Chris Johnston
Omono
Each January, Bay Island Bonsai, under the direction of their sensei, Boon Manakitivipart, presents what is arguably the finest exhibit of bonsai in North America. Beginning in 2005, when the goal was simply “to see an exhibit of good quality trees displayed in a formal setting.” Boon and eleven members put the first show together, and in 2007 nearly 150 people, members and non-members were involved.
In this thread I would like to show a bit of what the preparation for a show at this level is like.
Boon ties his advanced “Spring” Intensive (January is really spring in the Bay Area) to Show Preparation, so students work on repotting into show pots, mossing trees, applying lime sulfur, cleaning bark, fine wiring, etc. Anything the tree needs to be at its best is done this week. This also includes cleaning, prepping, and mossing companion plants.
Individual members care for their own trees, while the students work on the trees in Boon’s yard that are to be exhibited this year. This includes a good deal of instruction by Boon on the finer points of all of those aspects of display. It also includes a good deal of consuming food items that, while not necessarily healthy, are quite tasty.
In this thread I would like to show a bit of what the preparation for a show at this level is like.
Boon ties his advanced “Spring” Intensive (January is really spring in the Bay Area) to Show Preparation, so students work on repotting into show pots, mossing trees, applying lime sulfur, cleaning bark, fine wiring, etc. Anything the tree needs to be at its best is done this week. This also includes cleaning, prepping, and mossing companion plants.
Individual members care for their own trees, while the students work on the trees in Boon’s yard that are to be exhibited this year. This includes a good deal of instruction by Boon on the finer points of all of those aspects of display. It also includes a good deal of consuming food items that, while not necessarily healthy, are quite tasty.