Jonas Dupuich and the Makishima Auction
Before we get to the meat and potatoes of this month’s Editor’s Notes, I just want to remind all of us that the Cherry Blossom show is happening this weekend (like, right now. I know because I sent this newsletter out early 😂). Please come volunteer and experience a wonderful event!
We also have the programs out through August, so check that out!
Makishima Auction
Special Announcement by George Haas
Dennis and Joanne Makishima have donated their entire personal bonsai collection and related materials. Some 40 years of accumulation in bonsai history. This is the largest donation ever of bonsai trees and related materials to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California. This auction will feature legacy pines and more from the mid-1950s to early 1960s, significant to the Japanese American bonsai pioneers—Iseyama Furusawa, Mas Imazumi, Jimmy Inadomi, Toshio Saburomaru, Peter Sugawara, Johnny Uchida, and others.
Most Japanese American hobbyists started their bonsai from seed in the 1950’s after release from WWII imprisonment, making this an extraordinary, one of a kind auction.
Dennis took his first bonsai lesson in 1982. He had the wonderful opportunity to learn from the Japanese American pioneers in California. Their teachings instilled the styling and caring for trees with the traditions and philosophy of the Japanese living bonsai art form.
The first aesthetic pruning class at the Oakland’s Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Department was a bonsai basics class taught by Dennis on December 12, 1986. Dennis then started an aesthetic pruning course at Merritt College which led to the formation of the Aesthetic Pruning Club in 1987.
The personal bonsai collection of Dennis grew over the years to more than 500 trees, consisting of legacy pines, maples, junipers, and California yamadori native trees.
Dennis served an instrumental role for creating the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, which opened its gates in November 1999.
Dennis served as president of the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) from 2002 to 2003.
Dennis was credited for his contribution to the Sunset Bonsai book in 2003.
Join us on Saturday, July 9th for a rare opportunity to bid on and purchase bonsai trees from the Dennis and Joanne Makishima collection.
Preview Auction - Vista Room at 11:00 AM
Welcome - Vista Room at 12:00 PM
Live Auction - Vista Room at 12:15 PM
Sale following immediately after auction. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to support the newly created Dennis and Joanne Makishima Curator Fund. 🌳
July 9, 2022
Saturday 11 AM - 4 PM
the Lakeside Park Garden Center
666 Bellevue Ave
Oakland, California
UPCOMING MIDORI EVENTS
CUPERTINO CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
Saturday and Sunday April 30-May 1, 2022 at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino
The club needs your help to make this show successful. Please swing by to lend a hand between 10am and 5pm.
Quality Bonsai from Scratch with Jonas Dupuich
Thursday May 5th at 7:30pm
Jonas has planted dozens of pre-bonsai trees in pots, cultivating them over the many years of his bonsai practice and discovering which methods are the most successful and rewarding. He will share his discoveries from many years of practice along with his steady techniques to teach us the course of action that will ensure us the results we all want
Jonas will include strategies for a variety of different species of trees, both evergreen and deciduous. This program will both enlighten our new club members and refine us seniors.
JUAN CRUZ’S BEGINNER’S BONSAI WORKSHOP CLASS
Third Thursdays March-June
For those of you who would like to get additional help and instruction for your bonsai trees, the club will be offering a beginners class starting in March. Your instructor will be Juan Cruz, a dedicated bonsai artist who loves teaching the art of bonsai.
He will cover all basic aspects of this amazing hobby. Juan will be starting his first class in March at our usual workshop on our third Thursday meeting.
There will be an up front $5.00 charge to cover the four classes over a four month period. Please contact Juan at our first monthly meeting and let him know that you would like to be included with this group. Juan will let you know what materials you'll need to bring to each class each month.
New students are always welcome to start any time.
June Silent Auction
June 2nd, 2022
June is our annual Silent Auction. It’s the same procedure as last time. Bring in those trees, pots, tools, stands, you name it that you don’t need to the auction. A silent auction sheet will be provided in the next newsletter for you to
Developing Shohin Trees with Juan Cruz
July 7th, 2022
Juan will be presenting the process of creating shohin trees. These are trees that are small enough to be held in the palm of your hand. They require much more particular attention than a larger standard tree. Don’t miss this wonderful presentation.
