Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection Now Open to the Public 4/19/09

Note: much has changed since we originally posted this. The Pacific Rim Collection is now open the the public and has been for a long time (posted 12/10/2012).

The following bit of sobering hard times news is from Weyerhaeuser’s Website.

Weyerhaeuser Announces Closure of Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection

Federal Way, Wash. (March 4, 2009) — Weyerhaeuser Company announced today that it will indefinitely close to the public the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, located at its corporate headquarters in Federal Way, Washington, effective April 2.

“The decision to close the Collection is part of a continuing response by Weyerhaeuser to the extraordinary economic uncertainty and the need to continue to reduce general and administrative expenses” said Ernesta Ballard, senior vice president, corporate affairs. “We regret having to take this action, knowing that the collection is highly regarded locally, as well as internationally.”

During the closure, the facility will be maintained and the trees preserved. “We will determine the future status of the collection when the economy recovers,” Ballard said.

David De Groot, accomplished bonsai artist and teacher has been the collection’s curator since 1989, and though I’ve never seen the collection in person, I’ve heard great things about it.

Stay posted for more on David and the collection.