Bay Area Bonsai Associates 29th Annual Show

The Bay Area Bonsai Associates held their 29th Annual show on March 12-13 at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, CA. BABA hosts a good show every year and this year was no exception.

BABA’s 29th Annual Exhibit

I was struck by a number of the large trees in this year’s exhibit, including the red pine below.

Red pine

Here are some of the other large trees on display.

Sierra juniper

Juniper

Japanese maple

Chinese elm

Satsuki azalea

California juniper

California juinper

Alberta spruce

Wisteria

California buckeye

The owner of this buckeye excitedly pointed out a flower bud – an infrequent occurrence for the tree. Soon the bud will open and display small, ivory-colored flowers.

Buckeye flower bud

The tree is recognizable for its deadwood. Turns out the gentleman who collected it found antler velvet in the grooves in the deadwood – it appears deer used the tree for grinding the velvet from their antlers.

Buckeye deadwood