Small Talk – A special exhibition at the Pacific Bonsai Museum

I was reminded last week what an awesome resource we have in the Pacific Bonsai Museum. For those who haven’t visited, the museum hosts a collection of outstanding bonsai in Federal Way, Washington. It may be best known, however, for staging some of the most engaging and thought-provoking exhibits and events in the bonsai world.

This is thanks in large part to the curator, Aarin Packard, and the rest of the team at the museum. Aarin, and his predecessor, Dave De Groot, treated me to a tour when I was in town last week on one of those perfectly sunny and warm Pacific Northwest spring evenings.

Dave De Groot and Aarin Packard

We were there to see the current special exhibit, Small Talk: All the Dirt on Growing Mini-But-Mighty Trees. The organizing principle of the exhibit is a question: “What if you could ask a bonsai a question, and actually get an answer?”

Framed as a series of questions and answers with the trees, the exhibit provides a basic Q&A aimed at children and their families. A collection of beautifully designed posters presents information about what bonsai need to grow and maintain their health, from light and water requirements to soil ingredients and root development.

Exhibit posters

Of course, the stars of the exhibit are the trees. The museum has invested a lot of time, energy, and care into the collection since its founding in 1989 and it shows. Here are some of the highlights.

White pine

Bald cypress

Formosan juniper

Japanese maple (check out the roots!)

Korean yew

Japanese maple forest created by Warren Hill

Subalpine fir

Oriental sweetgum

Tamarisk

Trident maple

Western hemlock

If you’d like to learn more about the trees at the museum, check out the collection online. If you’d like to learn more about Small Talk, check out the awesome online guide.

Next up, a look at another exhibit on display at the museum: Little Champions.

News & Updates

[Registration for GSBF Rendezvous opens June 9th]

• This year’s GSBF Rendezvous is shaping up well. Headliners Suthin Sukosolvisit and Mauro Stemberger will provide demonstrations, a mix of 20+ vendors will have trees, pots, tools, and supplies available for sale, the Joshua Roth Rising Stars (selected through a state-wide process to represent their regions) will compete on stage to see who can make the most of their material, plus critiques, seminars, and three days of workshops will round out a great weekend. Learn more from GSBF. Registration opens 7am Monday.

[San Mateo Bonsai Show]

• The Sei Boku Bonsai Kai will be hosting their annual bonsai show in two weeks on June 7-8 at the San Mateo Garden Center. The show runs from 10am – 4pm Saturday and 10am – 3pm Sunday. Headliner Jennifer Price will provide a demonstration at 1pm Saturday and lead a workshop at the same time Sunday. I’ll be vending to feel free to stop by and say hi! Learn more at the Sei Boku website.