Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Bonsai Display

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, part of Como Park in St. Paul, Minnesota recently opened a new bonsai display area as part of the re-opening of the Ordway Japanese Garden. I hadn't been over yet so I dropped by for Father's day.

Here's a few photos...

The new area opens with three computer interactives about making a Bonsai. I had high hopes for these but they were very limited and were an enormous missed opportunity. You select a digital tree that you can rotate around. The tree is then defoliated and you can snip off branches to "make a bonsai." When you are done it re-leafs back out and...tah dah! You've made a bonsai! Of course, it looks awful but it leaves the user with the impression that all you have to do to make a bonsai is snip a few branches off a sapling and you're done. Really frustrating as it could have been so much more.

The second photo shows part of the new outdoor display area with the conservatory in the background. My computer is uploading slowly tonight so I'll try to post all of the tree photos later.

~MinnesotaKirk

Here are the first five.

1. Chinese Elm
2. Pomegranite
3. Korean Hornbeam
4. Indian Hawthorn
5. White Cedar Forest

Unfortunately the Korean Hornbeam and Pomegranite are in front of unfrosted windows so the view of the background interferes with the presentation of the trees. I'm thinking they did this to give people a nice winter view of the Japanese Garden out the windows but it comes at the expense of the viewing of the trees. The Indian Hawthorn and White Cedar are on the opposite side of the inside viewing area and they have frosted glass behind them.

Here are the next five photos. These are also in the indoor display area. The first three I didn't particularly care for. The Ginkgo seems too spindly, the Chinese elm seems to have a tiny trunk growing out of a massive one and the Boxwood just doesn't do it for me either. All of these three felt like they could use more work. The myrtle was spectacular. I've seen this one on display before. It stands about four feet tall. I think that is a Sara Raynor pot. Again, this one was on the side of the room without frosted glass and it really detracted from the ability to appreciate the whole tree.

1. Maidenhair Tree a.k.a. Ginkgo
2. Chinese Elm
3. Little Leaf Boxwood
4. Greek Myrtle
5. Greek Myrtle closeup of roots and pot detail

Up next, the outdoor display area...

Thank you for sharing this display with us. I agree that there could be some better examples of trees represented, but I applaud that they have included a bonsai display. Perhaps you could find out who is in charge of the collection, and find out what the reasons are. Could be that they don't have access to funds to purchase better trees, and don't have anyone to donate masterpieces. I think I would make a suggestion to at least try to include some more conifers. Maybe they could be put in touch with a local club to point them in the right direction.
I like the cedar forest and the myrtle...

JudyB said:

Thank you for sharing this display with us. I agree that there could be some better examples of trees represented, but I applaud that they have included a bonsai display. Perhaps you could find out who is in charge of the collection, and find out what the reasons are. Could be that they don't have access to funds to purchase better trees, and don't have anyone to donate masterpieces. I think I would make a suggestion to at least try to include some more conifers. Maybe they could be put in touch with a local club to point them in the right direction.
I like the cedar forest and the myrtle...

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I believe they have about 100 trees, but only display about 20-30. I would say the trees your seeing are not the typical trees. They are usually much better.

I've seen a lot better trees in the old display area over the years. It does appear that some of the ones on display currently are not the top tier ones. I'll post more photos tonight of the outdoor display. There were some better trees out there.

There's got to be some killer larch, no?

always appreciate the effort it takes to post so first want to say thank-you.

That is a KILLER Myrtle! Thank you for sharing.

On to the next trees!

When you come out of the indoor section you can either proceed ahead to the Japanese Garden or do a u-turn for more bonsai in the outdoor display area.

1. The first photo shows a row of bonsai displayed against the frosted windows. The indoor display is right behind the glass but the white frosting on the glass makes for a pretty good backdrop and you can't see the trees on the other side of the glass.



2. Larches for Evmibo! A whole forest of them! This is another example where I want to know about the pot. It seems like displays always tell you the species, sometimes how long it has been in training and perhaps who donated it. They never tell you who made the pot or container. I can understand if it is just a generic pot but some of the pots are works of art as much as the trees. I'd love to see that info communicated as well.



3. A nice Lacebark Elm I'd like to climb into.



4. Japanese White Pine. Something seems off in this tree. Nicer than anything I have at home but it feels conflicted. I'm assuming that is grafted onto a black pine root stock. The transition feels a little abrupt. Lots of bar branches going on too or at least it looks like it from the photo. I had to take these quickly as my 5 year old wasn't too interested. I'd like to go back and study it more.



5. Contorted Filbert.

I agree with you about the pine. It could use a good wiring, and the branches are too short. JWP for me look best when they have a bit of the feminine aspect, this one looks clunky.

Very often the nature and quality of a display/collection reflects the nature and quality of those who care for them; or those who oversee the endeavor. I suppose I am being a real schmuk for speaking my mind here because this really is a positive display and should be praised just for being there but; it is a good example of the state of bonsai in this country and the paucity it demonstrates.

Vance Wood said:

Very often the nature and quality of a display/collection reflects the nature and quality of those who care for them; or those who oversee the endeavor. I suppose I am being a real schmuk for speaking my mind here because this really is a positive display and should be praised just for being there but; it is a good example of the state of bonsai in this country and the paucity it demonstrates.

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There are a few things going on here. There are spectacular trees in this collection. I am unsure why such average trees get displayed. People have donated trees to this collection, maybe the people who make the decisions about what to display feel some obligation to display it all. I wish it were not so.

This is a grand backdrop and to put average stuff out there is too bad. I know the people who take care of this collection and it's in my backyard(same state at least). Again not sure if this is related to choices rooted in obligation to donors or a general misunderstanding of what is worthy of display.

