wood should be visible and not completely covered by branches.

The photos in this article are front and back before and after photos. These photos are just a few of many taken, however anyone who has worked on collected junipers can clearly recognize the work required to truly bring out all the characteristics of a California Juniper. I hope this article was as fun to read as the tree was for me to work on!

• Long lasting • Organic based• Clean, no odor

(800) 473-1307www.gropower.com

Pictured Left to Right: Dick Ryerson, Cindy Reed, Robert Alhstrom, Bill Hutchinson, Lois Hutchinson, Tara Cobb, Joanie Berkwitz, Mary Forbes. Show co-chair Ted Matson is not pictured. photo by Michael Jonas

A special thanks to the GSBF 2009 Convention Chairs

What is that?! You can see a tree frog in this close-up photo of Seiji Shiba’s tree from the GSBF Exhibit. The tree is also featured on the magazine cover. photo by Michael Jonas

Mike Pistello is a Police Officer in the Bay Area and has been doing Bonsai for just over 17 years. Mike is a member of Yamato Bonsai Kai in Castro Valley and has studied with several well-known Senseis in the Bay Area to include, Johnny Uchida, Jimmy Inadomi and Boon Manakativ-ipart. Mike is constantly looking to improve his Bonsai ability and to help others improve as well.


The Huntington Prepares

Shohin Display For

New Bonsai Court Text & photos by Elissa & Gib Hoxie

If you were at last

year’s Bonsai-A-Thon

you probably got a

preview of the new

Bonsai Courts. The

2010 event will feature

both permanent bonsai

displays and the

introduction of Shohin

bonsai.

Construction of the new bonsai display court

follows Japanese architectural tradition. Display

pedestals are made from old redwood, burned and

brushed, and then mounted on stainless steel swivel

assemblies atop cedar and redwood posts in the

ground… elegant and practical.

In the photo above, Elissa is standing in the left

background talking with David MacLaren, Curator of

the Asian Gardens at the Huntington, a very busy

man. David is responsible for the Japanese and

Chinese Gardens, and the collection of approximately

1,400 camellias.

His highest profile responsibility may have been

being part of the committee overseeing the

construction of the new Chinese Garden, but perhaps

one of the smallest has been challenging in its own

right: creating a permanent outdoor Shohin display in

the new Bonsai Court.

Shohin Display

Set in a shaded corner of the new bonsai court, the

Shohin display has three linked panels. The two side

panels are constructed to accept a variety of shelving

units. Each shelving unit will have different shelving

configurations to accommodate various sizes and

numbers of trees. The center panel will house a

traditional round Shohin display stand. Synthetic shoji

screen backdrops provide a durable, aesthetic

background for trees on display.

The display is constructed of Alaska yellow cedar

brought down from Washington State and stands atop

a granite foundation about four feet from the security

fence surrounding the court. Master carpenter Andrew

Mitchell will use dead-man braces connected by

mortise and tenon to hold the display segments

upright.

Tree care and security are top-priority elements of

the Shohin display project. Placing the display in a

shady corner and facing north guarantee only indirect

sunlight and help prevent Santa Ana baking. Trained

Huntington staff will water each tree daily, and check

soil moisture once or twice more each day to stay

ahead of low-humidity weather. A guard will be

present in the court whenever it is open to the public.

At other times, gates to the area will be locked and an

elaborate security system (details secret) and

recording video cameras will be active and

monitored.

David wants to launch the Shohin display with a

selection of excellent trees. The Collection at the

Huntington currently has around eight display-worthy

Shohin, and would like to have 30-40 more to allow

for proper rotation and care. So, here’s an opportunity

for the bonsai community to help:

• All types of Shohin needed! Mame (3 or 4 trees

fit on one hand), Komono (4-7 inches from

nebari to crown) and Katade-Moche (8-15

inches from nebari to crown)

• Donations: You can donate your tree to either

the Huntington or the GSBF Collection


Loans: You can lend your tree(s) for an •indefinite time or a specific period, and they will be returned to you

Delivery: Dave is planning to attend the •California Shohin Seminar in Santa Nella, February 5-7 and would be happy to discuss the donation or loan of trees for display and assure their proper care

To help out, contact Dave MacLaren, directly: •[email protected] or 626-405-3509

Opening CelebrationJim Folsom, Director of the Botanical Gardens,

will host a featured event of Bonsai-A-Thon XIV: the Opening Celebration of the new Bonsai Court. Jim will conduct tours on Saturday and Sunday mornings, February 27th and 28th. Admission is free for all GSBF club members. Just clip out or copy the following “ticket,” show it to the Huntington’s guard, and you’re in. Oh, and printing your name on it would be a friendly thing to do.

Bonsai-A-Thon XIV

The GSBF Collection at the Huntington’s Bonsai-A-Thon XIV, 2010 fundraiser will be held at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road. Hours are 7:30AM - 4:30PM each day.

Bonsai exhibits with masterpiece trees and •ongoing demonstrations of initial and advanced bonsai techniques

Dedication and tour of the New Bonsai Courts •by Jim Folsom, Director, at 10:00AM

The Huntington Prepares

Shohin Display For

New Bonsai Court Text & photos by Elissa & Gib Hoxie

If you were at last

year’s Bonsai-A-Thon

you probably got a

preview of the new

Bonsai Courts. The

2010 event will feature

both permanent bonsai

displays and the

introduction of Shohin

bonsai.

Construction of the new bonsai display court

follows Japanese architectural tradition. Display

pedestals are made from old redwood, burned and

brushed, and then mounted on stainless steel swivel

assemblies atop cedar and redwood posts in the

ground… elegant and practical.

In the photo above, Elissa is standing in the left

background talking with David MacLaren, Curator of

the Asian Gardens at the Huntington, a very busy

man. David is responsible for the Japanese and

Chinese Gardens, and the collection of approximately

1,400 camellias.

His highest profile responsibility may have been

being part of the committee overseeing the

construction of the new Chinese Garden, but perhaps

one of the smallest has been challenging in its own

right: creating a permanent outdoor Shohin display in

the new Bonsai Court.

Shohin Display

Set in a shaded corner of the new bonsai court, the

Shohin display has three linked panels. The two side

panels are constructed to accept a variety of shelving

units. Each shelving unit will have different shelving

configurations to accommodate various sizes and

numbers of trees. The center panel will house a

traditional round Shohin display stand. Synthetic shoji

screen backdrops provide a durable, aesthetic

background for trees on display.

