There was a lot of talk about a large white pine at the 11th Asia-Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Convention & Exhibition (ASPAC 2011) offered for 100,000,000 yen. At today’s exchange rate, that’s close to 1.3 million dollars.

Million dollar bonsai

The tree was offered by S-CUBE, the bonsai organization headed by Seiji Morimae. The tree sported a sold sign on the second day of the convention, but I do not know for how much the tree actually sold.

Could a large white pine really be worth $1,000,000? Good question. The pine is big, really big, and it has amazing roots.

Million dollar roots

Good trunk, good roots, and the man behind S-CUBE, Seiji Morimae

What I’m learning is that it can be difficult to determine the value of trees like this because they are unique. Vendors have heard about the slow economies around the world in many languages this week, but a few good buyers have been leaving a slew of red sold signs in their wake, and the very best trees sold well – hence the success of S-CUBE at the event. If only more exhibits featured such nice trees!

Japanese maple – sold

White pine – sold

Japanese maple

Chinese juniper – sold

Cork bark black pine

Chinese quince

Japanese black pine – sold

Japanese maple

Chinese juniper – sold

White pine – sold

White pine – sold

A row of great trees

I recently had the good fortune to attend a bonsai workshop run by Akio Kondo. In contrast to the last Kondo workshop I attended, this event was more pensive, more contemplative. My trees experienced no radical transformations. Instead, we spent time making plans for the future and talking about how and when to execute these plans. Not the most exciting bonsai work, but some of the most important work. Others in the workshop had similar experiences.

Contemplating kaede

Kondo had a number of suggestions for the trident maple above. Some branches were left long so they could thicken. Others were kept short. Long drooping branches were wired slightly upward. In a year or two, the long branches will be shortened to stubs and the process will begin again the following year.

A grafted prostrata juniper with wonderfully green shimpaku foliage showed up for styling. Trees benefit greatly from professional attention at this stage of development. Watching the tree shape up with help from a such a talented artist was a treat. Although the day ended before the tree was finished, I’m hoping I’ll see it completed before long.

Shimpaku

Kondo spent a long time making subtle adjustments to an old procumbens juniper. Cutting a bit of a branch here, wiring a branch there, Kondo performed fairly mundane work on the tree. We were surprised, when he finished, at the difference these small adjustments made. Although the tree will continue to improve as the branch pads develop, we now have a much better idea of what form the bonsai will take in the future.

Refining a branch pad

The matter of the front is still up for grabs a bit. The front pictured below is a good candidate, as is a similar front a few degrees to the left.

Sonare

The primary styling goal is to highlight the interesting movement in the trunk.

Sonare – trunk detail

The most radical step in the tree’s immediate future will be repotting. Setting the tree in a more appropriately sized – read: smaller – pot will make a world of difference.

Like many bonsai enthusiasts, I’ve long dreamed about studying bonsai in Japan in a formal apprenticeship. After hearing tales from Kathy Shaner, Boon Manakitivipart, and Michael Hagedorn, I’m both excited by, and somewhat afraid of, all that the experience entails.

Recently three more bonsai students began apprenticeships in Japan: Tim Gardner, Peter Tea, and Tyler Sherrod. Tim is studying with Tohru Suzuki at Daiju-en in Okazaki. Toshinori Sukuki, Tohru’s father, trained Yasuo Mitsuya, Kathy’s teacher, and Kihachiro Kamiya, Boon’s teacher.

Peter is studying with Junichiro Tanaka, owner of Aichien Bonsai Nursery in Nagoya. Tanaka studied bonsai with Tohru Suzuki.

Tyler is studying bonsai with Shinji Suzuki in Obuse, near Nagano. Michael Hagedorn studied bonsai with Shinji Suzuki, and Matt Reel continues to study with Suzuki. Shinji Suzuki studied with Motosuke Hamano, Masahiko Kimura’s teacher.

Somehow, both Peter Tea and Tim Gardner have found time to write about their adventures and share them online. Their blogs are among my favorite bonsai sites as they contain great photos and excellent advice on bonsai training and care. I recommend them both highly.

Here are some photos from Peter’s Aichien Journal (photos by Peter Tea):

Japanese black pine

Japanese five needle pine

Japanese maple

And here are some photos from Tim’s Daiju-en Journal (photos by Tim Gardner):

Tohru Suzuki working on a Japanese black pine

One of the greatest collections of pines on earth – Daiju-en

More pines from Daiju-en

Peter, Tim, and Tyler – I wish you all the best of luck. Ganbatte!

