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The common admonition “Turn Your Trees!” is a good one. It’s even better when framed by a few qualifications. 

The autumn 2024 colors have come and gone (almost as there are about 10 Dwarf maple bonsai masterpieces which have not completely changed color.)

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It is not easy for me to impartial about this course, which, being partly about my teacher Shinji Suzuki, I naturally think must be good. But it is good.

In the hours just before the judging period for the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo, we received a request to change the category of one of the entries, a coast redwood. Due to a clerical error on our part (on my part!) stemming from this change, the redwood, which received top marks for its category, didn’t get recorded as the winner.

As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin to change, there’s a special charm that graces our bonsai collections. Among the most captivating sights are the vibrant autumn berries that adorn small shohin bonsai. These tiny fruits not only add a splash of color but also bring a sense of seasonal magic to your miniature trees.

How quickly can a bonsai show become a classic?
I’ll let you decide. Here is an informal tour of the exhibition, photos courtesy of Vince Smith. (You will need a good connection, there are a lot of them.)

The highly successful second Pacific Bonsai Expo was held on October 26-27, 2024 at the Henry J. Kaiser Center in Oakland, California. Stars of the educational event were the 74 formal bonsai compositions displayed by exhibitors from across the country from California to New York. The venue this year was considerably larger than the Expo in 2022. This offered more space to appreciate the bonsai without crowding. Over1,600 weekend passes were sold before the event, with a great number of walk in visitors.

Additionally, new this year, were super demonstrations, mini-lectures and a panel discussion with two of the top bonsai containers potters from Tokoname, Japan. There was also a bonsai potter from New Zealand selling his art. Each program was well attended or packed full of eager bonsai enthusiasts. Jonas Dupich “presented” a discussion on judging bonsai, but unfortunately a non-scheduled fire emergency alarm required everyone to promptly and safely leave the building. This entire event took less than 30 minutes to resolve and visitors appreciated a short visit outside in fresh air and sunny skies. 

In contrast to the spring Black Pine technique of decandling, the fall work is less aggressive. We end with the tree still looking full.