Editor’s Notes & Show Photos
October 2023
Midori Show Recap
By Tung X. Dao
I had a great time at the 2023 Midori Bonsai Show this year. The energy and interest in that room continues to invigorate my passion for bonsai. Our club’s hard work and talent has inspired many of those who visited.
What made the show special this year to me were the wonderful students that I got to teach at the beginner’s workshop and the trees that new bonsai artists brought in. I got to share my knowledge with them and talk all things bonsai. I hope to see them again and join them on their bonsai journeys.
As we dedicated this show to our dear friend, teacher, and club member Seiji Shiba, I want to share one thing he taught me many years ago. He once told me: Bigger bonsai are easier to take care of. I found out that it’s very true.
Thank you to all those who helped make the show happen and to all the visitors and guests who came to enjoy our hard work.
With that said, I would like to share images of our trees at the show. 🌳
PS: If you have images from the show, please share it with Tung so we can prepare a slideshow for the Show Recap and Workshop on October 5.
Large Backdrop Trees
Medium Backdrop Trees
Row Display
Shohin Display
Trees in Training
Beginner’s Workshop and Jonas Dupuich’s Show Commentary
Jade plant photo courtesy of Scott D. and Jocelyn.
Ikebana
Marin Bonsai Club Mini-Show
By Tung X. Dao
As some of you may know, in addition to being newsletter editor here at Midori Bonsai Club, I am also the president of the Marin Bonsai Club. We will be having a cozy mini-show at 7:30pm on Tuesday Oct 3 at the Terra Linda Community Center.
This is our first show since the pandemic. While it is a small show that aims to keep our show set-up skills sharp, we will be sharing our best trees. We welcome you to to come and support us. Thank you! 🌳
BSSF Auction
ABAS Live Auction and Consignment Sale
GSBF Bonsai Rendzevous 2023
Bonsai Rendezvous Donations
By Thomas Bryan Nicholson
Dear Bonsai Club Leader:
Golden State Bonsai Federation has been a leader of the California (and surrounding states) bonsai community for decades, and in that long history has worked diligently to support clubs and individual enthusiasts in the quest to always be learning and improving our trees.
This year GBSF is hosting their third Rendezvous – and this one is expanded, more like the old convention days. This year’s event will feature the internationally known and respected Bjorn Bjorholm as the headline demonstrator, as well as the return of workshops, a dinner and the ever-popular raffle, in addition to both silent and live auctions.
One of the reasons those old convention raffles and auctions were so successful was the support for the many generous bonsai clubs, like yours.
I am writing to invite you to participate in the upcoming Bonsai Rendezvous 2023 and show your clubs support for the great work GSBF has done, and continues to do supporting bonsai in the Golden State (and our near and dear neighbors too). Please consider making a donation of an item that can be part of the silent auction or raffle (or more than one, if you are so inclined).
Additionally, if your club is near, or has members traveling to Santa Nella, and you want to participate in the silent auction, the profit sharing is 70/30 with GSBF receiving 30 percent of the proceeds, and the balance going to the seller. You can find more information on the GSBF website.
Feel free to contact me with your questions, or to arrange transportation of your donation to the event location. My phone number is 213.709.4171, or you can respond to this email.
Thank you for you and your clubs continued support of the work Golden State Bonsai Federation does. I look forward to connecting with you soon regarding your generous donation.
Respectfully,
Thomas Bryan Nicholson
Silent Auction & Raffle Chair 🌳
Oakland Autumn Lights Festival at BGLM
By George Haas
Hello Everyone,
Every year the BGLM participates in Oakland Autumn Lights Festival in October, an annual fundraiser for the Gardens at Lake Merrritt, which includes BGLM. This year the event is scheduled for October 12, 13 and 14, Thursday thru Saturday.
BGLM is using the Sign Up Genius app for online recruiting and registering of volunteers. The app was useful in filling 54% of the shifts for Mammoth 2023. Folks need to get use to the online application. It provide email reminders and updates. Please give the below link the widest dissemination to your club members.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FAFA62BA5FCC25-44372283-oakland
Some important guidance and tips below:
We really, really need help with setup the weekend of Oct 7th & 8th!
For the 3 nights of the Festival, arrive early for the best parking spaces.
Please sign up for both night shifts, if at all possible. The folks who have supported the late hours and helped close up the garden are getting on in years and lately they have been left with covering that task all three nights.
Bring your own lunch/dinner. We will have munchies and on the Festival nights there will be Food Trucks (they normally start service around 5:30pm).
Access badges will be available Saturday Oct 7 and Sunday Oct 8. If you cannot make it on those days let Randi know (calshohin@yahoo.com or (650)773-5119).
We really, really need help with clean up on Sunday Oct 15th.
Thank you for supporting the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt.
Regards,
George Haas 🌳
The First 25 Years of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt
By George Haas
Dear Friends and Volunteers of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt,
I would like to announce the formation of a planning committee for creating and publishing a book, working title “The First 25 Years of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt”. The book is intended to capture in photographs the very best of bonsai trees in the collection at BGLM and to celebrate the many donors, supporters and volunteers who are responsible for caring for and maintaining the museum quality bonsai garden.
The planning committee is made up of the following:
Gordon Deeg, Director
Janet Roth
Lisa Harper
Randi Keppeler
Emily Gallivan
Noah Hanna
Matt Stites
Suzanne Muller
George Haas, Project Manager
Each member is talented and enthusiastic about the book project and committed to creating and publishing a quality product in time for the 25th anniversary of the BGLM on November 6, 2024. Three new faces are experienced in graphic arts, book layouts and social media technology. We intend to launch pre-sales online in the spring of 2024.
Photographing the bonsai trees will take place in the BGLM workshop using photo studio equipment on hand. The first of four or more photo shoots will be on Saturday, November 4th, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Volunteers are wanted to help in prepping the trees before the scheduled photo shoots. Prepping will include some pruning and thinning, weeding, removal of moss, top dressing, and oiling pots. Additional photo shoots will be scheduled to capture the peak performance of the trees.
Researching has begun on the most significant historic and legacy trees, such as the historic Daimyo Oak (Tree #115) brought to the U.S. during President Abraham Lincoln’s administration in the 1860’s, the large Japanese Black Pine (Tree #262) donated by Mas Imazumi and featured at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, and legacy trees styled by famous bonsai artists, Jimmy Inadomi, Harry Hirao, and John Naka just to name only a few.
Interviews are being conducted of individuals who are first-hand witnesses to the BGLM in its concept, planning, fundraising, construction, grand opening, care, and maintenance.
You can be a part of this book project by serving as a volunteer in one or more of the many tasks briefly outlined above. Just contact the undersigned at 707-762-9154 or email gwhaas@comcast.net and inquire about how you can help out.
We have 12 months to complete the project book and only one time to get it right.
Thank you for your continued support of the BGLM.
George Haas
BGLM 25 Project Manager🌳
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Show Review and Open Workshop
Thursday October 5, 2023, 7:30PM
Midori Bonsai Club
Come comment and review how our show went, and possibly how we could improve it next year. Everyone’s comments will be appreciated and noted down for our future. This will take up the first half of our meeting that evening. The second half will be involved with club member’s trees they bring in for comments and styling ideas.
Please share images with Tung so we can prepare a slideshow.
OPEN WORKSHOP
Thursday October 19, 2023, 7:30PM
Midori Bonsai Club
This is an open workshop. Bring in your trees and we’ll help you with any questions you may have. There will be a board meeting at 6:30pm, an hour before our regular meeting time. 🌳
UPCOMING BONSAI EVENTS
For an up-to-date list, check out the Golden State Bonsai Federation events page. 🌳
