OFFICIAL 3RD US NATIONAL BONSAI EXHIBITION RESULTS

Sorry for the delay in announcing information on the 3rd US National Bonsai Exhibition. We had a two day seminar with Yasuo Mitsuya and Kathy Shaner on Monday and Tuesday. I just took them to the airport and this is the first opportunity for me to post.

God must have been smiling on us during the US National Bonsai Exhibition. Everything worked out as planned, and even better. Volunteers helped set up (45 at one time!), unload and place the bonsai, answer questions, checked that nobody took any photos (some did…), attend the exciting banquet and benefit auction and finally take down. But, more importantly, the bonsai from across our country were beautiful, especially when displayed next to each other and offered the opportunity for enjoyment, study and even critique. Several trucks and vans brought fine bonsai from California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Alabama and other close by states. Each bonsai arrived in perfect condition, and they were lovingly watered and touched up for formal display. Bonsai fellowship was abound and old friends were greeted as new friends from around the world were made. The bonsai, ikebana and Chinese brush painting demonstrations were well attended and the large sales area was always busy with people adding to their collections.

The US National Bonsai Exhibitions are about the trees, not people. As stated many times before, only the beauty of the individual bonsai specimens was the determining factor for acceptance. It did not mater if someone grew the bonsai from seed for 50 years, nor if the bonsai was flown in from Omiya Bonsai Village the day before. I wanted to show beautiful fine bonsai.

It was a glorious and elegant event and I'm very thankful for my Rochester "Crew" and all those from around the country (and my Canadian family too) who jumped in enthusiastically to produce the US National Bonsai Exhibition. By the way, we are all still friends afterwards, there were no problems.

STATISTICS:
353 bonsai were entered by 118 exhibitors. Total bonsai on display was 248 by 95 exhibitors. Some bonsai were withdrawn after being accepted because of the tree's health.

There were 185 formal displays including 18 shohin bonsai compositions with 80 individual specimens. 30 states were represented in addition to Canada and Puerto Rico.

The National Award
Finest Bonsai Masterpiece
Japanese Black Pine
Scott Elser, Portland, OR

Evergreen Award
Finest Evergreen Bonsai
San Jose Juniper
Anthony Alario, Providence, RI

Deciduous Award
Finest Deciduous Bonsai
Japanese Maple
Suthin Sukolosovisit, Stoughton, MA

Yoshimura Award
Finest Classical Bonsai
Nikko Satsuki Azalea
Robert Blankfield, Rochester, NY

Bonsai Travel Award
Finest Bonsai & Companion Plant Combination
Bald Cypress
Michael Feduccia, Plant City, FL

Ho Yoku Award
Finest Western Display
Japanese Maple
Joseph Noga, Winterville, NC

Custom Oriental Woodcraft Award
Finest Shohin Bonsai Composition
Shohin Bonsai- mixed species
Melvyn Goldstein, Euclid, OH

ABS North Amercian Bonsai Award
Finest North American Native Species Bonsai
Coast Redwood
Robert Shimon, Port Arena, CA

Puerto Rico Bonsai Federation Award
Finest Tropical Bonsai
Nia
Michael Sullivan, Cooper City, FL

Nippon Bonsai Association Award
Finest Japanese Style Display
Japanese Black Pine
Scott Elser, Portland, OR

It seems as though these winners pretty much covered the country from California to Florida to Massachusetts to Oregon and locations between. Truly a "National" exhibition, and living up to the title the Japanese bonsai magazine gave our exhibition: The finest and highest level bonsai exhibition in the United States."

A well deserved "thank you" to everyone who assisted in the production of the US National Bonsai Exhibition, "congratulations" to the winners, "appreciation" to all the exhibitors and to everyone who came together last weekend to simply enjoy bonsai and bonsai fellowship.

I look forward to organizing the next 4th US National Bonsai Exhibition on September 13-14, 2014.
Truly God was smiling on Rochester last weekend.

Attached are a few of my personal photos. The professional bonsai portraits are now in production and will be in the upcoming 3rd US National Bonsai Exhibition Commemorative Album. It can now be ordered with a special "Pre-Publication" price of only $50. Please contact me if you would like to order the commemorative album and study the professional photos of 248 bonsai, plus other events.