The display is constructed of Alaska yellow cedar

brought down from Washington State and stands atop

a granite foundation about four feet from the security

fence surrounding the court. Master carpenter Andrew

Mitchell will use dead-man braces connected by

mortise and tenon to hold the display segments

upright.

Tree care and security are top-priority elements of

the Shohin display project. Placing the display in a

shady corner and facing north guarantee only indirect

sunlight and help prevent Santa Ana baking. Trained

Huntington staff will water each tree daily, and check

soil moisture once or twice more each day to stay

ahead of low-humidity weather. A guard will be

present in the court whenever it is open to the public.

At other times, gates to the area will be locked and an

elaborate security system (details secret) and

recording video cameras will be active and

monitored.

David wants to launch the Shohin display with a

selection of excellent trees. The Collection at the

Huntington currently has around eight display-worthy

Shohin, and would like to have 30-40 more to allow

for proper rotation and care. So, here’s an opportunity

for the bonsai community to help:

• All types of Shohin needed! Mame (3 or 4 trees

fit on one hand), Komono (4-7 inches from

nebari to crown) and Katade-Moche (8-15

inches from nebari to crown)

• Donations: You can donate your tree to either

the Huntington or the GSBF Collection

Raffle and live auction of demonstration trees, •and donated trees and pots

Free pass to all of the Huntington Gardens•

Bazaar with many vendors of top-quality plants, •tools, pots and books

Breakfast and lunch will be available. •

For more information, contact Marge Blasingame: 626 579-0420 or [email protected]

Marge Blasingame needs donations of bonsai and bonsai-related items for the auctions and raffles. Please contribute… the GSBF needs your support! For more information, contact Marge at 626 579-0420 or [email protected] .

Dan Robinson consults with Bob Hilvers during Dan’s Pine carving workshop held at convention. Photo: Michael Jonas

mailto:[email protected]




Elbe Conners’ Donations Contributor and chronicler of tree careby Susanne Barrymore

Elbe Conners donated most of his vast collection of trees to GSBF for auction at convention in River-side. The fact that he’d be so generous isn’t a surprise to those who know him., but that’s only part of the story.

Elbe was a member of the Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara for many years. A willing club president offering useful evaluations at tree critique sessions, he generously opened his home for our Christmas potluck events. He loved to try new species, and his collection had an amazing array of unusual forms, beautifully designed as bonsai.

The circumstances that led Elbe to donate his collection might first be traced back to 1990 when one of our annual fires raced down the mountain right into the residential area where he lived, burning his home and bonsai. After recovering from this disaster, rebuilding a wonderful home, and starting many new plants, he had another amazing array of unusual spe-cies.

But (easterners will laugh) our cold damp coastal winters did not agree with him. He wanted to move into the hot dry desert land.. So, he and his partner Jerry found a good new home in La Quinta, south of Palm Springs area, one which had provided a wide space behind the house where someone could store their gas guzzling motor home. At once, Elbe viewed that as a place where he could set up a shade covered spot for his bonsai. When we visited a number of years ago we took a picture, which shows what a satis-factory space it was.

Elbe was unable to find anyone in the area who might be doing anything like keeping bonsai. I had encouraged him to write an article for Golden State-ments about what it is like keeping bonsai alive out there, and which species seemed to be surviving sat-isfactorily. In lieu of getting Elbe to write an article about his bonsai, I will quote from his email of June 2008.

“A surprising thing with the bonsai this year. All

105 plants have come out stronger than they have in 4 years. Either the weather has been unusual or they have all adjusted to this climate after years. A few plants I was sure would die this year are looking great. A princess persimmon and a trident maple I had written off as hopeless are in full leaf, although the maple is covered with very small leaves on very short twigs. I have no idea what to expect next. I have learned something new. The 100+ plants that have survived out here are not bothered by 103 degree heat, only by the direct desert sun.”

He has had more success with citrus in pots, and in January of 2008, he wrote “It’s getting cold at night and we may get a couple nights of freezing tempera-tures. I’ve moved all my potted plants that might be damaged by the cold under the shade cloth of the bonsai tent. I’m starting to get fruit from the citrus trees. Some kumquats and the tangelos are ripe, and the grapefruit and oroblancos will be ready in about two weeks. I have a large crop of oranges that will be ready next month.”

In his email of August 2008 regarding citrus, Elbe

reports, “I have fallen into my old bad habit of col-lecting every available type of a genus that I can find.” (Now, that does sound like the old Elbe we knew and miss in our club.) “I now have about 30 kinds of citrus some in the ground, but most in pots.”

Elbe did mention a summer weather condition

they get which may be responsible for the unexpected revival of bonsai reported in his June 2008 email. They get what he calls monsoon conditions in the summer. He reports “Yes, the monsoon humidity came as a surprise to us, too, but now we just accept it as part of the climate here. Being here in the cove at about 300 feet above the valley floor, storm clouds come over the mountains to the south and dump heavy rain on us but not a drop falls at the bottom of the hill.”


In January 2009 Elbe wrote “I haven’t responded to your queries about that article on bonsai in the desert because a conclusion has been forming in my mind for the last year or so. That conclusion has come to the surface now. It is my well considered opinion that growing bonsai in the desert is stupid.”

“Very few plants like growing in our summer heat. Most of them look stressed for much of the year. In June, July and August they require careful watering 3-4 times a day, and you have to go out in 6 % humid-ity and 110 degree heat to do it. There are no bonsai clubs or even garden clubs in the desert so there is no one you can call on for help if you are down sick or if you want to go away for even a weekend.”

The commercial gardeners cut grass and blow leaves and know nothing at all about plants. Finan-cially there is no way in hell I could pay for them to come here 3 times a day for a week in the summer heat and do a dependable job of watering. You may think that a drip system is the answer, but I tried it, and it’s more work than it’s worth. Every time you turn off the drip system a drop of water remains on the tip of the emitter. In this dry heat and high temperature and hard water, that drop dries, leav-ing a small chip of mineral behind. It takes very few rounds of watering before the emitter no longer puts out any water. You spend much of your time go-ing down the line looking for the emitters that are clogged, removing them, replacing with new ones and soaking the clogged ones in vinegar.

