Winner Finest Deciduous Bonsai at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. The tree is a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) that belongs to Dennis Vojtilla. I cropped Oscar Jonker's original photo (see just below) for a closer look

Continuing with the prize winning bonsai from the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, today we’ve got the winning deciduous tree and another couple bonsai photos by Oscar Jonker (Bonsai Empire), as well as a couple photos of people at the event by Candy Shirey (Candy’s eye and feeling for people are spot on)

The break with tradition mentioned in the title of this post, is the shots of people. We normally stick with bonsai and leave the people shots to facebook, but I just couldn’t resist my fifteen minutes of fame. Stay posted for more winning bonsai and more of Candy’s people shots

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Oscar's original photo with companion. For the rest of Oscar's photos from the Exhibition, stay posted. Or if you can't wait, you can visit Bonsai Empire

Bill Valavanis. Photo and caption by Candy Shirey.... "One of the few times Bill stood still. Most photos that I captured of Bill were just blurry streaks with a poof of dust as an after-thought."

This lovely lady is Barbara Patitucci at Stone Lantern's booth in the vendor's section. I cropped the original photo by Candy Shirey to eliminate some noise (see just below)

Now you can see why I cropped it. I don't think he ever stops running his mouth off

Another photo by Oscar. With apologies (especially to Owen) for not knowing the type tree, its owner or anything about the painting. Maybe someone can clue us inr. Just got this from Sean Farenish... The tree with the painting is a redwood from the pacific bonsai museum

In situ

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Winner of the Finest Bonsai at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. It's a Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) that belongs to  Suthin Sukosolvisit. I cropped the original (see below) for a closer look. The photo was taken by Oscar (Bonsai Empire) with a hand held camera and no special lighting. Stay posted for the rest of the winners and other show photos

Back home, exhausted, exhilarated and just a little crazy. If you weren’t there, you’ll have to settle for some photos and a few words. If you were there, you’ll understand the difference between up close and personal, and photographs. And why it’s so important to make the effort to visit the best bonsai exhibitions (more on this below).

Before we go any further, thanks to Bill Valavanis, the driving force behind it all, and to his tireless bonsai warriors (with a special nod to Patrick). The whole experience was magnificent. Even spectacular. If you were there, you understand. If you weren’t… see you in 2020
 

The winning tree again. This time as part of the whole display

Thanks also to our friend Oscar (Bonsai Empire) for taking and posting these photos. Oscar is a real pro and his Bonsai Empire is always worth a visit (facebook, youtube). Especially now. Oscar has posted all the winners and much more

This photo and the last two in this post are shots Oscar took while walking around the display area. No names or type trees are given. You'll have to wait for the Album for photos and descriptions of all the trees (stones too)

Continued from above…
Photos never do bonsai justice. In fact, it’s not even close. No fault of Oscar’s (or for that matter no fault of Joe Noga, whose studio shots will show up when the 6th Album comes out). The raw emotional impact and the realization of just how massive many of the trees are and some of the details you almost never see with photos all add up to an experience that can’t really be described and will never be completely captured with photos. The closest in my experience are up close photos that show pieces of trees (art photos), like the on just below

I like this type art photo. Sometimes they express something that might be missed with a photo of the whole tree. Beyond just detail. I lifted it from Oscar's show video

Stay posted fro the rest of the winners and other show photos

Contrary to what you may have heard,
and with Bill’s enthusiastic go ahead
our Field Grown Larches WILL BE at the
6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

One of our field grown Larches

Another of our Larches. On a Green T Hydraulic Lift Turntable

Retraction! Our larches will at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition this coming weekend (see below). And we will offer a whole range of other goods for your bonsai, including our brand New Tie Pots (we haven't had a new product that we've been this excited about since we introduced our now famous Roshi tools six years ago). You can see them (and purchase them) in real time and space at the Exhibition, or on our website

Bill Valavanis just called and told me not to worry and that we should bring our larches. In his words, give them good strong spray and any remaining mealy eggs or bugs will be knocked off. It’s Bill’s show and if Bill thinks it’s okay then we’ll bring the ones don’t show any more signs of mealy

