This past weekend marked Bay Island Bonsai’s 16th annual exhibit. As I remember the plans that went into the first exhibit, it’s hard to believe that so many of these events have come to pass. A lot has changed over the years, but a few elements have remained the same – we rely on 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.
Bay Island Bonsai Exhibit this weekend
This weekend Bay Island Bonsai will host its 16th annual exhibit in Oakland, California. Admission is free – you’re all invited! BIB is hosting an auction Saturday and a demo Sunday. In addition to vendors offering a wide variety of bonsai wares, this year’s event also includes an expanded club sales area. Trees, imported pots, […]
Hinoki forests and more at the 34th Taikan-ten
I don’t often see hinoki cypress bonsai forests, and I wouldn’t expect to see multiple hinoki bonsai forests in the same exhibit. The recent Taikan-ten exhibition in Kyoto, Japan, featured four of them. Tsuyama hinoki cypress (Photos by Boon Manakitivipart) I enjoy hinoki bonsai because they are often styled into abstract shapes with silhouettes that resemble […]
Follow the line of the trunk
The trunk reveals the heart and soul of bonsai. It can anyway. A compelling trunk tells a tree’s life story. It’s the oldest part of the tree and it bears the marks of age. And when the environment in which the tree matures is harsh, amazing things can happen. Shimpaku Ignoring foliage, pots, stands and displays for […]
More outstanding bonsai from the 2014 Taikan-ten
Yes, there are more outstanding trees to share from the 2014 Taikan-ten: Black pine – 2014 Sakufu prize winner Japanese maple – 2014 Kokufu prize winner All photos are courtesy Boon Manakitivipart. Boon regularly visits Japan in fall to work on a private bonsai collection. We’re fortunate that this year’s visit included a trip to Taikan-ten. […]