This majestic old pomegranate (Punica granatum) was styled by John Naka. After John died, his wife Alice donated it to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington DC. You can view it and a host of other masterpieces first hand if you’re up for the journey; a trip well worth the trouble, especially if you’ve never experienced the power of a large world class bonsai first hand. No matter how good the photographer, or how expensive the camera, a photo will never capture the full dramatic force of a living bonsai.
I’ve been a fan of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum for a long time, and for good reason; many of the most dramatic bonsai in North America reside there and the collection just keeps getting better as more people like Alice Naka donate exceptional trees.
In addition to the wonderful exhibits, the Museum features workshops, festivals, lectures, demonstrations, tours and more. The two photos featured here are from their calendar of events for this year. Check it out and tell a friend. Or better yet, check it out and take a friend.