FALL POTTING SPECIAL

30% OFF LIST ON OUR HIGH IMPACT PLASTIC BONSAI POTS
30% OFF LIST ON BONSAI SOIL & SOIL INGREDIENTS

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Tie Pots have the potential to revolutionize bonsai growing

Here’s a list of some of the products we’re offering at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Almost all at show special prices (and you save the shipping charge):
Tons of Bonsai wire, our famous Roshi Stainless and Carbon Steel Bonsai Tools and some other great tools, including some deeply discounted, one of a kind and slightly used tools; a vast selection of Bonsai Books (including some rare ones), Several Fertilizers, Cut pastes, Lime sulfur, our New Bonsai T-shirts, Green T Turntables, including two discounted slightly used ones, Tie-Pots and more…
Even if you don’t need anything, drop by and say hello. We look forward to seeing you

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GREAT PRICES FOR 100 GRAM ROLLS TOO

Retraction! Our larches will at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition this coming weekend (see below). And we will offer a whole range of other goods for your bonsai, including our brand New Tie Pots (we haven't had a new product that we've been this excited about since we introduced our now famous Roshi tools six years ago). You can see them (and purchase them) in real time and space at the Exhibition, or on our website

Bill Valavanis just called and told me not to worry and that we should bring our larches. In his words, give them good strong spray and any remaining mealy eggs or bugs will be knocked off. It’s Bill’s show and if Bill thinks it’s okay then we’ll bring the ones don’t show any more signs of mealy

FALL POTTING SPECIAL

30% OFF LIST ON OUR HIGH IMPACT PLASTIC BONSAI POTS
30% OFF LIST ON BONSAI SOIL & SOIL INGREDIENTS

visit stonelantern.com

Tie Pots have the potential to revolutionize bonsai growing

Here’s a list of some of the products we’re offering at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Almost all at show special prices (and you save the shipping charge):
Tons of Bonsai wire, our famous Roshi Stainless and Carbon Steel Bonsai Tools and some other great tools, including some deeply discounted, one of a kind and slightly used tools; a vast selection of Bonsai Books (including some rare ones), Several Fertilizers, Cut pastes, Lime sulfur, our New Bonsai T-shirts, Green T Turntables, including two discounted slightly used ones, Tie-Pots and more…
Even if you don’t need anything, drop by and say hello. We look forward to seeing you

–

GREAT PRICES FOR 100 GRAM ROLLS TOO

Fantastic tree! It belongs to Doug Paul (Mr. Kennett Collection). This photo is from the famous Kokufu Exhibition in Tokyo. It's a great honor to have a tree accepted to Kokufu; only a handful of North Americans have had that honor

Continuing with our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, today we’ve got a few photos from Doug Paul’s Kennett Collection, no doubt one of the foremost bonsai collections in North America. The collection – with the exception of any trees Doug keeps in Japan -resides in Kennett Square PA.

Our Warehouse will be open this week, but Ric will be on his own and he’ll need to cover customer service as well as packing and shipping, etc, so shipping might be a little slower than usual. Don’t worry though, we’ll catch up the following week. Meanwhile, we’ve got a new Fall Potting special for you…

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This impressive exposed-root tree is a Trident maple. The leaves are dead giveaway

If you’d like to learn more about the Kennett Collection, you can visit their facebook timeline or their website. I’m scrambling with final preparations for the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, so I won’t bother to research the types of trees shown here (the facebook photos don’t say), but I will make some semi-educated guesses

I don't know what this multi trunk beast is, but I'm very impressed by the nebari

This would be an impressive tree even without the brilliant leaves. Speaking of, have you ever seen such bright yellow and red leaves on the same tree at the same time? Some of the sugar maples around here (Vermont) do that in the fall, but maybe not quite as brightly contrasted as these leaves (almost looks shopped a bit)

Japanese maple. Another colorful display

How often do you see a formal upright Azalea? I think the trunk is the result of bundling a bunch of saplings (whips) together

