A few days before the 8th World Bonsai Convention opened, our group had the opportunity to visit a private bonsai garden. The garden, set in a secluded valley near Nikko, in the Tochigi prefecture, belonged to Masaru Hazaka, Chairman of the Nippon Houju Association.
Hazaka’s garden was beautiful, but he apologized when we arrived as some of his best trees had just been sent to Saitama for the convention. We didn’t notice – the remaining trees were great. And later that week, we got a chance to see what was missing at the convention.
Wisteria from the Hazaka Collection at the World Bonsai Convention
Japanese maple ‘Shishigashira’
Shimpaku
Most of Hazaka’s collection, both at his garden and at the exhibition, consist of red, black, and white pines. The specimens at the convention were awesome.
Multi-trunk white pine
White pine ‘Shinwa’
Black pine ‘Hotsuma’
White pine
Sei Boku Bonsai Kai Exhibition This Weekend
The Sei Boku Bonsai Kai is celebrating their 34th anniversary show this Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 at the San Mateo Garden Center.
On Saturday, headliner Matt Reel of Portland, Oregon, will provide a demonstration from 1-3 p.m. Admission is free – come for the exhibit, plant clinic and sales area. I’ll be vending with a selection of tools, trees, pots, soil and supplies.
For more information and directions, visit the Sei Boku website. I hope to see you there!
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