Bay Island Bonsai’s 13th annual exhibit

After hosting ten exhibits in Hayward and two in Pleasanton, Bay Island Bonsai moved its annual exhibit to the Lake Merritt Garden Center in Oakland, California. The 13th annual event was a big success, drawing crowds of experienced bonsai folk as well as many who are new to the art. As the Garden Center contains two large rooms, we displayed all large bonsai in one room and all small and medium sized bonsai in the other. I really liked the split. At previous exhibits, large, impressive, trees like the black pine below would invariably end up next to much smaller trees. It was tough for the smaller trees to compete. By presenting like-sized trees together, following the convention employed at the Kokufu exhibit in Japan, it was easier to appreciate every tree in the room.

At the center of the exhibit was an old roughbark Japanese black pine that belonged to Mas Imazumi. It has long been a favorite of mine.

Roughbark black pine – Chinese antique pot

About ten years ago the tree was much weaker than it is now. I expect its renewed health will lead to some styling enhancements in coming years.

One of the fullest trees in the exhibit was a prostrata juniper. The tree is large – and heavy! It is also well-balanced, suggesting clear movement to the right.

Prostrata juniper

A Western juniper, only a few years out of the ground, made an interesting contrast to the prostrata juniper. Its young foliage hints at the tree’s future shape, leaving the viewer to appreciate the interesting movement and deadwood characteristic of many collected Westerns.

Western juniper

Japanese black pine

Shimpaku

The blue atlas cedar below has been a fun project. I helped repot it more than ten years ago during its initial styling. Planted in a 20-plus gallon container, the tree taught me how useful a reciprocating saw can be during repotting season. Now far more refined, the tree is well on its way to become an impressive cedar bonsai.

Blue atlas cedar

Cork bark black pine

White pine

The semi-cascade white pine below is another favorite of mine. The delicate foliage provides a nice contrast to the heavy trunk. One of two white pines once affixed to a large stone by Yasuo Mitsuya, the pine has more recently found its home in a custom-built pot by Michael Hagedorn.

White pine – Michael Hagedorn pot

Scots pine

Shimpaku – old Yamaaki pot, Kinkazouin

Japanese black pine

Shimpaku – Chinese antique pot, check out the feet!

Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine – Chinese antique pot

Exposed root red pine

The exhibit featured deciduous bonsai as well. Although not as well-represented as the coniferous trees in the exhibit, the bare trees suggested that BIB members appreciate a wide variety of bonsai.

Stewartia – Michael Hagedorn pot

Trident maple

Ume

Ginkgo

Catlin elm

Star magnolia – Chinese antique pot

Japanese maple

Trident maple – Koyo pot

Japanese maple

The broadleaf evergreens, on the other hand, were simply not well-represented at this year’s exhibit. That will change in future exhibits. For now, here’s an olive that has only been trained as bonsai for a few years.

Olive – off to a great start

Mas Nakajima provided an installation of his suiseki art for the exhibit. I heard several explanations behind the arrangement, but my favorite comment about these stories belongs to Mas: “Too much story,” he said. The painting, and the stones, were a welcome addition to the exhibit.

Suiseki art by Mas Nakajima