Preparing for exhibits 12 months out

Roughly a year from now, we’ll be opening the doors for a second Pacific Bonsai Expo. For those who plan to submitting trees to the event, there are a few things to start thinking about now.

(We’re working hard, btw, on some of the event basics and plan to share more news soon – stay tuned!)

Because the Expo is a fall show, it’s worth looking in your garden and seeing what your show trees look like at this time of year. Do your trees have fall color? If so, you may plan to show them with at least a few leaves to convey the season. Have the needles on pines finished growing for the year? If not, maybe prune earlier in the season so they’ll look good by the time the show comes around.

Corkbark Elm by Brian S.
(photo courtesy Aki Yamakawa)

As repotting season is coming up, you can check to see if the trees are in show pots. If not, you can plan to repot ahead of the submission period next spring. And if trees need wiring, now’s a good time to make a plan that ensures trees will be show ready by this time next year.

I’ve had an idea about what I’d like to submit next year for the past year and am now looking to make the final refinements before taking photos for the submission period.

One tree I’d like to submit is a black pine. I plan to take submission photos soon so I can pluck excess needles at the normal time in an effort to get just the right amount of growth to fill in by next fall.

Another tree I’m thinking of showing is currently in a wood box. I’m looking for a pot now so I can repot before taking submission photos next spring.

This kind of planning is common for regional shows and can improve overall tree quality for any exhibit.

Monterey cypress by Brian S.
(photo courtesy Jeng Fonseca)

In the coming weeks, we’ll share more info for sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, vendors, and visitors who’d like to participate in the next Expo. In the meantime, please hold your questions and we’ll follow up with more info soon!

Save the Date – Shohin School 2024 Winter Seminar

Andrew Robson, Daisaku Nomoto, and I will be hosting the second Shohin School Winter Seminar this coming January 27-28 at the Milwaukie Center in Milwaukie, Oregon.

The event will be modeled after last year’s event with instruction focusing on shohin creation and display. We’re working on the details now and will have more info in the coming weeks. Learn more at the Shohin School website.