This Shohin display is from Suthin Sukosolvisit's Bonsai Gallery. Every National Bonsai Exhibition has featured at least one these by Suthin. This year I challenged myself to pick out Suthin's display as I walked into the Shohin section of the Exhibition. It was easy. Taking nothing away from some other wonderful displays, still, Suthin's caught my attention from across the room.
Leaving for short vacation today and pressed for time so we’ll dip back into our archives. This one originally appeared just over a year ago, right after the 4th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Before any winners were announced.
Though word is trickling out, we’ll wait for the official announcement (and photos) of the winners of the 4th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition before we say anything.
Meanwhile, here’s a collection of bonsai that belong to some of the people I ran into at the exhibition.These are not necessarily trees that appeared at the exhibition. Just trees I like.
Though Colin Lewis did show a tree at the Exhibition, this gnarly old Ponderosa pine isn't it. I think Colin would be the first to tell you that most of the rugged character of this remarkable tree was already present when it was dug. Still, it takes a sure hand and good eye to bring out the best in any worthy yamadori.
Here's a tree that was in the show. It's an Englemann spruce that belongs to Andy Smith (Golden Arrow Bonsai). It was dug by Andy in the Wyoming Rockies and is one of several trees in the show that, to my eye at least, evokes rugged western North American terrains. There's much that can be said about the topic of bonsai styles that reflect local terrains, but that's enough for now... except to say that the pot is by Sara Rayner, who was also at the show, displaying an impressive large selection of her impressively large (and other sizes) bonsai pots. Sara also exhibited a very impressive tree at the show (you can find it and all the rest of the bonsai at the Exhibition in the album).
This elegant, fluid Japanese black pine belongs to Michael Levin (Bonsai West). Turns out Michael is the person who got me started with bonsai. Thirty years ago and I finally got around to thanking him. Note from the present: Yesterday's post was on Michael's impressive and now somewhat famous 'Hatanaka' Prostrata juniper.
Okay, this waterfall garden is clearly not a bonsai. But any beautiful Japanese influenced garden is a close cousin. It belongs to Candy Shirey, long time student of Larch Master Nick Lenz, and gardener as well (I guess that's obvious).
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