Some photos from GSBF Convention 20122 "California Dreaming"

[PaulH]

When we started planning an all California Native show 4 years ago a lot of the established bonsai people said it couldn't be done. Well, we did it anyway. And I was overwhelmed by the positive reception from visitors from all over the country. Kudos to my friends the McDonald brothers for gathering these native California trees and presenting an amazing exhibit.

Coast live oak. This is a one of a kind tree with kingsville boxwood sized leaves. Collected 45 years ago by Mr. Kinoshita and now residing in the GSBF collection at Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA.

Gold Cup Oak growing on granite collected by my friend Greg in the Sierra foothills. For scale the base is a little over a foot across.

Harry's famous California juniper. It was a thrill to see this tree and its incredible mobius strip deadwood live and in person. This amazing tree has never been wired and never will if Harry's wishes hold.

Mendocino Pygmy Cypress. These Beautiful, fragrant trees are becoming popular with those lucky enough to obtain one from Mendocino Coast Bonsai.

Coast Redwood From the GSBF Collection at Lake Merritt. Originally created from nursery material by Seiji Shiba.

More photos coming.

Paul

 

[PaulH]

More photos


Monterey pine collected by Mr. Kinoshita about 50 years ago. The furrows in the bark are over an inch deep and the old bark extends out to the smallest branches.

Lodgepole pine with wonderful dark green color and tiny needles.

Happiest Sierra juniper I've ever seen!

Wonderfull Bunjin Monterey pine.

JT's super sierra juniper.

 

[PaulH]

More!


Bob Shimon's "Albatross" You've seen this tree develop on Bonsai Nut.

California Nutmeg, Torrya. This is the only bonsai of this native species I've ever seen!

Another gorgeous coast live oak1

Huge Pygmy cypress. (Is that an oxymoron?)

The dancing redwood!

More to come tomorrow. This convention wore me out!

Paul

 

[PaulH]

Headliner David Nguy's monster Calfornia Juniper. It took four of us to lift it.

Lovely Coast redwood.

Another great lodgepole pine.

Greg's shohin live oak.

Larry's Sierra Juniper. Winner of best conifer and best of show in our first ever judged competition.

 

[PaulH]

Chuhin California Juniper

There were several great live oaks.

Mendocino Cypress

Vince's awesome California Juniper. Winner of people's choice award.

Winner of BCI excellence in bonsai award.

 

[PaulH]

Olive in the judged exhibit.

Pygmy Mendocino cypress in the judged exhibit.

Scott's fantastic Chinese Elm. Winner of best deciduous.

Monterey cypress in the judged exhibit.

Sierra Juniper.

 

[PaulH]

Johnnie's Sierra Juniper.

Ilex in the judged exhibit.

So many great yamadori junipers!

And oaks!

And Pines!

 

[PaulH]

Boon's Monterey pine. Almost four feet tall!

Pygmy Mendocino Cypress.

Juniper in the judged exhibit.

 

[Poink88]

Amazing exhibit indeed! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[kakejiku]

Some Vendor Shots

 

[bonsaibp]

Thanks for the photos. I would.ve liked to have been there but than my 10th anneversary may have been my last....
I love the idea of a CA native show and it looks like it was a smashing success.

 

[misfit11]

Thanks for sharing, Paul. And a big thanks also for all your hard work! It looks like it was an amazing show and convention. I wish I could have gone. The California native exhibit was a wonderful idea and should become a yearly tradition. It goes to show that there are plenty of wonderful native species available for bonsai culture and puts to rest any thinking that Japanese species are the best suited subjects.

 

[Juniperus Californica]

Paul,
You are truly a gentleman and a scholar, and I want to thank you along with everyone else for taking the time to not only shoot those photos, but also post them. If we all took half the time and energy you took to post photos, this would be one hell of Bonsai website!
Thanks
JC

 

[Attila Soos]

Thanks Paul

Great job showing this extraordinary exhibit.

The California native show should be a must-have tradition, from now on. The show would also encourage people to expand their interests to other native species.There are literally hundreds of other native California species that could be used for bonsai. Just think about the endless possibilities..

These trees work well together to show the wonderful diversity of California flora,....

........and also give us the chance to establish our own bonsai identity. A Japanese Black Pine made in California will always be compared to the Japanese Black Pines made in Japan. But a Sierra Juniper, or Coast Live Oak will stand on its own merits, without being compared to Japanese trees. This is one good reason why every region in this vast country should encourage its own native species. By doing that, they can set the world-wide standard for the best bonsai in that particular species, for the simple reason that they have the best collected trees from a certain geographic area. This is how bonsai can become a truly international sport (...I mean, art form ).

 

[Juniperus Californica]

Great job showing this extraordinary exhibit.
The California native show should be a must-have tradition, from now on...

Attila,

Well said, you've given me pause to think about what native species I should develop.

JC

 

[PaulH]

Here are a few more from my phone.

Headliner David Nguy putting finishing touches on his California Juniper demo.

David's tree, David, and Harry.

Big coast redwood carved and styled by headliner Kevin Willson.

California Buckeye.

 

[Mbpauley]

These trees really are spectacular in person.

 

[edprocoat]

Man thats some damn fine bonsai ! I may just try going to another show, after the one I went to in Columbus Ohio this summer I was at best uninspired. They had one tree that could even be shown with any of the trees you have shown in this thread. Thanks !

ed

 

[yenling83]

Thanks for all these pictures, I'm so glad they did a competition this year and hope they continue. Glad to see Larry White win-that's a nice Sierra he has.

 

[PaulH]

Thanks for all these pictures, I'm so glad they did a competition this year and hope they continue. Glad to see Larry White win-that's a nice Sierra he has.

The judged show will continue and get bigger and better every year. It will give all of us incentive to take our trees to a higher level of quality.
I agree about Larry. He's a super nice and very talented guy.