Carolina Bonsai Expo 2014

This was the year for LARGE trees at the Carolina Bonsai Expo.  (For scale in these pictures, you can use the numbers placed in front of the trees.  They are the same size for large or small trees.)

An example, this Japanese red pine and the trident maple (which was NOT the largest tree at the show):  



Other trees, in no real order:

Bald Cypress:


Blaauw juniper:


Chinese juniper:


Cork bark Chinese elm:


Crape myrtle:


Dwarf Hinoki cypress (one of the few shohin):


Itiogawa juniper:


Japanese maple 1:


Fullmoon maple - Acer japonicum (a VERY nice clump style):


Japanese maple grove:


Japanese red pine:


Japanese white pine:


Korean hornbeam:


Ponderosa pine -- the largest tree at the show:


Rocky Mountain juniper -- almost as large, but not as massive:


Satsuki:


Shefflera:


Shimpaku juniper:


Trident maple on rock (another very small tree):




Two tridents and a Japanese black pine:


Trident and shimpaku:


Maybe someone else took pics of different trees.  Feel free to add to the thread.

i really really dig the stand for that itiogawa !!!

so, what are the sizes of the numbers (for scale) ?
(you said same size small & large, but didnt mention the size)

and are all the trees displayed with side walls to separate the view from tree to tree ?

any idea what is up with the color on the hinoki ?
seasonal by you (i dont believe mine has ever turned color like that)

and lastly, is one of them yours ?

beer city snake wrote:i really really dig the stand for that itiogawa !!!

so, what are the sizes of the numbers (for scale) ?
(you said same size small & large, but didnt mention the size)

No more than 1 inch

and are all the trees displayed with side walls to separate the view from tree to tree ?

No.  Most are side by side of tables.  Some clubs put a LOT of effort into the displays.

any idea what is up with the color on the hinoki ?

I wondered that, too. (The consensus seems to be - dead tree)

and lastly, is one of them yours ?

Nope.  But I posted one of mine at https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t15000p15-jesse-mcmahon-stands

The red pine is amazing! This looks like a very good show, who said that quality trees don't exist in N.America?!
Thank you for posting all those photos.
And who would show a dead tree

JudyB wrote:And who would show a dead tree

i did... at the milwaukee bonsai show...

but i did so under the "trees in training" category and only as a cautionary, "what not to do" exhibit

The hinoki has been shown at the expo at least a few times in previous years and the owner wanted to show it one more time...it really was dead, but it looked great despite the dark brown foliage.

Takes all kinds.

I thought it was neat. "The only finished tree in the show," a friend commented with a smile when we were discussing it.

Congatulations. Very beautiful trees.
Jerry

and I thot I'd heard and seen it all

appalachianOwl wrote:"The only finished tree in the show,"

Surely someone else took more pictures. My stamina gave out before I'd taken 1/3 of the show. Please someone, post some more!

I loved looking at these trees; great bonsai in Carolina!

Not only N. and S. Carolina.  There were tables from clubs in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee, too.

My wife was in charge of the camera and unfortunately didn't get pictures of all the trees, but she got most of them.




This is a burning bush that won the ribbon for best shohin

This is THE biggest White pine graft I have ever seen...this tree was MASSIVE!

Keep 'em coming.

Here is a video from the event...

That's good to know Jim. I didn't even notice the brown color of the Hinoki; color blind here.
I am intrigued by the color of the Burning bush; the ones I see are usually bright red in the Autumn...

Sorry a few are bit fuzzy, it's what I got before drained battery. Last year my camera went out before I got one shot.... so did better this year at least.
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Great Video of the whole show, thanks, jgeanangel!

This was my fourth trip to the Expo in five years, and each year I am more impressed by the quality of the trees and each club's display. I enjoyed David DeGroot's lecture and demo on Saturday, and his critique on Sunday. Wish I had picked up his first book, but I'll wait for #2 to be published.

And thank you appalachianOwl, for your pictures, these two being of my club's display, which is Tidewater Bonsai Club.

Rocky Mountain juniper on the left, and Schefflera on the right.

appalachianOwl wrote:

Gerry

appalachianOwl wrote:

This was Black Creek Study Group's tree. I recognized it quickly as a Crape Myrtle. Being still a novice, my mind went right to the traditional shape that grows here in southeastern Virginia, which is multiple trunks, with upward foliage. Although it was not the "traditional" shape I see, I still saw a fantastic base and roots, and wonderful branching. Heck the whole tree is great!

David DeGroot's comments helped the lightbulb go on for me! He helped me understand that in styling trees, we can use one species to mimic what another really looks like, and there lies the artistry of bonsai.

Gerry

The Expo is a show by clubs/societies not individuals.  Here is a picture of one of the displays, by the Triangle Bonsai Society.




I did not get a picture of the group winner, but here is the individual winner.




This once again, for the 19th time was an exceptional weekend by an unusual bonsai community.  Stay tune for the 20th Anniversary edition next October, 2015.  You will not want to miss it.

Doug, would love to see your pictures, but the link is not working. Can you give it another shot, thanks!
Gerry

What an amazing Bonsai Expo.  And, your videos John are always top-notch and very professional.  Thanks very much for sharing with us!
I really loved the old Water Elm, Ulmus americana. The back-story on that tree was hugely compelling as well, as I was informed that Vaughn Banting had originally collected that tree from Louisiana and styled it many, many years ago.
Impressive!

The scientific name for water elm is actually Planera aquatic...but I do agree with you that this one is a great tree and it's provenance makes it even cooler.