I am being held hostage in this place by 150 pot-ted trees. Most of the year I can get away for only a day or so; in the summer for only a few hours. I am starting to work out plans to pass my trees on to the next generation. I have been working on bonsai for almost 40 years. Enough!”

In August 2009 he wrote, “After a month and

a half of temperatures of 106 or more some plants have just given up. I have been really surprised at how poorly the junipers have faired in this climate. I expected them to do well but they haven’t. This year the citrus have been badly burned by the direct sun but they should be all right when the sun moves back to the south” After arranging with Ted Matson to do-nate the trees to the Riverside GSBF convention, he wrote, “It’s going to be strange to not have a yard full of bonsai to attend to. I am keeping the citrus trees in large pots and I found that they too prefer to

get out of the desert sun. They will go into the sun shaded space where the bonsai were. Every living thing seems to prefer a little shade instead of full sun. Even the cactus likes it better with afternoon shade.”

After the convention I wrote Elbe to report the enthusiastic live auction, of which his trees were a part. I mentioned that I was surprised that he had had a pine survive out there, and also that his trees looked quite healthy after the stress of summer. He wrote back, “I am glad that my trees looked healthy. I was a little embarrassed that the pots were so en-crusted from the hard water in the desert. They took about 65 trees plus a few pots. That black pine I got at one of our show-sales. When I got it home it fell out of the pot. It was just a club with NO roots. It had been planted in clay and the root had died. I planted it in pure black lava. It took hold and thrived from then on. I had more than a month to think about giving up my trees and slowly realized I couldn’t give them up entirely, so I picked out the ones that were old, large and thrived in the heat. I kept about 25 trees that I am building a drip system for with plas-tic heads that I can soak in vinegar to keep them clear of deposits. After 35 years I realized I needed a few trees to pick on. Maybe this time I can put them on a timer so that I won’t have to go out in the heat to water them and I can go away for a weekend without worrying about them . We shall see. I feel a sense of relief now with a manageable number of dependents. 25 instead of 150.”

This last came as a relief to me. Now that Elbe

has resigned himself to being content with 25 bonsai, which, if I remember correctly, is the sensible num-ber for a bonsai artist, perhaps down the line we can expect a report of what varieties have succeeded, and done well.

Editor’s Note: Aside from moving to a climate

where your bonsai won’t thrive, the issue of what to do with someone’s trees in the event of a serious illness or death is something we all must consider. Too often, the lack of specific direction is the prob-lem. Members of the Fresno Bonsai Society have been working on the development of an “advanced directive” for the handling of trees in an emergency, as well as a “codicil” that will attach to an existing will that also addresses disposition of trees in the event of an owner’s passing. When completed, we’ll feature these documents in a future article, and the intent is to make them available to everyone via the GSBF website.”


San Diego Update:Bonsai Pavilion Expansion at the San Diego Wild Animal Park

Submitted by Maria Barbosa and ‘lyn Stevenson

CURRENT BONSAI EXHIBITSan Diego Zoo’s world famous Wild Animal Park

is not only a showcase of the planet’s wild and endan-gered animals, it is also a unique showcase for many unusual and exotic trees and plants, includ-ing a beautiful bonsai exhibit built and main-tained by the San Diego Bonsai Club (SDBC) and San Pu Kai (SPK). Both non-profit clubs joined work forces with the Wild Animal Park to build the Bonsai exhibit within the Park in 1987 coinciding with the Park’s 15th anniversary celebration. Sensei John Y. Naka cut the inaugu-ral ribbon to officially open the Pavilion to the public.

The current exhibit features excellent examples of bonsai and suiseki from many notables includ-ing: Bruce and Yaeko Hisayasu, Harry Hirao, Melba Tucker, Mas Takanashi, Ko Tsushima, Stan Childs, John Jackson, Dr. Frank Dixon, Cap Puliafico, Brian Jackson, and Kaz Yoneda, The original trees in the Pavilion include John Naka’s California Juniper, “Wild Dragon”, and trees from the estate of Seymour and Joan Dayton.

There are approximately 60 trees in the collec-

tion and about 45 trees are on exhibit at all times. Steve Valentine, the Pavilion’s Curator, directs the volunteers each month in caring for the California Junipers, black pines, elms, ivies, grapes, olives, liquid am-bers, gingkoes, and other varieties. The clubs’ vol-unteers gather regularly to trim, repot, reshape and generally maintain the trees. Through the years the Wild Animal Park has partnered with SDBC and SPK to pro-vide upgrades and main-tenance of the grounds, the pavilion’s security, as well as periodic pest con-trol. Visitors can view the Bonsai Pavilion’s collection 365 days of the year during Park hours. There are admission and parking fees to the Park but no additional charge for visiting the Pavilion located in the Kupanda Falls area of the Park.

PLANS AND PROGRESS ON THE NEW BONSAI PAVILION

The current 26 year old Bonsai Pavilion is about to give way to a larger bonsai garden that will triple the size of the current exhibit. The new area will emu-late a Japanese garden complete with a waterfall, river,

benches, and bridges. This new Pavilion space will contain dedicated areas for educational programs, growing stock and work areas, along with expanded display areas for bonsai amid a tranquil garden setting.

The SDBC and SPK volunteers who maintain the current bonsai exhibit are also simultaneously constructing the new pavil-ion area. This past year the clubs’ volunteers erected stone walls, fence posts, structure poles for the

Entrance to existing Wild Animal Park Pavilion

Construction Manager, John Jackson, putting up the new Pavilion’s shade cloth

SDBC volunteers and Wild Animal Park’s Tree-Trimming Operator assists in erecting the new pavilion’s shade cloth.

Jim Kirshner, Steve Valentine and Jon Petrescu consulting plans


Volunteers like these ‘pole painters’ are the key to success

John Y. Naka at the rededication of his "Wild Dragon" bonsai in 1997


pavilion’s shade cloth cover and later set up the shade cloth. Under-ground electrical, as well as drainage systems, are being installed in prepa-ration for the waterfall and meandering creek bed that will lead the park guests through the exhibit.

