Judging classes on the Pacific Bonsai Expo

The award classes for subsequent 12 months’s Pacific Bonsai Expo are set:

1. Finest in Present
2. Finest Massive Broadleaf Evergreen Bonsai
3. Finest Massive Conifer Bonsai
4. Finest Massive Deciduous Bonsai
5. Finest Medium Bonsai Show
6. Finest Shohin Bonsai Show

(You’ll be able to study extra about sponsoring awards on the Expo right here.)

Massive bonsai are bushes which might be over 18″ tall from the lip of the pot to the highest of the foliage or branches. Medium bonsai are bushes which might be over 8″ however lower than 18″ tall (jin could lengthen past 18″). Shows that includes bushes underneath 8″ tall are eligible for the shohin award.

The Finest in Present trophy will probably be awarded to the highest scoring show in one of many different 5 classes.

We’re publishing the award standards to assist individuals put together shows that match into the classes they’re aiming for. In the direction of this finish, I’ve included photographs and a video that exhibit every class.

Essentially the most simple classes are these for giant bushes. By conference, giant shows include two show components, a single bonsai and an accent. The accent is usually a companion plant, a determine, a stone, or another object that gives context for viewers.

Though bonsai stands and daiza for accents aren’t required, however we do encourage exhibitors staging novel shows to current their bushes artistically.

For the sake of judging, the conifer class consists of evergreen conifers like pines, spruce, and junipers. The deciduous class consists of deciduous species like maple and elm in addition to deciduous conifers like daybreak redwood and larch. The broadleaf evergreen class consists of flat-leaved bushes that retain their leaves in winter like oaks, azaleas, and olives, plus tropical frequent species like ficus.

Japanese maple and accent (eligible for the Massive Deciduous Bonsai Award)

Medium shows are any shows the place at the very least one tree is taller than 8″ and all bushes are underneath 18″ tall. By conference, medium bushes are proven in three-point shows with a most important tree, a secondary tree, and an accent.

As within the giant class, we don’t require that exhibitors observe this conference.

The show under encompasses a clump-style chojubai, a multi-trunk satsuki azalea that’s between 8″ – 18″ tall, and an accent plant.

Chojubai and satsuki azalea ‘Kinsai’ (eligible for the Finest Medium Bonsai Show award)

Medium shows could characteristic a single bonsai as within the instance under.

Corkbark elm and suiseki (eligible for the Finest Medium Bonsai Show award)

For a barely fuller-looking show, the stone will be swapped out for a small bonsai.

Black pine and corkbark elm (eligible for the Finest Medium Bonsai Show award)

Though we anticipate shohin bonsai to be included in some medium shows, these bushes should not eligible for the Finest Shohin Bonsai Show award. It’s because judges’ scores apply to finish shows reasonably than to particular person bushes.

For instance, the show under options two bushes which might be underneath 8″ tall. All the composition – bushes, pots, stands, and accent – will probably be evaluated collectively.

Japanese maple and black pine (eligible for Finest Shohin Bonsai Show award)

By conference, shohin bonsai shows include anyplace between one tree and 5 bushes. There aren’t any necessities as to how shohin shows are constructed. Every show aspect could have its personal stand as within the instance above, or they will share a standard stand like within the instance under.

Black pine and flowering quince (eligible for the Finest Shohin Bonsai Show award)

For concepts about how one can show shohin, take a look at the next posts from Japan’s premier shohin bonsai exhibition, Gafu-ten:

For a video dialogue of the subject utilizing the pattern shows above, see the next video wherein co-sponsor Eric Schrader and I run by the award classes.

Have questions of feedback about shows on the Pacific Bonsai Expo? Be happy to depart them within the feedback under!