The deciduous bonsai on display at this year’s expo included some fantastic trees. When considered together, they offer a great opportunity for discovering what you like best about this group of trees. As you look at the photos below, think about the following questions. You can also think about what you look for in the […]
Exhibits
Exhibits are where we can see bonsai at their best. Explore posts from Bonsai Exhibits in the U.S. including the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition and Japanese events including the world-famous Kokufu and Taikan-ten exhibits.
PBE Board Announces “Directors’ Choice Award”
In the hours just before the judging period for the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo, we received a request to change the category of one of the entries, a coast redwood. Due to a clerical error on our part (on my part!) stemming from this change, the redwood, which received top marks for its category, didn’t […]
How to judge a bonsai show – highlights from the Minnesota State Fair
Last weekend I had the opportunity to judge the Minnesota Bonsai Society’s annual show held at the state fair. An amazing crowd of 225,000 people attended the fair that day, and many of them lined up to see the bonsai on display, a club tradition dating back to 1975. For those who are curious about […]
Top 5 updates about the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo
The biggest bonsai event on the West Coast is only 10 weeks away! Here are the top 5 things you need to know about it. 1. Advance tickets are on sale now – enjoy reduced rates before prices go up closer to the event 2. Volunteer sign-ups are available online – help us provide a […]
Timeline for preparing bonsai for exhibit
Years ago, I remember pulling trees off the bench for their final prep ahead of a Bay Island Bonsai exhibit when I started thinking about what trees I’d show the following year. We had a rule in the club that we couldn’t show the same tree two years in a row so the planning typically […]