Three-Way Group Presentation
August 4, 2022
This will be a special presentation from Drew, Tung, and Elliot. The topics will be a surprise for all of us.
(Ok, I’ll spill the beans, at least mine. My topic will be on Automated Watering Systems. Great for those who haven’t retired yet and need to travel often. All the ins and outs of those in this presentation!)
MIDORI BONSAI SHOW
Saturday October 1, 2022 at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino
Our annual show is back! Please sign up to volunteer for this event. We will need everyone’s help in making this show happen again. 🌳
UPCOMING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (AND BEYOND) BONSAI EVENTS
CUPERTINO CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
April 30 & May 1, 2022
Memorial Park, Cupertino
www.cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org
The Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities Committee is responsible for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Cupertino. The committee is also responsible for selecting & sending a delegation of middle school students to Toyokawa every year and a delegation of adults every five years.
KUSAMURA BONSAI CLUB 62ND ANNUAL SHOW
April 30th and May 1st, 2022
12pm-4pm Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday
Addison School
650 Addison Street
Palo Alto, CA
Join us and see over 50 Bonsai Trees on display. There will be a Sale and Benefit drawing with over 100 bonsai and pots. Club members will put on a demonstration on Sunday at 1:30pm.
Bob Shimon of Mendocino Coast Bonsai will be presenting at 1:30pm Saturday.
For more information contact show co-chairs: Lynne O’Dell at lynnemo@gmail.com or Idris Anderson at idrisan@gmail.com. Details will also be posted on the Kusamura Bonsai Club website.
LOTUS BONSAI ANNUAL SPRING SALE
May 14-15, 2022, 9am-4pm
Lotus Bonsai Nursery & Gardens
1435 Lower Lake Drive
Placerville, CA 95667
This is the not-to-be missed once a year sale at the nursery. Big discounts on all bonsai trees and stock plants.
VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 12TH ANNUAL SHOW
June 18-19, 2022
10am-4pm with demonstration at 1pm
Alden Lane Nursery
981 Alden Lane
Livermore, CA 94550
The finished trees will be raffled off at the end of the demonstrations. Bonsai pots, soil, etc. available for purchase. Admission is free.
BAY AREA SATSUKI AIKOKAI (BASA) 25TH ANNUAL SATSUKI AZALEA BONSAI SHOW
May 21 & 22, 2022
10AM-5PM Saturday and 10AM-4PM Sunday
666 Bellevue Ave.
Lakeside Park Garden Center
Lake Merritt
The Bay Area Satsuki Aikokai (BASA) 25th Annual Satsuki Azalea Bonsai Show will feature azalea bonsai in full bloom. Join us on May 21 & 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, at 666 Bellevue Ave., Lakeside Park Garden Center, Lake Merritt, for the display of beautiful flowering bonsai. Featuring large member sale and imported Satsuki azalea from Japan. Demonstration from 1–3pm, Saturday with raffle of the demo tree. Vendor area. Free admission. Public parking available.
For information, contact Darren Wong at sohjuen@aol.com or visit our website at http://satsukiazaleabonsai.org.
MARIN BONSAI CLUB AT THE MARIN COUNTY FAIR
June 30-July 4, 2022
Marin County Civic Center
Join the Marin Bonsai Club at the return of our annual show at the Marin County Fair. This year’s show will be outdoors as we celebrate Being So Happy Together.
PACIFIC BONSAI EXPO
November 12-13, 2022
The Bridge Yard
Oakland, CA
The Pacific Bonsai Expo is a juried exhibition featuring 70 outstanding bonsai displays and a selection of the community’s top vendors. Jurors Bjorn Bjorholm, Ryan Neil, and William N. Valavanis will select the trees. The exhibitors are the judges. Your trees are the stars. It’s an event not to be missed. 🌳