]]> http://bonsaitonight.com/2011/06/07/bonsai-apprentices-online/feed/ 5 xwires Aichien Aichien Aichien Daiju En Daiju En Daiju En http://bonsaitonight.com/2011/05/10/evaluating-bonsai-at-bay-island-bonsai-meeting/ http://bonsaitonight.com/2011/05/10/evaluating-bonsai-at-bay-island-bonsai-meeting/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 14:00:35 +0000 xwires http://bonsaitonight.com/?p=1634 ]]> Evaluating bonsai at Bay Island Bonsai meeting

Learning to evaluate bonsai is a big part of the Bay Island Bonsai experience. If one doesn’t understand a tree’s good and bad points, it’s hard to improve the tree, and it’s hard to know how much to pay for it.

We’ve been using a simple form designed by Boon for over 10 years. The idea is that it’s easier to evaluate part of a tree than it is to synthesize all of a tree’s good and bad points into a single measure. At our recent May meeting, we looked closely at two trees: a Tsukumo cypress and a Japanese black pine.

Tree #1 – Tsukumo cypress

Tree #2 – Japanese black pine – exposed root style

At a glance, the Tsukumo cypress is the more impressive tree. It is full, healthy, and has a nice silhouette. The pine looks like it has a way to go before we’ll see it in our exhibit. The judging, however, tells a different story. I’ll save you the math and provide averages for the forms that appear below.

Tree #1 – Tsukumo cypress
Trunk 5
Branches 3
Rootage 3
Pot Selection 3
Aesthetics 3
Total 17

Tree #2 – Japanese black pine
Trunk 8
Branches 3
Rootage  4
Pot Selection 4
Aesthetics 3
Total 22

After marking our forms, we reconvene and publicly discuss the results. The corrections on several of the cards below reflect the broader consensus.

Judging form

Judging form

Judging form

Judging form

Judging form

Judging form

New members often have trouble with this atomized approach to evaluating trees. Over time, however, member scores tend to move toward the mean. These evaluation exercices prepare us for our annual exhibit. At the exhibit, members select the best tree in each class. Winning trees receive Members’ Choice Awards. More importantly, the skills we gain from learning to evaluate bonsai help us guide our own trees toward exhibit.

A complementary exercise at BIB meetings involves creating practice displays and bringing trees to share with others in the hopes that we can together determine whether or not a tree is ready for exhibit.

Satsuki azalea

Satsuki azalea blooms

Satsuki azalea blooms

This azalea is planted in what the Japanese often refer to as a “white” pot. Age has darkened the pot to the point that it evokes grey now more than white. It’s a beautiful pot that suits the azalea well.

“White” pot

We were also treated to an attractive hinoki bonsai. I’ve been partial to hinoki bonsai for years. They have wonderfully dark green foliage and their well-composed branch pads can reveal age well.

Hinoki cypress

Hinoki cypress – branch pad detail

I’m still unsure about which of my own trees will make it to exhibit this year. I’m hoping I’ll have a better idea by the end of summer. If I had to decide today – well, it would be a hard decision.

After visiting the GSBF Mammoth Fundraiser last weekend, I stopped by the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Spring is a great time to visit the garden as the quince are in bloom and the maples are just starting to leaf out. It’s also a good time of year to see the blooms that make the winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata) unique.

Winter hazel blossoms

Winter hazel (Corylopsis spicata)

The garden is home to the largest pomegranate bonsai I’ve seen. According to the garden’s website, the tree was “Dug from an old orchard (thought to have been planted in late 1800s) in Lodi by Vince and Kathy Owyoung. They donated the tree, Sept. 2002. Styled by Seiji Shiba. A glass jar was found embedded in the trunk. Potted at the Garden, Aug. 5, 2008.”

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Pomegranate – trunk detail

A number of Japanese maples had just started to leaf out. The new foliage is beautiful.

Japanese maple

Japanese maple foliage

Japanese maple – note bamboo used to arrange trunks

Japanese maple grove

I’ve watched the California juniper below develop for close to 15 years – it has an interesting curve to the trunk. From the website: “Collected in 1954 from the high desert region near Palmdale in southern California, this tree was styled about 1964.”

California juniper

The fruit on the citrus below puts the tree in perspective. Every visitor that passed by stopped for a closer look.

Orange

Last weekend the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) held simultaneous fundraisers in support of its Northern and Southern California bonsai collections. In Northern California, the GSBF held an auction Saturday and a bonsai bazaar on Sunday.