The Pavilion Project Manager for this new area is ‘lyn Stevenson. She is working closely with the volunteer teams of construction and finance committees as well as the Wild Animal Park Horticultural Staff. The SDBC Construc-tion Manager is John Jackson. Jim Kirchmer is in charge of Grants and Donations. The SDBC has contracted for professional architectural

and landscape design for future details of the paths, bridges and water features. A projected completion date is yet to be determined. The photos included here show some of the pavilion’s progress

The San Diego Bonsai Club has set aside a sepa-rate budget for this new Pavilion and is welcoming donations. A team headed by Jim Kirchmer and Marty Mann are soliciting organizations and founda-tions for funds, but bonsai friends from California, national, and international individuals and groups are welcomed. All funds will be acknowledged.

Categories for donations include:Azalea ($10 to $99)Elm ($100 to $499)Juniper ($500 to $999)Maple ($1,000 to $4,999)Oak ($5,000 to $9,999)Black Pine ($10,000 up).

Donations should be sent to:The San Diego Bonsai Club, Inc,P.O. Box 40037,San Diego, California 92164.

Project Manager ‘lyn Stevenson

Trees on display in the Pavilion

The new Pavilion area

For tax donation purposes, the SDBC is a 501 (c) (3) educational, non-profit, organization.


GSBF Bonsai Exhibit Data

Owner. Marybel Balendonck Local Club: California Bonsai Soc. Tree: Eleagnus Estirnated Age: ?Years in Training: 17

Owner: Frank Bardella LC: Redwood EmpireTree: Sierra Juniper Estimated Age: 357 yrs.Years in Training: 60

Owner. Jim BarrettLC: Descanso Bonsai Society Tree: Twisted Pomegranate Estimated Age: 41 1/2 yrs. Years in Training: 35

Owner: Kathy BensonLC: Descanso Bonsai Society Tree: Virginia Creeper Estimated Age: 50 yrs. Years in Training: 20

Owner: Scott ChaddLC: American Bonsai Association of SacramentoTree: Chinese Elm Estimated Age: 70 yrs. Years in Training: 20

Owner. Clark Institute, Hanford, CATree: California Juniper Donor. Sherwin Amimoto California Bonsai Society

Tree: California Live Oak Donor: Katsumi Kinoshita Monterey Bonsai Club

Owner. Paul DeRose LC: Kofu KaiTree: Prostrate Juniper Estimated Age; 85 yrs. Years in Training: 12

Owner. Ann ErbLC: Santa Barbara Bonsai Society Tree: Blue Atlas Cedar Estimated Age: 40-50 yrsYears in Training: 30

Owner. Jim GremelLC: Redwood EmpireTree: Chinese Juniper “Shimpaku” (gr. onto San Jose) Estimated Age: 30 yrs.Years in Training: 22

Owner: Bob HilversLC: Hanford Bonsai Society Tree: BoxwoodEstimated Age: 35-40 yrs. Years in Training: 7Owner: Harry HiraoLC: Kofu KaiTree: California Juniper Estimated Age: 1000 yrs. Years in Training: 20

Owner. Gary JuddLC: Sacramento Bonsai Club Tree: Japanese White Pine (Kokonoe)Estimated Age: 50-60 yrs. Years in Training: 40, 8 since restyle

Owner: Marcus JunielLC: Descanso Bonsai Society Tree: California Juniper Estimated Age: 150 yrs. Years in Training: 7

Owner: Leila KusumiLC: California Bonsai Society Tree: OliveEstimated Age: 50+ yrs. Years in Training: 24

Owner: Gary LaiLC: Kofu KaiTree: Brazilian Pepper Estimated Age: 40 yrs. Years in Training: 12

Owner. Boon Manakitipivart LC: Bay Island Bonsai Tree:- Japanese Black Pine Estimated Age: 6O yrs.Years in Training: 50

Owner. Ted MatsonLC: Descanso Bonsai SocietyTree: OliveEstimated Age: 45 yrs. Years in Training: 25

Owner: Roy NagatoshiLC: California Bonsai Society Tree: California Juniper (grafted with “Shimpaku”) Estimated Age: ?Years in Training: 20

Owner: David NguyLC: Kofu KaiTree: California Juniper Estimated Age: 450 yrs. Years in Training: 9Owner: Lindsay Shiba LC: BaikoenTree: Manzanita Estimated Age: ? Years in Training: 12

Owner. Seiji ShibaLC: San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club Tree: California Juniper Estimated Age: 500+ yrs.Years in Training: 7Owner. Tak Shimazu LC: Nanpu KaiTree: California Juniper Estimated Age: 200 yrs. Years in Training: 10

Owner. Bob ShimonLC: Redwood Empire Tree: California Redwood Estimated Age: 100 yrs. Years in Training: 13

Owner. Hank SugimotoLC: California Bonsai Society Tree: Prostrate Juniper Estimated Age: 30 yrs Years in Training: 8

Owner: John WangLC: California Bonsai Society Tree: Sierra Juniper Estimated Age: 500-1000 yrs. Years in Training: 25+

Not all trees are represented in the images on Page 19.

To see more infor-mation on Suiseki displayed at the exhibit Go to:

http://www.aisekikai.com/resources/november+newsletter+09.pdf

Dan Robinson shares his observation of the exhibit with convention attendees. Photo by Michael Jonas


Barrymore Scrolls pg. 32 Bonsai Fusion pg. 33 California Shohin Seminar pg. 20 Chikugo-en Bonsai Nursery pg. 32 The Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture, outside back cover. Custom Japanese Calligraphy pg. 25 David Glaister Bonsai Jewelry pg. 34 GroBetter Fertilizer inside front cover. Gro Power pg. 23 Grove Way Bonsai Nursery pg. 32 GSBF Bonsai-A-Thon pg. 34 GSBF Mammoth Fundraiser pg. 11 GSBF Convention 2010, inside front cover Hisayasu Importers pg. 33 Joel Pasco - Shari Bonsai pg. 32 Joshua Roth Tools pg. 33 Kim’s Bonsai Nursery pg. 32 Maruyama’s Bonsai Nursery pg. 32 Mendocino Coast Bonsai pg. 32 Ryerson Ceramics pg. 23 Shibui Bonsai, Inc. pg. 29 Telperion Farms pg. 9 Wang Antique scrolls, stands, pots pg. 13 West America Import/Export pg. 33