Bonsai in the state of Minnesota is in a pretty good place, I wish the trees displayed there would bring more honor to the art I love.

Vance Wood said:

Very often the nature and quality of a display/collection reflects the nature and quality of those who care for them; or those who oversee the endeavor. I suppose I am being a real schmuk for speaking my mind here because this really is a positive display and should be praised just for being there but; it is a good example of the state of bonsai in this country and the paucity it demonstrates.

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I agree. Same reason I tried to stay out until now.

fourteener said:

There are a few things going on here. There are spectacular trees in this collection. I am unsure why such average trees get displayed. People have donated trees to this collection, maybe the people who make the decisions about what to display feel some obligation to display it all. I wish it were not so.

This is a grand backdrop and to put average stuff out there is too bad. I know the people who take care of this collection and it's in my backyard(same state at least). Again not sure if this is related to choices rooted in obligation to donors or a general misunderstanding of what is worthy of display.

Bonsai in the state of Minnesota is in a pretty good place, I wish the trees displayed there would bring more honor to the art I love.

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IF this is the case, then I think they are making a big mistake but this is the only logical reason I can think why some of these are on display. Several are not even local show worthy in my book (very personal take and I may be mistaken).

Again, IF your assumption is true...they need to set a higher standard and be more selective on what bonsai donations they should accept to begin with. JMHO

IF this is the case, then I think they are making a big mistake but this is the only logical reason I can think why some of these are on display. Several are not even local show worthy in my book (very personal take and I may be mistaken).

Again, IF your assumption is true...they need to set a higher standard and be more selective on what bonsai donations they should accept to begin with. JMHO

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Not sure why you don't trust me that it is the case. You see pictures of some great material. They switch it out every few weeks. There are over 100 trees and 20-30 get displayed at any one time.

You know how it is when your trying to get something started, you'll take anything that people will give you. Over time you auction off the crap that you wondered why you ever bought. In the mean time there is this awkward teenager phase.

This isn't Weyerhauser buying the best trees they can gather up,setting up a display and paying a master to maintain it. It is a publicly funded "free" zoo/park/Japanese Garden/arboretum/bonsai display. Most of the work is from volunteers from the Minnesota Bonsai Society.

You know how that goes. A friend from your club offers the fledgling group some free material. Someone has to have the nerve to say thanks, but no thanks. The other curse is that people with great material to donate, might say no thanks. I have a couple of great things I would consider donating "way down the road" if I knew it was going to be displayed with other great stuff. If it's going to be with a bunch of average stuff, I'll just sell it and give the money to my kids.

fourteener said:

Not sure why you don't trust me that it is the case.

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Not that I don't trust you but you yourself stated that you are not sure IF the reasoning you mentioned is indeed a fact (you used MAYBE).

Then it comes down to the parameters I mentioned earlier: Those in charge are either not serious about bonsai enough to know a good bonsai from a ham sandwich or; they think they know a good bonsai and display those they think are the best looking at the good stuff as artificial.

fourteener said:

Not sure why you don't trust me that it is the case. You see pictures of some great material. They switch it out every few weeks. There are over 100 trees and 20-30 get displayed at any one time.

You know how it is when your trying to get something started, you'll take anything that people will give you. Over time you auction off the crap that you wondered why you ever bought. In the mean time there is this awkward teenager phase.

This isn't Weyerhauser buying the best trees they can gather up,setting up a display and paying a master to maintain it. It is a publicly funded "free" zoo/park/Japanese Garden/arboretum/bonsai display. Most of the work is from volunteers from the Minnesota Bonsai Society.

You know how that goes. A friend from your club offers the fledgling group some free material. Someone has to have the nerve to say thanks, but no thanks. The other curse is that people with great material to donate, might say no thanks. I have a couple of great things I would consider donating "way down the road" if I knew it was going to be displayed with other great stuff. If it's going to be with a bunch of average stuff, I'll just sell it and give the money to my kids.

Click to expand...

Thanks for this, and I agree with everything you say. Acquiring and adequately maintaining a collection of quality bonsai is EXPENSIVE and TIME CONSUMING. Add to this the fact ( I think ) that this park and collection is owned and overseen by a public entity, the City of St. Paul, and I'm absolutely thrilled with what I see. There ARE good trees being displayed here from what I can tell, and they aren't in terrible condition either. In this day and age, something like this being maintained through public funding is exceptional in my book. Could some of the trees look better? Sure, of course...but that might take more resources then what is available through the city's budget or volunteer group.

Fwiw, I am a member of a volunteer group that maintains a bonsai collection here http://ccs.infospace.com/ClickHandl...1&mid=9&hash=DA6761B5D443A3EEAC7093DC80FBD0C6.
It's owned by the City of Kennesaw, GA. It's a descent collection that will hopefully only get better in time, but it's maintenance and improvement are completely dependant on city funding and volunteer involvement, both which will always be limited.

FWIW, I volunteer at Weyerhauser Am working at taking over giving some of the tours as well as the maintenance.

Off today to our retail establishment as they were kind enough to notify me that an old collection is being put up for sale. So i like to see what's different that i might want to add to my collection. I'm sorely influenced by some of the old pots that show up as well.

dick benbow said:

FWIW, I volunteer at Weyerhauser Am working at taking over giving some of the tours as well as the maintenance.

Off today to our retail establishment as they were kind enough to notify me that an old collection is being put up for sale. So i like to see what's different that i might want to add to my collection. I'm sorely influenced by some of the old pots that show up as well.

Click to expand...

They are putting the old collection up for sale? The question is why? I thought the person running or overseeing that collection was a pretty capable individual and I have always thought that a bonsai should get better with age not old and worthy of sale like a junk car.