I’ve always been a fan of bonsai auctions. I’ve participated in them as a buyer, a seller, and a barker – the latter being my favorite of the three. I like auctions because they provide bonsai enthusiasts with a market for their trees and an opportunity to buy material not often found in nurseries. At the same time, they support bonsai organizations whose programs benefit the broader bonsai community.

Bonsai auctions also provide a venue in which perceptions of value are tested and measured. Are reserves too high or too low? Are buyers savvy or frenzied? Which trees are most popular? Which are least popular? How much will I spend on that oak?

GSBF had the most important elements of a successful auction in place: there were plenty of bidders, volunteers, and trees for sale. Here are a few photos from the event.

Gordon barking

Attentive bidders

Trees waiting for their turn on the block

Jay holding up a tree for all to see.

If the collected Sierra juniper below tells a story, I’m not sure what to make of it. Nicknamed, “hermaphrodite,” the tree received a lot of attention at Bay Island Bonsai’s recent exhibit. The deadwood and shari are interesting, but not without controversy. Discussion often involves whether or not the primary branch is necessary. For now the answer is yes.

Sierra juniper

side view

Deadwood detail

Deadwood detail

deadwood detail

As displayed in the exhibit

Bay Island Bonsai members were happy to entertain a visiting bonsai professional from Japan at their recent exhibit. Akio Kondo was in Northern California to visit the exhibit, to work on client trees, and to teach. While at the exhibit, Kondo selected a tree for a new award, the Akio Kondo Bonsai Award. The winning tree was a Korean hornbeam.

Korean hornbeam, Carpinus turczaninovii, 16″ – Raho pot

Side view

I was very happy – and surprised! – to learn that my hornbeam had won the award.

Kondo presenting the award

On January 15, 2011, at the annual bonsai exhibit of Bay Island Bonsai, this award was given to the owner of the bonsai deemed most worthy of the award in this year’s exhibit according to Akio Kondo.

The award included a Japanese bonsai pot and an autographed copy of the 2010 Sakufu-ten show book – an event at which Kondo took the second most prestigious prize for exhibiting a beautiful hinoki he has worked on since 2005.

I have worked on this hornbeam since 2002. The trunk was in good shape when I acquired the tree but the branches lacked character so most were removed or pruned severely, as was the previous apex. Nine years later, the tree is starting to develop a more mature silhouette. Here is the tree as it was displayed at the exhibit.

As displayed with small shimpaku and accent

I am very honored to accept this award and I hope I can continue to improve the tree as it ages.

Sunlight coming through the windows at Bay Island Bonsai’s recent exhibit created some interesting shadows.

Pine with second thoughts about becoming a Western juniper

Spruce joining California juniper and Beech in spirit

More photos from the exhibit coming soon!

Bay Island Bonsai’s 12th annual Exhibit of Fine Bonsai will be held this coming weekend, January 15th and 16th, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. The exhibit will feature hands-on demonstrations, an expanded vendor area, an auction of high-quality trees, and nearly 100 formally displayed bonsai.

Chinese Elm from BIB’s 2010 Exhibit

This year’s exhibit also welcomes a new feature – the Akio Kondo Bonsai Award. Kondo was Boon’s senior apprentice, or senpai, when the two apprenticed at Kihachi-en. Kondo is visiting from Japan and has agreed to select an outstanding bonsai for the prize.

For those of you who don’t know the story, the exhibit is the result of Boon’s desire to produce “one good show.” He expressed this desire upon returning from his apprenticeship with Yasuo Mitsuya in Japan. Boon formed BIB soon thereafter, and eighteen months later we held our first exhibit in January, 2000.

Announcement of the first BIB exhibit in Golden Statements

BIB had maybe twelve members at the time. As many of you know, even small bonsai exhibits can entail a lot of hard work. After a busy weekend, we packed up our trees, dismantled the backdrops, loaded the supplies and returned everything to Alameda where one by one, in the rain, three of us returned the last of the backdrops to Morten’s basement.

As we were hungry, Boon, Morten and I headed to the Gold Coast Grille for some comfort food. We were exhausted, and ate in silence. At one point Morten looked up with a wan smile and said, “I think it was a good show.” I tried to smile, Boon just stared. We were simply too tired to think clearly. After some reflection, we agreed with Morten, and started planning improvements for the next year’s exhibit.

The Bay Island Bonsai website offers a more detailed history as well as general information about the organization. As always, the organization remains open to all who are serious about learning bonsai and who can participate in BIB events like our annual exhibit. I hope to see you there!