Highlights from the 2016 PNBCA Convention

Earlier this month, the Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association and Puget Sound Bonsai Association hosted the 2016 PNBCA Convention in Olympia, Washington. It was one of the most fun bonsai events I’ve attended – hats off to co-chairs Linda Breeden and Doug Bradley for putting it all together.

The featured artists provided education and entertainment and the workshop and demo material was among the best I’ve seen. The demos themselves were great. At one point during the early bird demo, I reflected that I don’t remember seeing so many well-trained professionals sharing a stage in the U.S.

Headliner Daisaku Nomoto gets help from Boon Manakitivipart, Matt Reel, and Tyler Sherrod

Daisaku and Boon completed apprenticeships with Kihachiro Kamiya in Anjo, and Matt and Tyler completed apprenticeships with Shinji Suzuki in Obuse. Rounding out the talent was demonstrator Suthin Sukosolvisit, workshop leader John Muth of Bonsai Northwest, and lecturer Josef Liebfried who spoke about bonsai containers.

The convention featured an exhibit with a variety of bonsai and suiseki. Here’s a peek at some of my favorites – I’ll share more later this week.

Jaboticaba

Hemlock

Juniper

White pine

Colorado blue spruce

Cryptomeria

Hemlock

Semi-cascade white pine

Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention this Weekend

California’s convention is fast approaching. Come to Sacramento this weekend to see headliners Ryan Neil and Bjorn Bjorholm, multiple exhibits and the largest vendor area in Northern California.

The event runs Thursday through Sunday. I’ll be teaching a workshop on exposed root black pines Saturday afternoon and in the vendor area with a selection of tools, pots, supplies and trees. I’ll have more trees than usual this weekend so stop by and say hi.

Learn more about the GSBF Convention 39 here.