I’m still catching up from the festivities last weekend, but I wanted to share three things related to the event before moving forward: the winners, the thank yous, and a few photos.
First up, the winning entries!
The Expo recognized six outstanding entries with the following awards.
- Best in Show: Ponderosa Pine by Randy Knight, $2500 award sponsored by the Golden State Bonsai Federation
- Best Conifer: Shimpaku juniper by Jeff Stern, $2000 award sponsored by Robert Pressler, Kimura Bonsai and Landscape Nursery
- Best Deciduous: Winter hazel by Andrew Robson, $2000 award sponsored by Peter Tea, PTBonsai.com
- Best Broadleaf Evergreen: Chinese Banyan Tiger Bark Ficus by Jeff Stern, $2000 award sponsored by John Kim and Michelle Hong, Joshua Roth Limited
- Best Medium Display: Korean hornbeam and Japanese black pine by Jonas Dupuich, $2000 award sponsored by Encinal Nursery and Jeff Stern
- Best Shohin Display: coast redwood, Japanese quince, trident maple, Japanese maple, olive, and potentilla by Jeff Stern, $2000 award sponsored by the California Shohin Society
You can learn about the judging process and see photos of these trees on the Expo website.
Friday night – setup complete!
As for the thank yous, Eric and I can’t adequately convey our gratitude in a single pass so we’ll be thanking early and often. To the exhibitors, vendors, visitors, volunteers, venue staff, and committee members, thank you for your contributions! If the Expo proved anything it’s that such an event can’t happen without the contributions of hundreds of cheerful participants working towards a shared goal: to provide a pleasant space for people spend time with beautiful trees.
We’ve started putting together a more exhaustive list of volunteers on the Expo website. I recommend checking it out and thanking anyone on this list for helping whenever you get the chance.
Over the course of the weekend I had little time to take photos, but on one pass I captured some of the trees in the first row towards the end of the day when the light turned golden. Here are some of the highlights.
Shimpaku juniper by Jeff Stern
Yatsabusa corkbark elm by Ryan Neil
Cork oak by Michael Roberts
Winter hazel by Andrew Robson
Shimpaku juniper by Boon Manakitivipart
Before signing off, I wanted to mention a fourth item by answering a question that’s come up a lot this week: yes, we’re planning to do it again!
Eric and I are currently hard at work planning for the next Expo, currently slated for Fall, 2024. If you have suggestions for what we can do better next time, feel free to let us know in the comments below.
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Armando Dal Col says
Quando le condizioni di luce sono particolarmente favorevoli, i Bonsai fotografati acquistano un fascino davvero affascinante.
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks, Armando, I feel the same way!
Terence Krista says
Your Expo was a roaring success and you should feel proud. But, if there is to be an Expo in 2024 may I humbly suggest a different venue. One of the greatest exhibition spaces in the entire bay area is the Craneway Pavillion on the Richmond waterfront. It is a magnificent, light filled historic space right on the bay with spectacular views. There is tons of parking with a restaurant right next door and three more within easy walking distance. It is easy to get to right off 580. There is a ferry to and from San Francisco not more than 100 feet away and a bus stop that goes to the Richmond BART station. I have no idea of the costs involved but cannot recommend the site enough.
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks, Terence! As for a future venue, we’re also fans of the Craneway – it’s one of our options for the next event. Thanks for the recommendation!
Tia says
Jonas,
Congratulations on winning the Best Medium Display at the exhibition! I saw the pictures and your display was absolutely beautiful. Thank you also for creating this website so that others can learn from you no matter what stage of the bonsai journey they are on.
Congratulations again!
Tia
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks, Tia – I appreciate it!
Bruce Williams says
Jonas,
Congratulations to everyone who made this wonderful weekend possible.
To some of the comments concerning the future, I hope any venue you choose will be as full of air and light as this one was. You displayed these trees as we are able to see them every day, in natural light with their appearance ever changing as the sun moved in the heavens.
(You might just also need to plan for more vendor space. It was certainly clear just how popular that area became.)
Thanks
Jonas Dupuich says
Thanks, Bruce! We’re a fan of the light too so we’re looking to select a spot with good light. And that makes sense about the vendor area too – thanks!