2017 Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention– Part 1 The Main Bonsai Exhibit

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The 40th Golden State Bonsai Convention was held on October 26-29, 2017, in Riverside, California. This well organized, run and attended event is probably the best annual bonsai convention in the United States. It is well supported by approximately 50 bonsai clubs in California and several affiliated clubs in adjoining states.

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The annual convention, held in the north one year and in the south in alternate years, consists of excellent lecture/demonstrations, workshops, critiques, seminars, exhibits and dinner banquets where attendees can enjoy bonsai fellowship. A large vendor area is always a highlight of the convention with items from throughout California and the United States are   for sale.

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This year there were three bonsai exhibits: the main bonsai exhibit, a judged bonsai exhibit and viewing stone display as well.

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The Main Bonsai Exhibit

This year the Main Bonsai Exhibit consisted of beautiful and healthy mostly large size evergreen bonsai. They were individually impressive, but collectively as an exhibit nearly all were narrow-leaf evergreens which was boring and lacked seasonality because they were all mostly dense green crowns. Yes, there was a Serosa, a Chinese elm and Satsuki azalea along with two shohin bonsai compositions, but they were mostly green as well and lacked variety of species and sizes.

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