Bill


Finest Bonsai Masterpiece, Japanese Black Pine, Scott Elser, Portland, OR


Finest Evergreen Bonsai, San Jose Juniper, Anthony Alario, Providence, RI


Finest Deciduous Bonsai, Japanese Maple, Suthin Sukolosovisit, Stoughton, MA


Yoshimura Award, Nikko Satsuki Azalea, Robert Blankfield, Rochester, NY


Finest Bonsai & Companion Combination, Michael Feduccia, Plant City, FL


Companion close up


Finest Western Style Display, Japanese Maple, Joseph Noga, Winterville, NC


Finest shohin bonsai composition, Mixed species, Melvyn Goldstein, Euclid, OH


Finest North American Species Bonsai, Coast Redwood, Robert Shimon, Port Arena, CA


Finest Tropical Bonsai, Nia, Michael Sullivan, Cooper City, FL


Nippon Bonsai Society Award, Finest Japanese style display, Japanese Black Pine, Scott Elser, Portland, OR

Bill,

Fantastic report. My sincere congratulations on the show. I know a lot of people helped, but without your vision, this show will not be....

Warm regards,

Jose Luis

Congratulations to you, Bill, and all award recipients! Thank you for all you are doing for American bonsai! By 2014 I should definetly have a tree ready to enter in the application process. Thank you also for posting the winning trees. The Western style display admittingly is quite different.

Best,
Dorothy

Thanks, Bill.

How nice it wold be to have a tree suited for that exhibit.

I really like the Polypodium fern accent. I used to use those for accents all the time, but they will NOT grow up here.

When I saw that Mike had brought THAT particular Bald Cypress with him to the show, I made it a point to wander over and let him know how cool I thought that tree was, as I had also seen it on his website. Well he jumped up from behind his booth and shook my hand and thanked me adamantly for my praise and I'm certainly nobody special...What a humble, genuinely nice guy he is. I'm so glad that tree took an award.

-Jay

As a former winner of the Yoshimura Award, my most sincere congratulations to Robert Blankfield, this year's winner. Great job Robert! I well remember what a thrill it was for me to win the prize. I hope it was the same for you. Keep up the good work!

Mike Page

wow guys the quality is really coming through with the show and the trees. I particularly want to congratulate Michael Feduccia for his Finest Bonsai & Companion Combination...

there seems to be a misconception about the "Best bonsai and companion plant combination" award. It is the companion plant that wins the
award, not the tree-this award is given, in order to elevate the quality of companion plants at exhibitions.
kora, aka bonsai travel

Bill,

Thanks for posting all you did about the show. Wonderful trees.

And thanks for all you've done and are doing for Bonsai in the US and Internationally. And for the years we've known each other.
Hopefully I will see you in August at the Midwest Bonsai show.

the coastal redwood is a tree to be proud of - amazingly natural and for me the best tree from the few pictures we've seen so far.

cheers, looks like it went really well

marcus

Bill,
Thanks for your tireless efforts and dedication to bonsai in the US. It looked like an incredibly successful show, congratulations!

Next time, I hope to take a tree to the show instead of send one! But thanks, too, for going out of your way arranging transportation.

Best Regards,
BVF

I regret that I could only spare 2 days and missed the workshops Mon. & Tues. (job). After work, I was still inspired enough that I managed to work on a dozen trees. Every aspect form my experience (people, bonsai, workshop demonstrations, vendors displays) at 3rd US National Bonsai Exhibition continues to inspire me.

Bravo and congratulations to all the winning trees (your owners are surely pleased) ....

to all those who put their hearts and souls into making this event happen ... I commend you greatly...
to my fellow entrants ... you challenge me ... I thank you
to all those who where lucky enough to attend ... I envy you

such an exciting event ...

Lovely trees, and lovely displays, thanks for sharing.

The waterfall scroll from Michael Sullivan, is awesome...is it made by a western artist?..and does he/she have a homepage, please let me know.

Kind regards Yvonne

Bill,

Congratulation for the successful show..and to all the winners...

An excellent show again Bill.

I have had a request for a photo of Bob Shimon's winning tree, with the stand not cropped out. The stand maker wants one that includes the whole stand for his "Stands and Trees" page on his site. If anyone can oblige, please send it to daizamaker@volcano.net

Hi William,

Thank you for posting, those are very nice collections