25 US National Prize Winners

[yenling83]

Super bummed I couldn’t make it to the 2025 US National and NA Bonsai Pottery Competition this year. I sure would love to see who won prizes along with pics of the winning Trees and Pots, thanks!

 

[Hartinez]

Super bummed I couldn’t make it to the 2025 US National and NA Bonsai Pottery Competition this year. I sure would love to see who won prizes along with pics of the winning Trees and Pots, thanks!

Same! I’m clambering for any footage or photographs. Sure wish it was an open video photo policy.

 

[rockm]

Anyone in attendance got info?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Best of Show is the only one I have seen so far.

 

[Vincent Tanner]

 

[Vincent Tanner]

Here’s a few of prize winners… Best in Show, Best Deciduous, not sure, All American, Best Tropical, Best Shohin

It’s hard to tell in the pics, but each of these trees is truly colossal, massive bonsai. (Except the shohin, lol)

 

[michaelj]

Stacy was in it. Hopefully he'll post.

 

[Ruddigger]

Best in show was a large pine that was not worked properly to be shown at this time.

 

[yashu]

Best in show was a large pine that was not worked properly to be shown at this time.

I don’t know that I have the experience to make this type of assessment but I definitely saw many trees that I felt could be contenders and this one was not in that group. This was an odd choice for BIS to be sure.

 

[coh]

Best in show was a large pine that was not worked properly to be shown at this time.

Great trunk, overall structure good, but I found the two different needle sizes (last years vs this years) very...distracting? Maybe not the right word but definitely detracted from the overall impression. Last year's needles too long and messy, this year's too short. Curious if that's what you are referring to, or something else...

 

[Hartinez]

Best in show feels visually chaotic and unsure of what it’s doing. Is it going right? Left? Are the two almost straight vertical sections of trunk intentional?

Am I the only one who feels this way?

I certainly don’t have a tree of this caliber, but to me, and through pics, it seems a stretch to call it best in show.

 

[yashu]

Great trunk, overall structure good, but I found the two different needle sizes (last years vs this years) very...distracting? Maybe not the right word but definitely detracted from the overall impression. Curious if that's what you are referring to, or something else...

This was my thought. It really threw off the silhouette.

 

[Hartinez]

Best in show was a large pine that was not worked properly to be shown at this time.

Glad you said it Rudd. Couldn’t believe this was the winner. Just my take

 

[yashu]

Did anyone get shots of Nao and Mary’s winning pots? Exceptional pieces!

 

[Vincent Tanner]

Best in show was a large pine that was not worked properly to be shown at this time.

I had the same thought. Poor timing on the candle cutting and needle plucking. Big trunk though!

 

[Hartinez]

I had the same thought. Poor timing on the candle cutting and needle plucking. Big trunk though!

If only it was a big trunk competition!

 

[Sansokuu]

Did anyone get shots of Nao and Mary’s winning pots? Exceptional pieces!

You can see all the pots online now https://www.arbonsaiart.com/the-displays-2025-north-american-bonsai-pottery-competition.html

 

[darzuo]

Best evergreen

 

[yashu]

You can see all the pots online now https://www.arbonsaiart.com/the-displays-2025-north-american-bonsai-pottery-competition.html

It was great to meet you guys irl today! Could you post up a link to the video of your pot that was on FB (or wherever it was)…you really need to see all sides to fully enjoy that pot.

 

[RJG2]

Same! I’m clambering for any footage or photographs. Sure wish it was an open video photo policy.

There was one tiny sign on the front desk saying no photos - that being said - everyone was taking photos. Bill even stopped to wait while @yashu took one

We'll get some posted.