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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.

Bonsai pots have a rich history and greatly impact the bonsai practice. Both aesthetical and practical the bonsai pot makes the difference on every tree.

Here’s a look back at a Vine Maple clump collected in 2020, assembled on a slab in 2022, and how it looks now in 2024.

The Toronto Bonsai Society is celebrating their 60th Anniversary Exhibition and Sale on October 11-13, 2024, at the Toronto Botanical Garden in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Achieving 60 years is a significant milestone that few other bonsai organizations have established a bonsai community yet.

The autumn shows colours when days get shorter and colder. For now its still a bit warm but slowly this changes. Before we can work on the deciduous when leaves drop, we can do our weekly bonsai work on another species.