To Advertise: Contact Michael Jonas [email protected] Tel: 818-776-0813 • 1/8 page G 3.65 x 2.35 inches $30.00 • 1/4 page G 3.65 x 4.90 inches $60.00 • 1/2 page G Horizontal 7.50 x 4.90 inches $90.00 • 1/2 page G Vertical 3.65 x 10.0 inches $90.00 • Full page G 7.50 x 10.0 inches $160.00 • Back Inside Cover C 7.50 x 10.0 inches $290.00 • Front Inside Cover C 7.50 x 10.0 inches $320.00 • Back Inside Cover 1/2 page C Horizontal 7.50 x 4.90 inches $155.00 • Front Inside Cover 1/2 page C Horizontal 7.50 x 4.90 inches $170.00 • Back Outside Cover C 6.85 x 5.85 inches $215.00 (G=grayscale C=color) * Display of ads in color online magazine is free with a one-year, six-issue order. Call for more information. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Our list of Advertisers please patronize the companies that support GSBF by shopping from the companies listed below:

The good news is I didn’t cut off the apex. The bad news is I lost my pinky. George Haas, the winner.Other entries: • Yikes! This one is wired for 220! Kathleen O’Donnell• Yeooww! I think I just sharied my finger! Ray Yeager • Now, if I could just get my hands around Michael’s neck Anonymous

Send your Caption Entry for Michael Jonas’ photo of Bolet Salvador and Jim Barrett, above, to: [email protected]

Captions of Michael Jonas’ photo of Kathy Shaner are in...

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1423 47th Ave • Sacramento, CA 95822

Maruyama Bonsai Nursery

(916) 421-6888 (916) 421-8306

Collected

& cultivated quality trees. accent plants

BonsaiPre-bonsai

ToolsBooks

Japanese Pots& Accessories

Chikugo-En Bonsai Nursery18110 S. Western Ave. Gardena, CA 90248 tel/fax: 310.323.4011

email: [email protected]

Welcome to Kim’s Bonsai Nursery

Website: www.kimsbonsai.comE-mail: [email protected]

One of the largest bonsai nurseries in California. (10 acres)

In business since 1988.

Open daily 7 am-6 pm (by appointment only) Closed the 4th Saturday of every month.

Kim’s Bonsai Nursery 8575-A Phelan Rd Phelan, CA 92371 Phone: 760-947-0409 Fax: 760-949-7500


West America Import and Export, Inc.

Japanese, Chinese and Korean bonsai pots.Japanese bonsai tools.

Display stands Akadama and black scoria

David and June Nguy 323-223-9102 email: [email protected]

1653 N. Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90012

BONSAI FUSIONHand Crafted Bonsai Pots

635 North 13th Street San Jose, CA 95112Tel: 408 476 3112 Fax: 408 292 [email protected]

BONSAI

FUSION


7:30 – 9:30 Early Bird Registration:Free pass to all of theHuntington Gardens;Pancake breakfast available.

10:00 – 11:30 Dedication and Tour of NewBonsai Courts:By Jim Folsom, Director.

8:00 – 5:00 Bazaar and Bonsai Exhibits:Top-quality tools, pots andtrees on sale;Masterpiece trees on display.

Bonsai-A-Thon XIV 2010Fundraiser For

THE GSBF COLLECTION AT THE HUNTINGTONSaturday, February 27th & Sunday, February 2 8th

The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens – 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

10:00 – Noon Demonstrations: Initialtraining and advancedtechniques.

11:30 – 1:30 Lunch: Hotdogs andhamburgers available.

1:00 – 2:45 Demonstrations Continue.

3:00 – 4:30 Raffle and Live Auction:Demonstration trees anddonated trees, pots…



are requested. For hotel reservations call 209-826-4444.

Detailed information is available at: calshohin.webs.com or

[email protected]

February 27-28 Oakland, California

GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: Mammoth

Fundraiser, 2010 at the Lakeside Garden Center, 666

Bellevue Avenue. Saturday, 1PM-4PM: an auction of fabulous

bonsai, with preview at 12 Noon. Sunday, 9AM-4PM:

Mammoth Fundraiser and Bazaar; with a demonstration at

1:30PM by Collection Curator, Kathy Shaner; silent auction,

vendors, benefit drawings, raffles and a large consignment sale

of bonsai and bonsai related items. For general information

contact [email protected] or Linda Soliven,

925-776-2342.

February 27-28 San Marino, California

GSBF Collection at the Huntington Bonsai-A-Thon XIV,

2010 fundraiser will be held at the Huntington Library and

Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road. Hours are 7:30AM-4:30PM each day. Bonsai exhibits with masterpiece

trees and ongoing demonstrations of initial and advanced

bonsai techniques. Dedication and tour of the New Bonsai Courts by Jim Folsom, Director, at 10AM. Raffle and live

auction of demonstration trees, and donated trees and pots.

Free pass to all of the Huntington Gardens. Bazaar with many

vendors of top-quality plants, tools, pots and books. Breakfast and lunch will be available. For more information, contact

Marge Blasingame, 626 579-0420 or

[email protected]

March 13-14 Oakland, California

Bay Area Bonsai Associates: 29th Annual Show, Lakeside

Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue. Hours are

Saturday, 4:30PM-10PM, and Sunday, 10AM-4PM.

Demonstration and critique illustrating design concepts by

Dave DeGroot starts at 6PM, Saturday, followed by a raffle.

The plant and pot sale, including related bonsai items (bonsai

books, tools, etc.) is continuous both days. Admission is Free.

For more information contact [email protected] or 707-984-8012

March 20-21, Palo Alto, California

Kusamura Bonsai Club will hold its 50th Anniversary Show

at Mitchell Park, 3800 Middlefield Road. Admission is free.

There will be demonstrations, raffles, and club member tree

sales both days. The theme of the show is “Our Oldest Tree”

and will celebrate a founding sensei, Tosh Saburomaru and a

unique display of legacy trees from our members. Guest

demonstrator to be announced. For more information contact

Jerry Carpenter at (H) 408-557-0166; (C) 408-823-9525 or

[email protected]

January 16-17 Arcadia, California

Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai 46th Annual Winter Silhouettes

Bonsai Exhibition at Ayers Hall of Environmental Education

at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 North Baldwin

Avenue. Show hours are 10AM-4:30PM. Daily demonstration

at 1:00PM. Sales area with pots, plants and tools, etc. The

bonsai community is welcome to reception festivities on

Saturday evening from 6:30PM-9:00PM, which will include a

special award ceremony, a three-club bonsai competition, food

and a giant raffle. For more information contact Lindsay

Shiba: at [email protected]

January 16-17 Pleasanton, California

Bay Island Bonsai Annual Bonsai Exhibit. New location;

bigger facility: Hall of Commerce, Alameda County

Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue. Hours: 10AM-4PM

both days. Same great auction on Saturday, with preview at

noon and auction at 1PM. Guided tours of the exhibit.

