Highlights from the forty first BABA Exhibition

On January 14-15, 2023, the Bay Space Bonsai Associates held their forty first bonsai exhibition on the Lake Merritt Backyard Middle in Oakland, California. Listed below are a few of the highlights, beginning with the Finest Conifer award winner from the Pacific Bonsai Expo.

Grafted shimpaku

One other tree you would possibly acknowledge from the Expo is a big Coast redwood.

Coast redwood (see extra pics right here)

One of many shows that caught out to me was a California juniper. Right here’s the observe that accompanied it.

In Reminiscence of Seiji Shiba. A pillar of the California bonsai neighborhood and one of many founding members of the Bonsai Backyard at Lake Merritt.

Seiji collected this California juniper within the Mohave desert within the early Nineties and it has been below his care since his latest passing in December, 2022.

California juniper

The Bay Space owes lots to Seiji. He provided the neighborhood with imported instruments and containers via a enterprise, Shibui Bonsai, that he ran with pals, was one of many key forces behind the Bonsai Backyard at Lake Merritt, and managed a prodigious assortment together with many timber he collected and developed over time.

My favourite reminiscence of Seiji was once we shared a bowl of udon on the Kokubunji Bonsai Middle exterior Takamatsu in Shikoku, Japan.

Seiji, his spouse Della, and I, had been in Japan to go to the eleventh ASPAC Conference. We had been touring bonsai growers on a chilly and wet day once we discovered a small meals stand on the Bonsai Middle. Seiji lit up upon tasting the nice and cozy, yummy noodles. Seeing that smile was one of many highlights of the journey!

Olive

Corkbark black pine

Chinese language elm

Atlas cedar

Along with that includes massive and medium sized shows, the BABA present included a number of shohin shows.

Six-tree shohin show

4-tree shohin show

Six-tree shohin show that includes a number of bunjin bonsai

Talking of shohin, this weekend is the Shohin Faculty Winter Seminar in Portland, Oregon. The next weekend would be the California Shohin Seminar in Santa Nella, California. Clearly it’s shohin season!

I’ll be at each occasions so please say hello for those who plan to attend.

Pacific Bonsai Expo Present Ebook Replace

For many who have pre-ordered the Pacific Bonsai Expo Commemorative Album, we’re wrapping up the enhancing and making ready to ship the guide to the printers. Though it’s too early to have a precise timeline, it appears just like the books might be able to exit in March. We’ll share particulars once we know extra in regards to the timing.