One of several bonsai recently posted by Bonsai Mirai. No varieties were given for any of the trees shown here (on social media*), but we do know that they belong to Ryan Neil. If you'd like to know more about these trees and you have time, you can sort through the Mirai website. Even if you don't find all the ones shown here, you'll see many of the very best American yamadori (collected from the wild) trees. *Bonsai Mirai's fb timeline

Continuing with our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition…. If this post looks familiar, it’s  because we originally posted it six weeks ago. We’re pressed for time due to unforeseen circumstances (more about this tomorrow after the dust settles), so we’re going to run it again to save time and just in case you missed it or you need more encouragement to visit the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition
Continued below…

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The cross country covered wagon full of bonsai is coming soon

Just in case you want a closer look at the tree above (please pardon the fuzz, it's all my doing)

Another Mirai mystery tree that was posted on fb

And another

One more.... a great funky old pot!

See you there!

This bonsai could be yours! Bill Valavanis with an Alberta spruce that will be auctioned (just the tree) at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition

Continuing with our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition….  We almost never lead a post with photo of a person, yet this is the 2nd time for Bill’s visage at the top of a post (the first was when he was inducted into the Bonsai Hall of Fame). If anyone deserves it, it’s Bill, our Bonsai star for this moment and similar moments (there are other bonsai heros to be sure, including all the good people who work tirelessly with Bill to make great bonsai events happen). Come to the 6th U.S. National and see for yourself

Bill has at least two famous Hornbeams. This one's a Korean hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninowii - some sources list it as Carpinus coreana, and I have seen it listed as Carpinus turczaninowii  var Coreana... I'm sure Bill could shed some light)

A shot from the 5th U.S. National Exhibition (2016)

Another auction tree that could be yours. It's a Trident maple

Bill's other famous hornbeam. He calls it Red leaf hornbeam. We're running behind schedule, so we'll leave the botanical nomenclature to you

This Ficus could also be yours. It's the third auction tree

One of Boon's famous trees (speaking of American bonsai heros)
It's not to late to change your plans and show up at the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition next weekend. You'll be blown away by the bonsai , the demonstrations, the vendors sections (we'll be there!), the people and who know what else?

I found this Shimpaku rock planting in a vast array of Bjorn Bjorholm's online photos. I couldn't find any text with the photo, so it's hard to tell if it's a root-over-rock (if it is, the root must be on the other side) or a on root-on-rock. No matter, it's great tree

Continuing with our North American bonsai series in our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition...  Though our goal is encourage you to visit the 6th U.S.,  we’d be remiss if we passed on Bjorn Bjorholm’s Eisei-en grand opening

Here’s a quote from Bjorn about his new nursery and the grand opening…  “After months of planning, preparation and building, we are excited to announce the Grand Opening Event of Eisei-en Bonsai Garden in Mount Juliet, TN on September 1-2, 2018!
Continued below…

Bjorn continued from above…
“The event is open to the public from 9am-5pm both days, with free demonstrations by Naoki Maeoka (Japan) and Mauro Stemberger (Italy). All bonsai, yamadori and ceramics will be discounted 10% during the event.”

Bjorn's Bird's nest spruce (Picea abies 'Nidiformis)

I couldn't find any copy with this one, though it looks like it must be a Trident maple in early spring leaf

This is what can happen to an old bonsai behemoth in the hands of the right artist. In this case the hands belong to Valentín Cruz. The tree is a yamadori (collected from the wild) Sierra juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)

Continuing with North American bonsai in our lead up to the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition… It wasn’t long ago I stumbled upon the bonsai of Valentín Cruz, a remarkably skilled young bonsai artist who lives and practices his art in Northern California. Valentín is a student of Jim Gremel, a highly respected bonsai artist and ceramicist, and the proprietor of Deer Meadow Bonsai and  American Bonsai Ceramics
Continued below… 

Before and after

It’s not too late to plan your trip to Rochester for the 6th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. If you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself. If you have been, you’ll understand why

Before. It never hurts to start with good material

Cropped for a closer look at the shari and nebari

Perfect in its classical design. It's an Atlas ceder (Cedrus atlantica) by Jim Gremel, Valentin's mentor