Member sales and vendors on both Saturday and Sunday.

Admission $5.00. Free Parking. For more information call

510-865-1008 or www.bayislandbonsai.com

February 5, 6, 7 Santa Nella, California

California Shohin Society: Bi-Annual Shohin Seminar 2010

at the Hotel de Oro Conference Center, 13070 Santa Nella

Boulevard. Hours are, Friday, 10AM-4PM; Saturday:

8AM-5:30PM, and Sunday: 8:30AM-11:30AM. A large

number of shohin bonsai will be on exhibited. Critiques of the

exhibit will be by Kathy Shaner on Saturday and Ted Matson

on Sunday. On Saturday 24 Workshops will offered.

Demonstrations will be held throughout the day on Friday,

Saturday, and Sunday. A large vendor sales area will be

availabe, and a Bazaar and Drawings to benefit both GSBF

Collections will be held. Donations for the Benefit Drawings

Calendar of EventsList of Bonsai and Suiseki Shows

and GSBF Events

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

GSBF Events

Feb 27-28, GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt

Mammoth Fundraiser Bazaar,

Oakland, California

Feb 27-28, GSBF Collection at the Hunington Bonsai-A-Thon XIV,

San Marino, California

MARCH

7:30 – 9:30 Early Bird Registration:Free pass to all of theHuntington Gardens;Pancake breakfast available.

10:00 – 11:30 Dedication and Tour of NewBonsai Courts:By Jim Folsom, Director.

8:00 – 5:00 Bazaar and Bonsai Exhibits:Top-quality tools, pots andtrees on sale;Masterpiece trees on display.

Bonsai-A-Thon XIV 2010Fundraiser For

THE GSBF COLLECTION AT THE HUNTINGTONSaturday, February 27th & Sunday, February 2 8th

The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens – 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino

10:00 – Noon Demonstrations: Initialtraining and advancedtechniques.

11:30 – 1:30 Lunch: Hotdogs andhamburgers available.

1:00 – 2:45 Demonstrations Continue.

3:00 – 4:30 Raffle and Live Auction:Demonstration trees anddonated trees, pots…


Drawings are requested. For hotel reservations call

209-826-4444. Detailed information is available at:

calshohin.webs.com or [email protected]

February 27-28 Oakland, California

GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: Mammoth

Fundraiser, 2010 at the Lakeside Garden Center, 666

Bellevue Avenue. Saturday, 1PM-4PM: an auction of fabulous

bonsai, with preview at 12 Noon. Sunday, 9AM-4PM:

Mammoth Fundraiser and Bazaar; with a demonstration at

1:30PM by Collection Curator, Kathy Shaner; silent auction,

vendors, benefit drawings, raffles and a large consignment sale

of bonsai and bonsai related items. For general information

contact [email protected] or Linda Soliven,

925-776-2342.

February 27-28 San Marino, California

GSBF Collection at the Huntington Bonsai-A-Thon XIV,

2010 fundraiser will be held at the Huntington Library and

Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road. Hours are 7:30AM-4:30PM each day. Bonsai exhibits with masterpiece

trees and ongoing demonstrations of initial and advanced

bonsai techniques. Dedication and tour of the New Bonsai Courts by Jim Folsom, Director, at 10AM. Raffle and live

auction of demonstration trees, and donated trees and pots.

Free pass to all of the Huntington Gardens. Bazaar with many

vendors of top-quality plants, tools, pots and books. Breakfast and lunch will be available. For more information, contact

Marge Blasingame, 626 579-0420 or

[email protected]

March 13-14 Oakland, California

Bay Area Bonsai Associates: 29th Annual Show, Lakeside

Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue. Hours are

Saturday, 4:30PM-10PM, and Sunday, 10AM-4PM.

Demonstration and critique illustrating design concepts by

Dave DeGroot starts at 6PM, Saturday, followed by a raffle.

The plant and pot sale, including related bonsai items (bonsai

books, tools, etc.) is continuous both days. Admission is Free.

For more information contact [email protected] or 707-984-8012

March 20-21, Palo Alto, California

Kusamura Bonsai Club will hold its 50th Anniversary Show

at Mitchell Park, 3800 Middlefield Road. Admission is free.

There will be demonstrations, raffles, and club member tree

sales both days. The theme of the show is “Our Oldest Tree”

and will celebrate a founding sensei, Tosh Saburomaru and a

unique display of legacy trees from our members. Guest

demonstrator to be announced. For more information contact

Jerry Carpenter at (H) 408-557-0166; (C) 408-823-9525 or

[email protected]

January 16-17 Arcadia, California

Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai 46th Annual Winter Silhouettes

Bonsai Exhibition at Ayers Hall of Environmental Education

at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 North Baldwin

Avenue. Show hours are 10AM-4:30PM. Daily demonstration

at 1:00PM. Sales area with pots, plants and tools, etc. The

bonsai community is welcome to reception festivities on

Saturday evening from 6:30PM-9:00PM, which will include a

special award ceremony, a three-club bonsai competition, food

and a giant raffle. For more information contact Lindsay

Shiba: at [email protected]

January 16-17 Pleasanton, California

Bay Island Bonsai Annual Bonsai Exhibit. New location;

bigger facility: Hall of Commerce, Alameda County

Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue. Hours: 10AM-4PM

both days. Same great auction on Saturday, with preview at

noon and auction at 1PM. Guided tours of the exhibit.

Member sales and vendors on both Saturday and Sunday.

Admission $5.00. Free Parking. For more information call

510-865-1008 or www.bayislandbonsai.com

February 5, 6, 7 Santa Nella, California

California Shohin Society: Biennial Shohin Seminar 2010

at the Hotel de Oro Conference Center, 13070 Santa Nella

Boulevard. Hours are, Friday, 10AM-4PM; Saturday:

8AM-5:30PM, and Sunday: 8:30AM-11:30AM. A large

number of shohin bonsai will be on exhibit. Critiques of the

exhibit will be by Kathy Shaner on Saturday, and Ted Matson

on Sunday. On Saturday 24 Workshops will be offered.

Demonstrations will be held throughout the day on Friday and

Saturday, and on Sunday morning. A large vendor sales area

will be availabe, and a Bazaar and Drawings to benefit both

GSBF Collections will be held. Donations for the Benefit

Calendar of EventsList of Bonsai and Suiseki Shows

and GSBF Events

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

GSBF Events

Feb 27-28, GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt

Mammoth Fundraiser Bazaar,

Oakland, California

Feb 27-28, GSBF Collection at the Huntington Bonsai-A-Thon XIV,

San Marino, California

MARCH


information see our website at www.sandiegobonsaiclub.com or

call Joanie at 760-431-1014

September 19-20 San Mateo, California

San Mateo Bonsai Club 46th Annual Bonsai Exhibit at San

Mateo Central Park Recreation Center, 5th & El Camino Real.

Hours are Saturday, 12PM-5PM and Sunday 10AM-4PM.

Demonstration at 2 PM both days. Bonsai sale and raffle after

the demonstrations. Free Admission. For more information,

contact Sam Tachibana [email protected],

650-548-9470.

September 25, 26,27 Waikiki, Hawaii

Hawaii Bonsai Association: Bonsai Ohana II Convention at

the Pacific Beach Hotel. Featured demonstrators will be Bonsai

Master Tohru Suzuki of Japan and Bonsai Sensei Mel Ikeda of

California. Additional information and registration at

www.Hawaiibonsaiassoc.org and [email protected]

September 26 San Jose, California

Midori Bonsai Club: 48th Annual Bonsai Show at the

Northside Community Center, 488 6th St. Includes 18 separate,

2 and 3-point displays of fine bonsai. At 1:30PM, nationally

acclaimed bonsai artist, Boon Manakitivipart, will style a

bunjin Japanese Black Pine. Sales of trees, tools, pots and

bonsai accessories will be offered by Jim Gremel, Shibui

Bonsai, Inc., and others. Free styling help and advice for the

public from "Dr. Bonsai". Contact JT at (408)371-7737 or

[email protected]

October 3 Salinas, California

Salinas Bonsai Club: Annual bonsai show at the Lincoln

Avenue Presbyterian Church, 536 Lincoln Ave. Show hours

11AM-4PM. Demonstration at 1:30PM by Katsumi Kinoshita.

A raffle of the demonstration tree and other items will follow

the demonstration. Tea and cookies will be served and there is

plenty of parking. For more information please contact Don

White, 831-724-9283; [email protected] or Maggie Brubaker,

831-663-5044; [email protected]

October 3-4 Thousand Oaks, California

Conejo Valley Bonsai Society: 6th Annual Bonsai Exhibition

at the Resource Center at the Gardens of the World, 2001

Thousand Oaks Blvd. Hours are 9AM-4PM both days.

Demonstrations in the Bandstand at 11AM and 2PM, both

Saturday and Sunday. Free admission. No sales of bonsai

related items. For more information call Ken Fuentes, (805)

495-7480.

Web at: http:/www.cvbs-bonsai.org

October 16 Gardena, California

Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai: Annual Bonsai Auction at the Ken

Nakaoka Community Center, 1670 W. 162nd St. Doors open

for preview at 6PM and the auction starts at 7PM. Sale items to

include: bonsai trees, dais, accent plants and more. The

auctioneer will be Joe James and the public is welcome. For

more information call 310-539-9365 or visit us at:

www.gsbf-bonsai.org/daiichibonsaikai

October 17-18 Union City, California

Yamato Bonsai Kai: 38th Annual Bonsai Exhibition at (new

location): South Alameda County Buddhist Church, 32975

Alvarado-Niles Road. Hours are Saturday, 10AM-5PM and

Sunday, 10AM-4PM. Demonstrations both days at 1:00PM by

Johnny Uchida. Admission of $5.00 includes exhibit & sales

areas, demonstration, and a raffle ticket for the demonstration

tree. Additional information at www.yamatobonsaikai.org

October 24-25 Sacramento, California

Capitol City Bonsai Association: 10th Anniversary Show to

support the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt and the

Sacramento bonsai clubs. Location is the Shepard Garden and

Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd. in McKinley Park. Show

hours are Saturday, 10AM-5PM and Sunday, 10AM-4PM.

Demonstration both days at 1PM by sponsor clubs with special

bonsai raffle drawings to follow. Vendor and club member sales

areas. Contact is Gary Judd at 916-630-1340.

November 5-8 Riverside, California

Golden State Bonsai Federation: Convention XXXII. (For

more information see ad on back inside cover.)

Nov 13-14... Ross, California

Marin Bonsai Club: Fall show at the Marin Art and Garden

Center, Livermore Room, 50 Sir Frances Drake Blvd. Hours are

Friday, 6PM-10PM, dinner, demonstration and raffle (TBA) and

Saturday,10AM-4PM. For more information call Craig

Thompson, 415-472-6685.

March 20-21 Scotts Valley, California

Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai presents its 21st annual show at the

Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road

from 10:30AM-4:30 PM. Demonstration at 2PM on both days

by Katsumi Kinoshita. Plant sales, door prizes, demonstration

tree raffle and much more. For more information call

831-469-0688.

March 27-28 San Jose, California

San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club: 40th Annual Bonsai Exhibit

at the San Jose Betsuin Buddhist Church, 640 North 5th

Street. Hours are Saturday, 12-4PM, and Sunday, 11AM-4PM.

Demonstration at 1PM both days by Harry Hirao, aka “Mr.

California Juniper” from Huntington Beach. Plant and vendor

sales both days. Free admission. For more information, call

Ken Azuma, 408-730-4506.

April 3-4 Sacramento, California

Bonsai Sekiyu Kai: 33rd Annual Bonsai Show at the

Sacramento Betsuin Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside

Boulevard. Show hours are Saturday, 12Noon-5PM, and

Sunday, 10AM-3:30PM. Demonstration both days at 2PM by

Bonsai Master John Uchida. Refreshments, door prizes,

raffles, and sale of plants and bonsai tools. For additional

information contact Ron Krause at 916-481-4792.

April 24-25 Modesto, California

Modesto Bonsai Club: 29th Annual Spring Show and Sale at

the Modesto Centre Plaza, 11th & K Streets. Hours are

Saturday, 10AM-5PM and Sunday, 11AM-4PM.

Demonstrations, raffles, auctions and sales both days. Free

Admission. For more information, call Peter Camarena at

209- 324-9181 or visit us at www.ModestoBonsaiClub.com

April 24-25 San Diego, California

San Diego Bonsai Club: Spring Bonsai Exhibition and Sale

located in beautiful Balboa Park in the Casa Del Prado, Room

101. Free admission and parking. Hours are 10AM-5PM both

days. Bonsai, suiseki viewing stones and accent plants are on

display and at our sale tables. Demonstrations daily at 11AM.

and 2PM. Bonsai trees, plant stock, pottery and tools for sale.

For more information, please contact Maria Barbosa,

619-606-6523 or [email protected]

May 1-2 Sacramento, California

Sacramento Bonsai Club: 63rd Annual Bonsai and Suiseki

Show at the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside


Sunday, 10AM-4PM. Demonstration by Boon Manakitivipart

at 2PM, both days. Raffle will follow. Plants and bonsai

related items for sale. Free admission. For further information

contact Gary Judd, 916-630-1340.


Satsuki Aikokai of Sacramento: 40th Annual Show at the

Shepard Garden and Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd. Show


Demonstration at 1:30PM both days, followed by benefit

drawings. Member and vendor sales. Free admission. For

more information contact [email protected] or

Ron Pigram, 916-428-8505.


American Bonsai Association: 51st Annual Show and Sale.

Hours are 10AM-4:30PM, at the Shepard Garden & Arts

Center, 3330 McKinley Boulevard. Hands-on workshops for

all levels from novice to advanced enthusiasts; large member

and vendor sales areas; raffles and door prizes. Demonstration

daily at 1:30PM by Ryan Neil, who recently returned from an

apprenticeship in Japan with Bonsai Master Masahiko

Kimura. Free admission. For further information contact Greg

McDonald, 530-642-2521, or [email protected]

May 22-23 Oakland, California

Bay Area Satsuki Aikokai: 16th Annual Satsuki Bonsai

Show at the Lakeside Park Garden Center at Lake Merritt, 666

Bellevue Avenue. Hours are Saturday, 10AM-5PM and

Sunday,10AM-4PM. Fabulous blossoms and bonsai display.

Demonstration both days at 1:30PM using mature bonsai

material. Rick Garcia will be featured on Saturday and Bonsai

Master Johnny Uchida on Sunday. Large selection of bonsai

trees and other bonsai-related materials available for purchase.

For further information, please contact Ron Reid,

925-831-2500.

APRIL or Later

March 20-21 Scotts Valley, California

Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai presents its 21st annual show at the

Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road

from 10:30AM-4:30 PM. Demonstration at 2PM on both days

by Katsumi Kinoshita. Plant sales, door prizes, demonstration

tree raffle and much more. For more information call

831-469-0688.

March 27-28 San Jose, California

San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club: 40th Annual Bonsai Exhibit

at the San Jose Betsuin Buddhist Church, 640 North 5th

Street. Hours are Saturday, 12-4PM, and Sunday, 11AM-4PM.

Demonstration at 1PM both days by Harry Hirao, aka “Mr.

California Juniper” from Huntington Beach. Plant and vendor

sales both days. Free admission. For more information, call

Ken Azuma, 408-730-4506.

April 3-4 Sacramento, California

Bonsai Sekiyu Kai: 33rd Annual Bonsai Show at the

Sacramento Betsuin Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside


Sunday, 10AM-3:30PM. Demonstration both days at 2PM by

Bonsai Master John Uchida. Refreshments, door prizes,

raffles, and sale of plants and bonsai tools. For additional

information contact Ron Krause at 916-481-4792.

April 24-25 Modesto, California

Modesto Bonsai Club: 29th Annual Spring Show and Sale at

the Modesto Centre Plaza, 11th & K Streets. Hours are

Saturday, 10AM-5PM and Sunday, 11AM-4PM.

Demonstrations, raffles, auctions and sales both days. Free

Admission. For more information, call Peter Camarena at

209- 324-9181 or visit us at www.ModestoBonsaiClub.com

April 24-25 San Diego, California

San Diego Bonsai Club: Spring Bonsai Exhibition and Sale

located in beautiful Balboa Park in the Casa Del Prado, Room

101. Free admission and parking. Hours are 10AM-5PM both

days. Bonsai, suiseki viewing stones and accent plants are on

display and at our sale tables. Demonstrations daily at 11AM.

and 2PM. Bonsai trees, plant stock, pottery and tools for sale.

For more information, please contact Maria Barbosa,

619-606-6523 or [email protected]


Sacramento Bonsai Club: 63rd Annual Bonsai and Suiseki

Show at the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside


Sunday, 10AM-4PM. Demonstration by Boon Manakitivipart

at 2PM, both days. Raffle will follow. Plants and bonsai

related items for sale. Free admission. For further information

contact Gary Judd, 916-630-1340.


Satsuki Aikokai of Sacramento: 40th Annual Show at the

Shepard Garden and Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd. Show


Demonstration at 1:30PM both days, followed by benefit

drawings. Member and vendor sales. Free admission. For

more information contact [email protected] or

Ron Pigram, 916-428-8505.


American Bonsai Association: 51st Annual Show and Sale.

Hours are 10AM-4:30PM, at the Shepard Garden & Arts

Center, 3330 McKinley Boulevard. Hands-on workshops for

all levels from novice to advanced enthusiasts; large member

and vendor sales areas; raffles and door prizes. Demonstration

daily at 1:30PM by Ryan Neil, who recently returned from an

apprenticeship in Japan with Bonsai Master Masahiko

Kimura. Free admission. For further information contact Greg

McDonald, 530-642-2521, or [email protected]

May 22-23 Oakland, California

Bay Area Satsuki Aikokai: 16th Annual Satsuki Bonsai

Show at the Lakeside Park Garden Center at Lake Merritt, 666

Bellevue Avenue. Hours are Saturday, 10AM-5PM and

Sunday,10AM-4PM. Fabulous blossoms and bonsai display.

Demonstration both days at 1:30PM using mature bonsai

material. Rick Garcia will be featured on Saturday and Bonsai

Master Johnny Uchida on Sunday. Large selection of bonsai

trees and other bonsai-related materials available for purchase.

For further information, please contact Ron Reid,

925-831-2500.

APRIL or Later

golden statements, 2010, v33, jan/feb

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